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  • The System (1953)
  • Passed
    90 min | Crime, Drama, Film-Noir
The System (1953)
Passed
90 min | Crime, Drama, Film-Noir

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 ...See moreGambler 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 See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Writers
Jo Eisinger (screenplay) | Samuel Grafton (story "Investigation") | Edith Grafton (story "Investigation")
Producer
Composer
Cinematographer
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Apr 18, 1953

Release date
Apr 18, 1953 (United States)

Contacts

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Cast

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52 cast members
Name Known for
Frank Lovejoy
John E. 'Johnny' Merrick John E. 'Johnny' Merrick   See fewer
Joan Weldon
Felice Stuart Felice Stuart   See fewer
Robert Arthur
Rex Merrick Rex Merrick   See fewer
Paul Picerni
David Wiley David Wiley   See fewer
Don Beddoe
Jerry Allen (as Donald Beddoe) Jerry Allen (as Donald Beddoe)   See fewer
Jerome Cowan
Barry X. Brady Barry X. Brady   See fewer
Dan Seymour
Mr. Marty Mr. Marty   See fewer
Sarah Selby
Mrs. Elizabeth Allen Mrs. Elizabeth Allen   See fewer
Fay Roope
Roger Stuart Roger Stuart   See fewer
Frank Richards
Charley, Merrick's Butler Charley, Merrick's Butler   See fewer
Vic Perrin
Little Harry Goubenek (as Victor Perrin) Little Harry Goubenek (as Victor Perrin)   See fewer
Henry Corden
Specs alias Morton Kovick Specs alias Morton Kovick   See fewer
Howard Negley
Senator Richard Ketteridge Senator Richard Ketteridge   See fewer
Alan Gordon
Big Reuben (as Al Gordon) Big Reuben (as Al Gordon)   See fewer
Bruno VeSota
Angelo Bruno (as Bruno Ve Sota) Angelo Bruno (as Bruno Ve Sota)   See fewer
Richard Garrick
Frank Tasker Frank Tasker   See fewer
Ernestine Barrier
Minor Role (uncredited) Minor Role (uncredited)   See fewer
Ray Bennett
Policeman (uncredited) Policeman (uncredited)   See fewer
Paul Birch
Police Lt. Gordon (uncredited) Police Lt. Gordon (uncredited)   See fewer
Larry J. Blake
Detective Conducting Line-Up (uncredited) Detective Conducting Line-Up (uncredited)   See fewer
Monte Blue
Man at Hearing (uncredited) Man at Hearing (uncredited)   See fewer
Ralph Brooks
Country Club Patron (uncredited) Country Club Patron (uncredited)   See fewer
Ivan Browning
Servant (uncredited) Servant (uncredited)   See fewer
Forest Burns
Policeman at Jewelry Store Robbery (uncredited) Policeman at Jewelry Store Robbery (uncredited)   See fewer
Philip Carey
Radio Broadcaster (voice) (uncredited) Radio Broadcaster (voice) (uncredited)   See fewer
Lloyd Dawson
Detective (uncredited) Detective (uncredited)   See fewer
Charles Ferguson
Bailiff at Hearing (uncredited) Bailiff at Hearing (uncredited)   See fewer
Norman Field
Medical Examiner (uncredited) Medical Examiner (uncredited)   See fewer
Sam Finn
Clerk (uncredited) Clerk (uncredited)   See fewer
Elizabeth Flournoy
Merrick's Secretary (uncredited) Merrick's Secretary (uncredited)   See fewer
Gail Ganley
Minor Role (uncredited) Minor Role (uncredited)   See fewer
Kit Guard
Man in Line-Up (uncredited) Man in Line-Up (uncredited)   See fewer
Creighton Hale
Reporter at Senate Investigation Hearing (uncredited) Reporter at Senate Investigation Hearing (uncredited)   See fewer
Fred Kelsey
Man at Hearing (uncredited) Man at Hearing (uncredited)   See fewer
Mike Lally
Policeman at Jewelry Store Robbery (uncredited) Policeman at Jewelry Store Robbery (uncredited)   See fewer
Anne Lavelle
Minor Role (uncredited) Minor Role (uncredited)   See fewer
Frank Marlowe
Maxie, Man in Line-Up (uncredited) Maxie, Man in Line-Up (uncredited)   See fewer
Chester Marshall
Jerry Allen Jr. (uncredited) Jerry Allen Jr. (uncredited)   See fewer
Thomas Martin
Train Conductor (uncredited) Train Conductor (uncredited)   See fewer
Paul Maxey
Ed Jelke (uncredited) Ed Jelke (uncredited)   See fewer
Philo McCullough
Country Club Board Member / Senate Investigation Spectator (uncredited) Country Club Board Member / Senate Investigation Spectator (uncredited)   See fewer
Jack Mower
Country Club Board Member (uncredited) Country Club Board Member (uncredited)   See fewer
Forbes Murray
Senator Gross (uncredited) Senator Gross (uncredited)   See fewer
Brian O'Hara
Liggett (uncredited) Liggett (uncredited)   See fewer
Michael Pierce
Ricky Gerber (uncredited) Ricky Gerber (uncredited)   See fewer
Grandon Rhodes
District Attorney Dunlop (uncredited) District Attorney Dunlop (uncredited)   See fewer
George Sherwood
Court Stenographer (uncredited) Court Stenographer (uncredited)   See fewer
William Vedder
Senator Svalgard (uncredited) Senator Svalgard (uncredited)   See fewer
Charles Watts
Walter (uncredited) Walter (uncredited)   See fewer
Guy Way
Sidewalk Spectator (uncredited) Sidewalk Spectator (uncredited)   See fewer
Tom Wilson
Sidewalk Spectator (uncredited) Sidewalk Spectator (uncredited)   See fewer
Milton Wood
Robert - Country Club Waiter (uncredited) Robert - Country Club Waiter (uncredited)   See fewer
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