The Net

The Net (1916)

A recently discovered nitrate print in the National Library of Norway archives turned out to be the 1916 Thanhouser Film Corporation production of "The Net" - a five-reel feature film released by the Mutual Film Corporation as a MasterPicture, Deluxe Edition No. 88.

The scenario was written by Thanhouser co-founder and scenarist Lloyd F. Lonergan. It was filmed in Jacksonville and Mayport, Florida and runs just over 58 minutes. It is the story of a mysterious women, played by Ethel Jewett, rescued from the sea by a fishman, played by Bert Delaney. She comes with a curse of epic proportions. The plot includes a series of thrilling incidents embracing hairbreadth escapes from death in the quicksands and in the sea. Mysterious criminals evading the law move through the film with a detective who turns crooked when tempted by the beautiful maiden from the sea.

New original music was composed and performed exclusively for this film by internationally acclaimed silent-film composer and pianist Günter A. Buchwald. An optional commentary track by film scholar Kathy Fuller-Seeley from the University of Texas is also available. Watch the The Net trailer (0:56)

The five-reel toned and tinted silent film has a running time of 58 minutes with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The Net was photographed in Mayport and Jacksonville, Florida in 1916. The DVD is presented with English intertitles and includes the Norwegian version with intertitles found on the original nitrate print plus an optional commentary track by film scholar Kathy Fuller-Seeley from the University of Texas.

Read the The Net DVD Press Release and download the booklet that comes with the DVD.