''The Man in the Net'' is a 1959 American

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American '' ...

starring

Alan Ladd Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American actor and film producer. Ladd found success in film in the 1940s and early 1950s, particularly in films noir and Westerns. He was often paired with Veronica Lake ...

and

Carolyn Jones Carolyn Sue Jones (April 28, 1930 – August 3, 1983) was an American actress of television and film. Jones began her film career in the early 1950s, and by the end of the decade had achieved recognition with a nomination for an Academy ...

. The taut drama was directed by

Michael Curtiz Michael Curtiz ( ; born Manó Kaminer; since 1905 Mihály Kertész; hu, Kertész Mihály; December 24, 1886 April 10, 1962) was a Hungarian-American film director, recognized as one of the most prolific directors in history. He directed cla ...

. The supporting cast features Diane Brewster.

Plot

Commercial artist John Hamilton (

) and wife Linda (

) leave New York and move to Stoneville, Connecticut, in the New England countryside, to escape the bustle of the city and because of John's growing concern about Linda's alcoholism. John quickly befriends the town's children, but he's treated like an outsider by many of the adults. Linda misses their social life in New York, as well as the salary John made there. She insists they attend a party at the home of Brad (

John Lupton John Rollin Lupton (August 23, 1928 – November 3, 1993) was an American film and television actor. Early years Lupton was the son of Adelma Lupton and Dorothy Marsh Lupton. He developed an interest in drama while he was a student at Sh ...

) and Vickie Carey ( Diane Brewster), where the guests include another married couple, Roz (

Betty Lou Holland Betty Lou Holland (December 26, 1925 – January 10, 2021), also known as Betty Lou Cordier, was an American actress who worked on stage, in television, and in film during the decades of the 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s. She was best known for h ...

) and Gordon Moreland (

Tom Helmore Tom Helmore (4 January 1904 – 12 September 1995) was an English film actor. He appeared in more than 50 films between 1927 and 1972, including three directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Helmore was born in London, England and died in Longboat K ...

), the wealthy father of Brad Carey. A scene is created by an intoxicated Linda, who insults John and lies that he gave her a black eye, confessing to Vickie after the party that she actually fell while drunk. In anger, she tells John she's been having an extramarital affair with a local policeman, Steve Ritter (

Charles McGraw Charles McGraw (born Charles Crisp Butters; May 10, 1914 – July 29, 1980) was an American stage, film and television actor whose career spanned more than three decades. Early life McGraw was born to Beatrice (née Crisp) and Francis P. B ...

). John agrees to go to New York for a job interview arranged by his wife behind his back. When he returns, Linda is nowhere to be found. A suitcase belonging to her is spotted by a city dump. Unable to find John's wife, police and neighbors suspect him of murder. Villagers stone his house. Ritter arrives to arrest him. John flees and is given refuge by the children, who know of a secret cave. Evidence is found linking Linda to another man. A tape recording is left as bait, and John, who suspects someone else, is surprised when Brad turns up looking for the tape. It reveals he's the one Linda had the affair with and the one who physically abused her, but John soon discovers that it was Mr. Carey who actually killed Linda to cover up for his cowardly son.

Cast

as John Hamilton *

as Linda Hamilton * Diane Brewster as Vickie Carey *

as Brad Carey *

as Sheriff Steve Ritter *

as Gordon Moreland *

as Roz Moreland * John Alexander as Mr. Carey, Brad's father * Ed Binns as State Police Capt. Green * Kathryn Givney as Mrs. Carey, Brad's mother * Barbara Beaird as Emily Jones *

Susan Gordon Susan Lynn Gordon (July 27, 1949 – December 11, 2011) was an American child actress who appeared in films and numerous episodes of television programs such as '' The Twilight Zone'', ''My Three Sons'', and '' The Donna Reed Show''. Li ...

as Angel Jones * Michael McGreevey as Buck Ritter *

Charles Herbert Charles Herbert Saperstein (December 23, 1948 – October 31, 2015), known as Charles Herbert, was an American child actor of the 1950s and 1960s. Before reaching his teens, Herbert was renowned by a generation of moviegoers for an on-screen ...

as Timmie Moreland * Steve Perry as Leroy, Alonzo's son

Production

Frank Stovall Man in the Net Newspaper Clipping, June 1958

The film was based on a 1956 novel by

Hugh Wheeler Hugh Callingham Wheeler (19 March 1912 – 26 July 1987) was a British novelist, screenwriter, librettist, poet and translator. He resided in the United States from 1934 until his death and became a naturalized citizen in 1942. He had attended L ...

, writing as Patrick Quentin (a pseudonym that Wheeler and three other authors also used in collaborative efforts). Film rights were bought the following year by the Mirisch Company, who had a deal with

United Artists United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the stu ...

was signed to star in January 1958.

Reginald Rose Reginald Rose (December 10, 1920 – April 19, 2002) was an American screenwriter. He wrote about controversial social and political issues. His realistic approach was particularly influential in the anthology programs of the 1950s. Rose w ...

, who had just written ''

Man of the West ''Man of the West'' is a 1958 American Western film noir film starring Gary Cooper and directed by Anthony Mann, produced by Walter Mirisch and distributed by United Artists. The screenplay, written by Reginald Rose, is based on the 1955 nov ...

'' for the Mirisches, signed to write the screenplay. Michael Curtiz directed. Filming started 23 June. The film was mostly shot in Hollywood at the Goldwyn Studios with some location shooting at Raceland in

Framingham, Massachusetts Framingham () is a city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. Incorporated in 1700, it is located in Middlesex County and the MetroWest subregion of the Greater Boston metropolitan area. The city proper covers with a pop ...

. Many of the outdoor scenes were shot in Thompson, Connecticut, on the town common where a set was built (gas station) and at the Ballard Farm. Also, the exterior of "The Chimney House", a location that figures prominently in the story is Roseland Cottage in Woodstock, Connecticut. The paintings done by Ladd's character were painted by Frank Stovall, as well as two of Carolyn Jones by Harold M. Kramer and others by Hilyard Brown.

Reception

When the film was released, Richard W. Neson, film critic for ''The New York Times'', wrote "More interesting is the dialogue by Mr. Rose and his preoccupation with injustice. The lines show a keen love for kids and an honest regard for the need to interject reality into a yarn that is tediously familiar once it settles down into its melodramatic formula. Miss Jones plays the wife with controlled fanaticism. Mr. Ladd, on the other hand, performs in his usual, cool style, which under the hectic circumstances mutes his personality to the point of unreality."Neson, Richard W
''The New York Times'', film review, June 11, 1959. Last accessed: December 11, 2007.

References

External links

* * * *
''The Man in the Net''
informational page and DVD review by novelist Jamie S. Rich at DVD Talk

informational page at actress