Watch The System For Free

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Strange to think that this is set around the same time as Quadrophenia, with a similar modish feel and seaside destination. Like Quad, it has a fine up and coming cast including Oliver Reed, John Alderton, Julia Foster, Derek Nimmo, Derek Hemmings... It starts with a rackety beat group song complete with whoa yeahs! (why is it the Beatles still sound fresh doing that while other bands sound a bit naff and dated?) The 'system' refers to the local lads at Torquay who work out how to pull girls during the summer season when tourists flock to the seaside holiday resort (no easyJet back then). It opens as the lads walk down the train from London checking out the talent and alerting the leader of the gang Tinker (a young but still not particularly boyish Ollie Reed).Very early on you suss that this film is Alfie without the charm. This may be a good thing, seeing as Alfie isn't exactly a role model. None of the gang are charismatic but the moral trajectory is much the same as Alfie but without any of that Swinging London cheek or sex appeal. Still, it's a fascinating snapshot of the period. Nicolas Roeg did the photography, and er, Michael Winner the directing. Dramatically it faffs about a bit in the final third act.

As a young man in his late teens, this film brings back fond memories of Torquay and Paignton where the film was made.It all started on Elberry Cove, near Goodrington, with a big, all night barbecue. It was supposed to be a warm summers evening, which was not quite the case, but it was a lot of fun.I was there as an Extra with Naomi, the daughter of the late Don Kite (Film director) Most of the activity of this film took place around Paignton Harbour and in fact Tinker's Pad or Flat was the Harbour Lights Restaurant. For all us teens, the 400 Club in Torquay, was the place to go. In fact it was the only place that had disco type dancing. And the 400 Club played a big part in the film, with a fight and scuffle, the we had to drag Tinker across the road and throw him in the harbour, I can't actually remember whether we did or not, but I know that his camera went in.This film was probably very close to the truth, you get the feeling that the Writer, Peter Draper had been following us about taking notes on our activities throughout the summer months, particularly as we used to go down to Elberry Cove for barbeque's and dancing at the 400 ClubI give this film 8 for the memories

When I saw " The System " for the first time I was about 14 years of age,and had never heard of Oliver Reed or David Hemmings.By today's standards it is hardly very shocking or thrilling;and yet in 1964 it was rather risqué,being about young men who were essentially trying to get young ladies into bed.It is filmed in black and white,and has a young and very handsome Oliver Reed seducing young ladies,but eventually falling in love.It also has a young David Hemmings,who later goes on to make some of the more memorable films of the 60's.It has many quality performances from British character actors, such as Juliette Foster and John Alderton.It also is directed by the very underrated Michael winner,and is worth viewing for its cinematographic interest,but also for its particular take on the 1960's.

Whenever you question the quality of both Michael Winner and the late Oliver Reed's films in recent years don't judge them until you go back to the sixties where they both started out.Here is a very low budget and rarely seen little movie that shows both the potential of both star and director.Made two years before Michael Caine's ALFIE, THE SYSTEM takes a look at similar themes, having a good time while you're young and pulling birds. It is of course seen through the eyes of the male perspective as Ollie and pals Andrew Ray, John Alderton and David Hemmings go on a sexual rampage in a seaside town of Britain.Winner helped launch the career of Oliver Reed and they worked together again several times throughout the sixties but this early piece of nostalgic British cinema is worth a look especially if you were a teenager in the early sixties.