The System – 1964 | 93 mins | Drama | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Oliver Reed and director Michael Winner began their fruitful collaborated with this bittersweet tale on the perils of young ladies visiting the seaside and the lustful men who prey on them. Stylishly photographed in black-and-white by cinematographer Nicolas Roeg and oozing early 1960s charm from Peter Draper’s clever screenplay, Winner’s film still effectively retains much of its original Sixties charm and innocence. Oliver Reed produces a strong performance in the lead role and heads a cast of promising young actors including John Alderton, Andrew Ray, David Hemmings, Jane Merrow and Julia Foster.

During the summer season at Roxham a gang of sharp-suited young men led by beach photographer Tinker (Oliver Reed) have perfected a system for collecting pretty young holidaymakers and sharing them on rota. Tinker spots Nicola (Jane Merrow), a rich, stylish and blasé London fashion model who plays him at his own game. For the first time he falls in love. The summer sees the break-up of the gang. Nidge marries his pregnant girl-friend and Suzy (Barbara Ferris), an old flame of Tinker’s is herself abandoned by Nicola’s father (Guy Doleman). The holiday makers leave, including Nicola, for whom Tinker realises has gotten the better of him.