NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (July 2020): Kino have transferred Michael Winner's The System to Blu-ray. There are differences from the Indicator released less than a year before. The Kino is in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio - opened up - and showing slightly more information in the top and bottom of the frame. It is a bit darker than the Indicator and may be slightly softer. I don't know if the video differences are significant enough to make a strong preference over the other. Both looks fine in-motion - the Kino has a higher bitrate.

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (16-bit) in the original English language. It's a notch below the Indicator 24-bit LPCM. It sounds a bit scattered at times with with crowd sequences around Torquay, Devon - a reflection of the original production. There is a jazzy score by Stanley Black (Hammer's The Full Treatment and Maniac, Val Guest's The Day the Earth Caught Fire, Jacques Tourneur's War Gods of the Deep) and it adds to youthful rebellion, seaside fun-fair atmosphere. There is other music in the club/bar dances and has The System opening theme, sung by the Merseybeat group "The Searchers". Kino offer optional English subtitles (smaller font) on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Stephen Vagg (author of Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood) and I really liked it. I don't know if I have heard more fascinating details a of cast. He goes very deep and the connections seem endless. There is a focus on director Winner but there is a lot covered on many topics including the pace of the film, Torquay and cinematographer Roeg. Stephen was fully prepared and I'd love to hear more commentaries from him in the future. Kudos - a great job! Also included with a re-release trailer is the same, Powerhouse produced, 18-minute interview with actor Jane Merrow who describes how she ended up in the film. Indicator has the more stacked package.

An excellent choice to release on Blu-ray. It's an odd, frequently dark, film - centering on the inner turmoil of young men, specifically one lad who is conflicting with his options in a seaside resort town - picking up girls, using people etc. The Indicator is the more complete package but this Vagg commentary was worthy of a second and third spin.  

***

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (September 2019): Indicator have transferred Michael Winner's The System (also know as The Girl-Getters) to Blu-ray. It is on a dual-layered disc with a high bitrate. The film is as gritty as the image. It has plenty of thick, appealing texture. It has softness but the camera is quite kinetic and the close-ups show impressive detail. It looks very pleasing in-motion.

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language.  Indicator offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Indicator Blu-ray has some extras. These supplements include an audio commentary with film historians Thirza Wakefield and Melanie Williams who discuss the 'British New Wave' / Woodfall films like A Taste of Honey, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner etc., Winner's cameo, flip-talk, the 'sheepish' looking David Hemmings, cinematography by Nic Roeg ("Antonioni-esque"), writer Peter Draper, the 'angry-young-man' and tribal themes etc. There is some narration but a relaxed, enjoyable, dissertation on the production. There is a new 18-minute interview with actor Jane Merrow who describes how she ended up in the film. Drinking and Dancing is a short interview with John Porter-Davison (Grib in The System), Jeremy Burnham (uncredited as Ivor in the film) - Fun and Games is less than 4-minutes where he talks about the tennis sequence and a couple of other anecdotes. Haunted England is a 1961 documentary short film by director Michael Winner exploring some of the haunted castles of England and the Marquis of Bath tells of some of the ghosts at his stately home of Longleat. It runs shy of 24-minutes. There is an image gallery of promotional and publicity material and the package has a limited edition exclusive booklet with new essays by Andy Miller and Vic Pratt, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits.

The System has young men pushing limits in a British summer holiday season. It has a dark edge, with the 'playing' reversing roles -  and I appreciated the commentary. I had never seen this film before and it's a great choice for Indicator to bring to Blu-ray. Recommended for its earthy qualities and subtle dark energies. 

Gary Tooze