The Oyster Dredger

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The Oyster Dredger is a 1915 American silent drama directed and written by Lon Chaney, though he does not appear in the film. It stars J. Warren Kerrigan and Vera Sisson. The film is now considered lost and was distributed by Universal Pictures. It premiered on June 14, 1915 in the United States and June 21, 1915 in Canada, and runs about 20 minutes (two reels).

Plot
A wealthy heiress named Vera meets Jack, an oyster dredger, at the seaside after a playful accident where a boat bumps Jack into the water. They become friends. Vera asks to swap lives with Jack: he moves into her grand mansion while Vera works at his dredging job. Vera tries to change property records so Jack becomes the owner of her estate, but her lawyer refuses to restore the records unless Vera marries him. Jack is told he can keep the estate, but he longs to return to his simple dredging life. In a saloon, Jack overhears the lawyer insulting Vera; the lawyer falls into the sea and drowns. In the end, Jack and Vera reunite and marry.

Reception
The film is noted for its light, humorous moments and strong performances by Kerrigan and Sisson. It was described as entertaining for a two-reel drama, with good scenes and photography, though some reviews considered the plot not very strong.