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Ruthless

Play trailer Poster for Ruthless 1948,  1h 44m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 100% 5 Reviews Tomatometer 44% 50+ Ratings Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 44% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Wealthy, powerful Horace Vendig always gets what he wants. Even as a poor youth, he charmed his way into high society by getting the father of his friend, Martha, to foot the bill for his Harvard education. When Vic, another childhood pal, is invited to Vendig's mansion for a party, he brings along Mallory Flagg (also Lynn), who happens to bear a striking resemblance to Martha. As Vic and Horace reunite, old resentments rise to the surface.

Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker Jan 6, 2014
Ulmer's approach is monumental and detailed, baroquely gestural and coldly violent. Go to Full Review
Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site Feb 28, 2021
Ulmer's visually concise film passes moral judgment on relentless ambition and greed, and is irreconcilably opposed to those who destroy for profit. Go to Full Review
TV Guide Oct 21, 2015
3/5
A compelling gothic melodrama that charts in flashback the life and career of a hard-hearted tycoon, played to the hilt by perennial screen-heel Zachary Scott. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Mar 5, 2015
B+
A masterful trashy Gothic B-film character-story melodrama directed with vigor by the noted cult filmmaker of cheapie films from Poverty Row, Edgar G. Ulmer. Go to Full Review
Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Jul 6, 2010
Complex, richly directed tale of a millionaire's rise to power and those he exploits. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Han R Oct 22, 2017 A mashup of Citizen Kane and The Bad and the Beautiful, this was pretty disappointing. The main character was contemptible all the way through, but there was something missing- like a clear story line. See more
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Ruthless

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Edgar G. Ulmer

Director

Zachary Scott

Horace Woodruff Vendig

Louis Hayward

Vic Lambdin

Diana Lynn

Martha Burnside

Martha Vickers

Susan Duane

Sydney Greenstreet

Buck Mansfield

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Ruthless

Ruthless (1948) Ruthless (1948) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Wealthy, powerful Horace Vendig always gets what he wants. Even as a poor youth, he charmed his way into high society by getting the father of his friend, Martha, to foot the bill for his Harvard education. When Vic, another childhood pal, is invited to Vendig's mansion for a party, he brings along Mallory Flagg (also Lynn), who happens to bear a striking resemblance to Martha. As Vic and Horace reunite, old resentments rise to the surface.
Director
Edgar G. Ulmer
Producer
Arthur S. Lyons
Screenwriter
Dayton Stoddart, Alvah Bessie, S.K. Lauren, Gordon Kahn
Production Co
Eagle-Lion Films Inc.
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 16, 1948, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Sep 11, 2007
Runtime
1h 44m
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