Ruthless

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Ruthless

1948

1h 44m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

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4 Reviews

47%

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.

Richard Brody

The New Yorker

Jan 6, 2014

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Mark H.

@Zeppo Nov 2, 2025

Tedious with no payoff.

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nick s

@Nick_S Jun 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.

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Steve D

@RT35616104 Jan 20, 2024

Greenstreet gives it a entertaining spark

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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.

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Nov 2, 2013

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

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May 31, 2013

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

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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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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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