Ruthless

Play trailer

Ruthless

1948

1h 44m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

47%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Wealthy, powerful Horace Vendig (Zachary Scott) 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 (Diana Lynn), to foot the bill for his Harvard education. When Vic (Louis Hayward), 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.

Richard Brody

The New Yorker

01/06/2014

Ulmer's approach is monumental and detailed, baroquely gestural and coldly violent.

Go to Full Review

Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

02/28/2021

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

10/21/2015

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

03/05/2015

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

07/06/2010

Complex, richly directed tale of a millionaire's rise to power and those he exploits.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Mark H.

@Zeppo Nov 2

Tedious with no payoff.

See more

nick s

@Nick_S 06/21/2024

The movie had a few flat patches in the opening half where my interest started to wane. There was no clear direction to the story. But it did pick up in the second half. The acting and character building was great. The production was not riveting but it was enjoyable all the same.

See more

Steve D

@RT35616104 01/20/2024

Greenstreet gives it a entertaining spark

See more

10/22/2017

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

11/02/2013

I really enjoyed this RUTHLESS film...HAHAHA!!!!

See more

05/31/2013

About as edgy as a melodrama can get. It's not a bad story to follow, nor is it an invigorating one.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

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

East Side, West Side

43%

75%

East Side, West Side

Watchlist

The Strange Woman

40%

58%

The Strange Woman

Watchlist

The Great Gatsby

30%

40%

The Great Gatsby

Watchlist

Moonrise

100%

70%

Moonrise

Watchlist

The Heiress

100%

93%

The Heiress

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Wealthy, powerful Horace Vendig (Zachary Scott) 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 (Diana Lynn), to foot the bill for his Harvard education. When Vic (Louis Hayward), 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

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings