The Ruling Class

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The Ruling Class

PG

1972

2h 34m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

When the Earl of Gurney (Harry Andrews) dies in a cross-dressing accident, his schizophrenic son, Jack (Peter O'Toole), inherits the Gurney estate. Jack is not the average nobleman; he sings and dances across the estate and thinks he is Jesus reincarnated. Believing that Jack is mentally unfit to own the estate, the Gurney family plots to steal Jack's inheritance. As their outrageous schemes fail, the family strives to cure Jack of his bizarre behavior, with disastrous results.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

We get no real feeling that it knows where it's going, and every good comedy needs a certain headlong conviction.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 23, 2004

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Dick Lochte

Los Angeles Free Press

The Ruling Class is that rarity, a successful, satiric film. No other genre is so plagued by good intentions and regrettable results.

Jan 4, 2020

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

In spots a very amusing and irreverent tongue-in-cheek satire on class that features a tour de force performance by Peter O'Toole.

Rated: B

Jun 18, 2008

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Jake Euker

F5 (Wichita, KS)

Rated: 2/5

Mar 18, 2006

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Mark Athitakis

Filmcritic.com

Rated: 3/5

Mar 11, 2006

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

The plot is convoluted but director Peter Medak makes some good satirical points about the British class system and Peter O'Toole is terrific in a well-deserved Oscar-nominated performance.

Rated: B

Jul 4, 2005

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bob c

It’s great, but you may have to be a UKer of a certain age and disposition to enjoy it. The Eton Boating Song is a highlight. Oh! - and it’s a kind of musical.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/29/25

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Rosie S

Next to "Network", this is the best black comedy of the 70's. The 70's film techniques may be hard to stomach with today's standards, but looking at it in it's time, it's hysterical until it's absolutely not.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/18/25

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Clinton R

Every character brings increased endearing recognition that one can still abide ultra-rich aristocratic screwballs unknowing playing their lives through without much consequence. Especially noteworthy are the bishop and the sanity certifier.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/09/25

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Jo B

This movie is brilliant and bizarre and utterly original. Peter O'Toole is a ghastly shade of pale and wonderful as the mad aristocrat who moves from thinking he's God to his "cured" state of Jack the Ripper within a class system that will keep him propped up as it revolves around its own sort of madness -- and he figures out how to manipulate theirs and his own madness. Funny and makes you think/cringe/laugh some more.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/25

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bao s

An amusing English comedic romp with crossdressing asphyxiation, Peter O'Toole as schizophrenic Jesus, electric bolts from fingers, Grand Estates and a mustache in soup. Saw the Criterion version on YT. Like many 1970's movies, it certainly is a hangover of the 60's with a tired drug addled vibe. Nice music numbers as well.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/25

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Alene F

Far out, fabulous. British satire at its best and Peter O'toole who is always at his best.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/02/24

Full Review

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Peter Medak

Director

Peter O'Toole

Jack Arnold Alexander Tancred Gurney, 14th Earl of Gurney

Alastair Sim

Bishop Lampton

Harry Andrews

13th Earl of Gurney

Arthur Lowe

Daniel Tucker

Coral Browne

Lady Claire Gurney

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Synopsis

When the Earl of Gurney (Harry Andrews) dies in a cross-dressing accident, his schizophrenic son, Jack (Peter O'Toole), inherits the Gurney estate. Jack is not the average nobleman; he sings and dances across the estate and thinks he is Jesus reincarnated. Believing that Jack is mentally unfit to own the estate, the Gurney family plots to steal Jack's inheritance. As their outrageous schemes fail, the family strives to cure Jack of his bizarre behavior, with disastrous results.

Director: Peter Medak
Producer: Jules Buck, Jack Hawkins
Screenwriter: Peter Barnes
Distributor: AVCO Embassy Pictures, Nelson Entertainment [us], Criterion Collection, Image Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Keep Films
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 13, 1972, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 15, 2020
Runtime: 2h 34m

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