The Man in the Net

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by Michael Curtiz
USA 1959

With both its star Alan Ladd and its director Michael Curtiz nearing the end of their careers, The Man in the Net has a valedictory feel that surely wasn't intended. Ladd looks puffy and seems bored by issues that are literally vital to him (and his sprints through the woods look labored and abbreviated). Behind the camera, Curtiz fares a bit better; the old pro (Casablanca, Mildred Pierce) knows how to shape a story and sustain tension, but he didn't bother to plaster over the cracks in the far-fetched screenplay by Reginald Rose.

Ladd plays a commercial artist who has moved to rural Connecticut to pursue his dream of becoming a serious painter; another reason for leaving New York's `rat race' was the gin-fueled nervous breakdown of his wife (Carolyn Jones). She still chafes under their genteel poverty when she knows he could make big bucks by returning to his old job. She takes her revenge in a clandestine affair (all the while trying to look and act like Bette Davis as Rosa Moline in Beyond The Forest).

Excerpt of review from Bill McVicar at imdb.com located HERE

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Theatrical Release: 10 June 1959 (New York)

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DVD Review: MGM (MGM Limited Edition Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	MGM Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime	1:36:51
Video	1.66:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.72 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate
Audio	Dolby Digital Mono (English)
Subtitles	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.66:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical trailer (2:08) DVD Release Date: August 19, 2011 Keep Case Chapters 10

Comments

Alan Ladd was at the end of his career when he starred in The Man in the Net, a decent thriller from United Artists that, despite a fine direction from Michael Curtiz, looses its steam after Carolyn Jones' character is gone around 30-minute mark.

MGM released the film on made-on-demand disc in a progressive anamorphic transfer. There are some marks on the print, but overall image quality is very good. The mono soundtrack is decent with no distortions. Per usual standard, there is no subtitles or closed captioning, but MGM included a theatrical trailer as an extra. The film gets a modest recommendation and the DVD is decent to warrant a rental.

- Gregory Meshman

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