Watch The Ruthless Four

The Ruthless Four is a classic Western film from 1968 that centers around four bandits who team up to rob a gold shipment that is being transported through the desolate Arizona wilderness. The movie is directed by Giuseppe Colizzi, and the cast includes some of the most beloved actors from the era, including Van Heflin, Gilbert Roland, Klaus Kinski, and George Hilton.

Right from the start, the film presents viewers with a striking and rugged landscape, which acts as the backdrop for the gritty story. The characters, all criminals of different stripes, are introduced one by one as they converge on a remote way station where they will plan their heist. Despite the fact that the four men are united in their goal to rob the gold, they all have their own motivations and backstories that are explored throughout the film.

Van Heflin plays a former outlaw named Parson, who has become a minister and hopes to use his share of the gold to fund a new life as a man of God. Klaus Kinski plays the role of El Vasco, a notorious bandit who intends to use the gold to fund a revolution in his home country. Gilbert Roland plays the charismatic Gus, who has his own reasons for wanting to pull off the risky heist. And George Hilton rounds out the group as Clem, the youngest and most inexperienced member of the group who hopes to use his share of the gold to provide a better life for his family.

As the film progresses, tensions rise between the men as they trek through the wilderness, facing various obstacles and setbacks along the way. The group is constantly threatened by the harsh elements, as well as by the possibility of betrayal from within their own ranks. The relationship between the characters is one of the film's key strengths, with each actor turning in a standout performance that brings their character to life.

The Ruthless Four is a film that is firmly rooted in the tradition of classic Westerns, with plenty of gunfights, chases on horseback, and shootouts in the desert. However, it also has a distinct European flair, likely due to the Italian director and some of the European actors in the cast. As a result, the film has a slightly different vibe than some of the more traditional Westerns of the era, which makes it an interesting and unique watch.

One of the standout aspects of the film is the cinematography, which makes excellent use of the sweeping landscapes and stark lighting of the desert. The sweeping camera work and dramatic angles add to the tension of the heist and give the film a distinct visual style. The musical score, composed by Carlo Rustichelli, is also notable for its unique blend of classic Western themes and Italian influences.

In many ways, The Ruthless Four is a classic heist movie, with all of the tension, double-crosses, and high-stakes action that the genre is known for. However, it also has a deeper layer of character development that sets it apart from some of the more superficial films of the genre. Each of the four main characters feels like a fully realized individual, with their own motivations, flaws, and moral codes.

Overall, The Ruthless Four is a classic Western that is well worth watching for fans of the genre. It has all of the classic elements of a heist movie, as well as a distinctive European flair that gives it a unique flavor. The standout performances of the cast, the striking visuals, and the tense plot all come together to create a memorable film that still holds up over 50 years later.

The Ruthless Four is a 1966 western with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.