The Ruthless Four 50th Anniversary

On this date in 1968 “The Ruthless Four” starring Van Heflin, Gilbert Roland, George Hilton and Klaus Kinski premiered in Rome, Italy. The film relied on veterans Heflin and Roland to carry the weight of the dialogue while Hilton and Kinski supplied support in an awkward relationship of a possible homosexual relationship. More character analysis than action packed western it still delivers enough to make it one of the better films of the genre.

After many years of work, miner Sam Cooper discovers a gold-bearing vein. Unable to bring all the gold with him, Sam is forced to blow up the mine entrance and return to town. After arriving in town he sends for his godson and asks him to help him carry out the gold. The godson of Sam comes along with a strange man that seems to dominate his will. Cooper, while not trusting the newcomer, he is forced to accept his help. The trio is soon joined by another man, an old friend of Sam. The four reach the mine and after days of hard work recover the gold and start their way back to town. Soon differences begin to surface within the group and the conflict culminates in the death of three of Sam’s employees. So only Sam reaches town with the load of gold.

Ognuno per sé – Italian title

Das Gold von Sam Cooper – German title

Tähtää tarkasti - tapa varmasti – Finnish title

Chacun pour soi – French title

O kathenas gia ton eafto tou – Greek title

A furia do ouro – Portuguese title

Los cuatro despiadados – Spanish title

Den grymma jakten – Swedish title

Profesyonellerin intikami – Turkish title

Sam Cooper’s Gold – English title

The Goldseekers – English title

Every Man for Himself – English title

The Ruthless Four U.S.A. title

A 1967 Italian, German co-production [P.C.M. (Rome), Eichberg Film (Munich)]

Producers: Luciano Ercoli, Alberto Pugliese

Director: George Holloway (Giorgio Capitani)

Story: Fernando Di Leo, Augusto Caminito

Screenplay: Ferdinando Di Leo, Augusto Caminito

Cinematography: Sergio D’Offizi [Technicolor, Techniscope]

Music: Carlo Rustichelli

Running time: 106 minutes

Cast:

Sam Cooper – Van Heflin (Emmett Heflin, Jr.)

Mason – Gilbert Roland (Luis Dámaso de Alonso)

Manolo Sanchez – George Hilton (Jorge Acosta y Lara)

Brent/Blond – Klaus Kinski (Nikolaus Nakaszynski)

Annie – Sarah Ross (Alice Bakacirc)

Lancaster – Giorgio Gruden

Matt – Doro Corrà (Teodoro Corrà)

Hal Brady – Rick Boyd (Federico Boido)

Fred Brady – Sergio Doria (Sergio Endrigo)

Slim – Hardy Reichelt

Bank cashier – Ivan Scratuglia (Giovanni Scratuglia)