''The Secret of Delft'' ( nl, Het geheim van den vuurtoren) is a 1916

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

black and white silent

crime film Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine ...

directed by

Maurits Binger Maurits Binger (5 April 1868 – 9 April 1923) was a Dutch film director, producer and screenwriter of the silent era. He directed 39 films between 1913 and 1922 and is considered one of the pioneers of fictional films in the Netherlands. ...

. The movie was also sold to

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

, where it was titled ''Le Secret du Phare''. Only fragments of the original movie survived and are being kept in the Dutch Cinema Museum ( Nederlands Filmuseum). It is hoped a complete copy survived in France. The movie was an ambitious, large-scale project because it required the construction of a 20 metre high ruined lighthouse, and a 15 metre long pier of the coast of

Zandvoort Zandvoort () is a municipality in the province of North Holland, Netherlands. It is one of the major beach resorts of the Netherlands; it has a long sandy beach. It is bordered by coastal dunes of Zuid-Kennemerland National Park and the Amsterdam ...

. These constructions meant high production costs, totaling a rumoured 50.000 to 70.000 gulden. The movie also starred the most famous actors in the Netherlands at that time.

Plot

In a fit of rage, the main character Hendrik van Norden injures a man. His injuries are so severe, the man is no longer able to recognise Van Norden. There was a witness to the assault, named Van Oort, who blackmails Van Norden and his wife. If they pay him a large sum of money, he would not got to the police to give a statement. The Van Norden's decide to comply and give Van Oort the money. To obtain the money, they decide to rob someone. They hide in the ruins of a lighthouse before the robbery. However, the two feel guilty about their decision and commit suicide by jumping of the lighthouse.

Cast

* Louis H. Chrispijn ... Van der Meulen *

Coen Hissink Johan Coenraad "Coen" Hissink (5 October 1878 – 17 February 1942) was a Dutch film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 25 films between 1914 and 1942. He also wrote short stories and books about controversial topics such as homosexua ...

... Van Oort *Greta Gijswijt ... Margaretha *

Willem van der Veer Willem van der Veer (26 May 1887 – 21 June 1960) was a Dutch film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 32 films between 1913 and 1937. Filmography * '' De man zonder hart'' (1937) * ''Op hoop van zegen'' (1934) * '' Het meisje met d ...

... Hendrik van Norden *Esther De Boer-van Rijk ... Mevr. van Norden / Mrs. van Norden *

Jan van Dommelen Jan van Dommelen (28 April 1878 – 26 October 1942) was a Dutch film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 44 films between 1911 and 1939. Filmography * '' Boefje'' (1939) * '' De Big van het Regiment'' (1935) * '' De Familie van mijn ...

... Prof. Van der Velde *Henny Schroeder ... Mrs. van Maerle (as Henny van Merle) *

Annie Bos Johanna "Annie" Bos (10 December 1886 – 3 August 1975) was a Dutch theater and silent film actress, known as Holland's first movie star and diva. Bos started her acting career in Antwerp, but soon returned to the Netherlands and made her thea ...

... Van der Meulens´ housekeeper *Willem Faassen ... Willem van der Meulen *

Christine van Meeteren Christine van Meeteren (26 April 1885 – 3 January 1973) was a Dutch film actress of the silent era. She appeared in 17 films between 1913 and 1936. Filmography * '' Komedie om geld'' (1936) * ''Majoor Frans'' (1916) * ''Het geheim van ...

... Mrs. van der Velde *Jaap van der Poll ... Fisherman *

Alex Benno Alex Benno (2 November 1873 – 2 April 1952) was a Dutch film actor, screenwriter and film director, director of the silent film, silent era. He appeared in 15 films between 1913 and 1920. Filmography * ''John Heriot's Wife'' (1920) * ''S ...

... Smuggler

External links

* 1916 films Dutch silent feature films Dutch black-and-white films 1916 crime films 1916 mystery films Films directed by Maurits Binger Silent crime films Dutch crime films Silent mystery films {{mystery-film-stub