The System (1953 film)

The System is a 1953 American film noir crime film directed by Lewis Seiler and starring Frank Lovejoy, Joan Weldon and Robert Arthur.

Plot

An honest bookmaker discovers the hard way that his line of work is a lot more dangerous than he first thought.

Cast

Frank Lovejoy as John E. "Johnny" Merrick
Joan Weldon as Felice Stuart
Robert Arthur as Rex Merrick
Paul Picerni as David Wiley
Don Beddoe as Jerry Allen
Jerome Cowan as Barry X. Brady
Dan Seymour as Mr. Marty
Sarah Selby as Mrs. Elizabeth Allen
Fay Roope as Roger Stuart
Frank Richards as Charley, Merrick's Butler
Vic Perrin as Little Harry Goubenek
Henry Corden as Specs alias Morton Kovick
Howard Negley as Senator Richard Ketteridge
Alan Gordon as Big Reuben
Bruno VeSota as Angelo Bruno

Reception

When the film was first released, The New York Times' review was brutal. The film critic wrote, "It seems quite appropriate for Warner Brothers' The System, a stultified excursion into contemporary crime, to have opened at the Palace yesterday. The morning weather was drab and depressing. So was the picture... The sad fact to be faced is that there is not a single thing to recommend The System. The performance of the feminine lead, Joan Weldon, is embarrassing in its inadequacy. Mr. Lovejoy makes an honest effort in a professional way, but the script is such a peachy morass he has no chance. That Lewis Seiler, the director, should fail so is more disappointing when one recalls his memorable Guadalcanal Diary." Forget this fiasco, for it is one of those soggy melodramas that serve only to fill out double bills."