Konterr Brilliant and touching

RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Calum Hutton It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Leofwine_draca THE SYSTEM is yet another 'gang film' for youthful star Oliver Reed, who made loads of these pictures over the years. It's not on the same level as THE DAMNED, THE PARTY'S OVER, or even BEAT GIRL, but it does have elements of interest for British film fans although I wish the subject matter had been a little darker.Reed plays the leader of a gang of young men (including David Hemmings, of course) who spend the summer months in a beachside tourist trap, preying on the young beautiful women who come to visit. The men take it in turn to woo the women by means of a special system they have devised which sees the females divided equally between the group. However, the threat of real love is ever present, which may break up the group.It's fair to say that a film like THE SYSTEM has dated a lot since first release as the characters and general social milieu have long since disappeared. What one seemed progressive now feels very tame, although Reed's acting remains strong and the supporting cast do very well. This was an early film in the career of Michael Winner, who does his best to deliver a beautifully-shot production.

moonspinner55 Randy British lads chase available birds around the seaside; avid shutterbug Oliver Reed 'collects' young lovelies, but may have found the girl who has won his heart and not just his libido. Directed by Michael Winner, photographed by Nicholas Roeg, and starring a somewhat-green yet still charismatic Reed, "The Girl-Getters" (a.k.a. "The System") turns out to be a just-OK drama about would-be jaded boys and girls contemplating sex (the hunt for a willing girl seems to be more exciting to the guys than the actual conquest). It's hard to get an accurate reading on the youthful Oliver Reed: his heavy lids and soft, persuasive bedroom voice ooze false sincerity--but when put on the spot by the teasing model who sort-of fancies him, he suddenly becomes a deadly serious grown-up contemplating his feelings. The rock & roll music and pre-Swinging London fashions (and morals) are interesting, but Winner's quasi-documentary style is scattershot, and the plot doesn't gather much momentum. *1/2 from ****

christopher-underwood You might think that by 1964 the world was all swinging sophistication, but no it was like this, I remember. I had recently started working, in a bank. It was hand written ledgers and an outside toilet! Yep, life revolved a fair bit around getting girls and then making sure you didn't get them pregnant and then 'having to get married'. Everyone is s bit too old here, of course, although David Hemmings looks like a little angel. Oliver Reed puts in a good performance as the leader although it's hard at the end to take his more introspective ponderings. Great direction by Michael Winner, there not many people have said that, and the movie speeds along with some excellent sequences, especially the wedding celebration on the beach, played more like a wake. Winner is an under rated director, he did a couple of others of this ilk, then I like his Innocents and there is Death Wish. I liked the hated Death Weekend but in general his career went downhill and it stops people giving the earlier films a chance. Well worth watching, if only to appreciate that the mid 60's in Britain were still much like the 50's, except with teenagers.

Terry Berrow 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.