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The System (1953)

APPROVED 90 min  -  Crime | Film-Noir  -   18 April 1953 (USA)
6.8
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Ratings: 6.8/10 from 32 users  
Reviews: 1 user | 1 critic

Gambler John Merrick (Frank Lovejoy) is the head of a bookie syndicate and the newspaper is crusading against him and the rackets... See full summary »

Director:

Lewis Seiler
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Cast

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

Gambler John Merrick (Frank Lovejoy) is the head of a bookie syndicate and the newspaper is crusading against him and the rackets, primarily because Merrick is in love with Felice Stuart (Joan Weldon), daughter of the newspaper publisher who can not break up the romance through persuasion. A senate committee investigating crime gets involved, the racketeers, other than Merrick who is a "nice guy", strike back and kill a reporter, and Merrick's own son, Jerry Merrick (Robert Arthur), commits suicide. Merrick, to his own disadvantage, helps bring down the syndicate. Since it is in black-and-white-, deals with crime and was an American-made film, some will call it "film noir" since that seems to be the current guidelines for putting a film in that, at one time limited-and-defined genre. It ain't, and neither are most of the others currently so classified. Written by Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Gambling | Beautiful Woman

Taglines:

UNDERWORLD OPERATION! (original print ad - all caps)

Genres:

Crime | Film-Noir

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Gangsterisyndikaatti See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros. Pictures See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »