I can’t imagine wanting to be a man. I never could! It would be better if there were no men at all. Ruthless comes from director Edgar G. Ulmer, with the screenplay by S.K. Lauren, Gordon Kahn and Alvah Bessie, based on Dayton Stoddart's novel Prelude to Night. The film features Zachary Scott, Louis Hayward, Sydney Greenstreet, Diana Lynn, Lucille Bremer and Martha Vickers. Werner Jansen composed the music, and Bert Glennon was in charge of cinematography. Horace Vendig always got whatever he desired from a young age. As he grew up, he manipulated his way into high society. Now a skilled businessman, he is even more callous and doesn’t seem to notice how much harm he causes others. But when Horace (Scott) reconnects with his old friend Vic Lambdin (Hayward) and finds himself at odds with the resentful Buck Mansfield (Greenstreet), all of those feelings explode! "Animals kill for food or love. You and I spoil the jungle because we kill for profit, a taste of victory and revenge. Then we destroy each other after." For a long time this film was difficult to find; even when it was first released, 25 minutes had been cut out. Now, however, there’s a complete one hour and forty-four minutes of Ruthlessness available! Perhaps that's pushing it a little bit, but it is a compelling piece of greedy film noir, a sharp criticism of capitalism, an account of the corruption of a man’s soul, and how he treats those who care about him. It’s often compared to Citizen Kane, which isn’t entirely inaccurate—though that similarity lies more in its narrative than its visuals. There are some nice expressionistic elements, with Glennon (Crime Wave) demonstrating his talent as a cinematographer (check out his Westerns), but the film lacks the visual darkness typical of noir films to match the unpleasant portrayal of the main character. That’s disappointing considering Edgar Ulmer (The Black Cat/Bluebeard/Detour/Strange Illusion) is the director. However, where the film really stands out is in the performances; Ulmer gets his actors to deliver impressive depictions of human nature. The actresses are particularly good (Lynn has a double role), as they capture the essence of women affected by Horace’s mix of twisted emotions and ambitious greed. It's mature work in a movie that deals with serious themes. Add it to your list of Ulmer films you need to watch, quickly. 7.5/10

Source on TMDB