X

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

The System

  • Watchlist
  • 1953
  • 1 hr 30 mins
  • Suspense, Drama
  • Watchlist

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.

Loading. Please wait...

Content not available in your region? ExpressVPN can help you stay connected wherever you are. Get 4 extra months FREE with TV Guide's exclusive offer.

Cast & Crew See All

Frank Lovejoy
John E. 'Johnny' Merrick
Joan Weldon
Felice Stuart
Robert Arthur
Rex Merrick

Featured Video

The System (UK)
The System (UK)
2:23
Watch Now

2:23 The System (UK)

Trailers & Videos See All

The System (UK)
2:23

You May Also Like See All

Lawrence of Arabia
Compensation
Fanny and Alexander
Casablanca

Popular Movies See all movies

Crucify

1 hr 19 mins
A neon noir thriller that descends into a maze of nightmares as two teens trapped in a haunted crime scene are forced to confront their demons.
2020 Fantasy, Horror, Suspense, Drama
Watchlist
Where to Watch

A Serbian Film

1 hr 44 mins
An aging porn star agrees to participate in an "art film" in order to make a clean break from the business, only to discover that he has been drafted into making a pedophilia and necrophilia themed snuff film.
2010 Horror, Suspense
Watchlist
Where to Watch

Fast & Furious

1 hr 47 mins
Heading back to the streets where it all began, two men rejoin two women to blast muscle, tuner and exotic cars across Los Angeles and floor through the Mexican desert. When a crime brings them back to L.A., fugitive ex-con Dom Toretto reignites his feud with agent Brian O'Connor. But as they are forced to confront a shared enemy, Dom and Brian must give in to an uncertain new trust if they hope to outmaneuver him. And from convoy heists to precision tunnel crawls across international lines, two men will find the best way to get revenge: push the limits of what's possible behind the wheel.
46   Metascore
2009 Action & Adventure, Suspense
Watchlist
Where to Watch

If I Had Legs I'd Kick You

1 hr 53 mins
With her life crashing down around her, Linda (Rose Byrne) attempts to navigate her child's mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist.
78   Metascore
2025 Drama, Suspense
Watchlist
Where to Watch

The Lincoln Lawyer

1 hr 58 mins
Mick Haller is a defense lawyer who works out of his Lincoln. When a wealthy Realtor's son is accused of assaulting a prostitute, Haller is asked to defend him. The man claims that the woman is trying to get some money out of him. But when Haller looks at the evidence against him, he learns that this case might be linked to an old case of his.
63   Metascore
2011 Suspense, Drama
Watchlist
Where to Watch

Crime 101

2 hr 20 mins
Set against the sun-bleached grit of Los Angeles, CRIME 101 weaves the tale of an elusive thief (Chris Hemsworth) whose high-stakes heists unfolding along the iconic 101 freeway have mystified police. When he eyes the score of a lifetime with hopes of this being his final job, his path collides with a disillusioned insurance broker (Halle Berry) who is facing her own crossroads, forcing the two to collaborate. Determined to crack the case, a relentless detective (Mark Ruffalo) closes in on the operation, raising the stakes even higher. As the multimillion-dollar heist approaches, the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, and all three are forced to confront the cost of their choices - and the realization that there's no turning back.
68   Metascore
2026 Suspense, Drama
Watchlist
Where to Watch