Ruthless (film)

Ruthless is a 1948 drama film noir directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and starring Zachary Scott, Sydney Greenstreet and Louis Hayward.

When the film was released, the staff at Variety magazine panned the film, writing, Despite a sextet of name players, Ruthless is a victim of cliched and outmoded direction and of weary dialog to which no actor could do justice. Performances are handicapped by the direction of Edgar G. Ulmer. Adaptation from the Dayton Stoddart novel, Prelude to Night, is involved and confusing. Plots denouement is also telegraphed long before the finale. Hayward contribs a fair interpretation of Scotts associate, who eventually breaks from him. Diana Lynn, in a dual role, is wistful and appealing as a pawn in Scotts affections. Sydney Greenstreet, cast as a utilities magnate whos ousted by Scott, tends to overact.More recently, film critic Glenn Erickson gave the film a positive review, writing, Financed as a oneshot project by an agentturned producer, Ruthless plays its quietly subversive theme right out to the bitter end. It has excellent performances by a cast of notquite big stars, some of them recently relieved of studio contracts. Its main player is the biggest surprise Zachary Scott gives the performance of his career ... Ruthless is the Edgar G. Ulmer picture that shows him operating with a decent set of cinematic Tinkertoys, and he does very well indeed. ........

Source: Wikipedia