Ruthless: Monopoly’s Secret History

The complex origin story of America’s quintessential board game.

This is a documentary about one man’s quest to uncover the truth behind the development of Monopoly, the board game, after being sued for trademark infringement by Parker Brothers, the game’s producers.  Viewers will learn how a game that was initially created by a woman who wanted to promote the virtues of economic justice for all, morphed into one that symbolizes unbridled “dog-eat-dog” capitalism.  In the film a few even go so far as to argue that it perpetuates the American myth that anyone can make it big, regardless of their circumstances. As someone who loved this game as a child, I enjoyed learning how its early versions evolved over several decades into the one that is today beloved by millions.  Also, it is quite ironic and particularly interesting how the court case, which is the focus of the story, mimics the ruthlessness embedded in Monopoly – a behavior that is exhibited by many players when engaging in the actual game.