the system (1964)

aka The Girl-Getters.
"Darling, if you had a heart of gold, you would have sold it years ago."
Tinker (Oliver Reed) leaders a gang of locals, who prey on holidaymakers who swamp the seaside resort during the summer. Determined to make hay as the sun shines, they live by a system that prevents disputes, and pick off the girls one by one. Enter Nicola (Jane Merrow), and Tinker starts to reassess this life and his future.
Considered a shockingly realistic depiction of sex at the time. No Beach Party style cuddles and songs here, as the protagonists talk openly and act blasé about their sex lives. The angry young man meets the swinging sixties.

murder on campus (1961)

AKA Out Of The Shadow.
"Extraordinary the things that seem to happen to you Mr Kingston."
Mark Kingston (Terence Longdon) is a journalist who sets out to find out who killed his brother a student in an Oxford college. The police believe that it was a tragic accident, but as usual in these things they are wrong and Kingston sets out to prove it.
A Winner film that is actually watchable for the right reasons! A low key, but entertaining British style crime drama.

play it cool (1962)

"It seems a shame to go without doing the twist."
Billy Universe (Billy Fury) is an up and coming singer, with a motley band in tow, including one member who looks about 10! He gets involved with a poor little rich girl, who is going out with pop star, and all round nasty piece of work Larry Grainger (Maurice Kaufmann). Sir Charles (Dennis Price) her father is trying to split them up, and rightly so. Will Billy get involved, or continue to believe it is none of his business.
Along the way he manages to sing at the drop of a hat, and we get turns from a number of other stars such as Helen Shapiro, Bobby Vee, Shane Fenton (or Alvin Stardust as he became), and Danny Williams. Plus appearances from many of the great and the good of the time such as Norrie Paramor.
This film is carried totally by whether you like Billy fury or not, given that there is very little plot, and pitifully little in the way of what would normally be called acting. This is really a standard pop music exploitation piece directed with all the flair that journeyman director Winner can muster, which is not a lot. But even with all that said, Billy's star quality still shines through. An enjoyable piece of pre-Beatles pop.

the jokers (1967)

Oliver Reed and Michael Crawford are upper class brothers who are bored by their everyday pampered existence, with Crawford resentful as he's always in his brother's shadow. After another escapade goes wrong due to his brother Crawford is cashiered from the army and wondering where his life should take him they decide to steal the crown jewels to gain themselves some self publicity.
A rarity from a time long ago when Michael Winner actually knew how to direct a film! The usual lightweight 60's film, style over substance, but enjoyable and entertaining fluff. Mainly due to lots of swinging London and a wonderfully script by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.