The Ruthless Four
"In the Tradition of Treasure of Sierra Madre"
After years of hard work, old Sam Cooper has finally found a gold mine. Since he cannot take everything he has found with him, he blows up the entrance. To help him exploit his discovery, he calls on his godson Manolo Sanchez. But Manolo is accompanied by "the blond," a strange man who seems to dominate him. Sam has no choice but to accept his company. He persuades his old friend Mason to travel with them as well. Greed and paranoia will eventually completely destroy the small band.
Curator's Take
“Four men, one gold mine, zero trust. It’s 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre' style paranoia. Klaus Kinski and Van Heflin give incredible performances in a film that is all about psychological tension.”
Why This Movie Is Important
A tense, claustrophobic chamber drama. Instead of armies and revolutions, it focuses on four people and a bag of gold. It explores paranoia and greed with a psychological depth comparable to 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre'.
Production Details
The Ruthless Four is a 1968 western film directed by Giorgio Capitani. Originally released in Italy under the title "Ognuno per sé", the film was produced during the golden era of European westerns. The film features a score composed by Carlo Rustichelli. Cinematography was handled by Sergio D'Offizi. The screenplay was written by Fernando Di Leo. The film stars Van Heflin as Sam Cooper, Gilbert Roland as Mason, and Klaus Kinski as Brent il Biondo. Running 1 hour and 40 minutes, it is a well-paced entry in the genre.
Did You Know?
There are two different endings to this film. The 'happy' ending was shown in US TV broadcasts, while the original, darker ending where everyone loses was kept for European cinemas.
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