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The Ruling Class

Play trailer Poster for The Ruling Class PG 1972 2h 34m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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The Ruling Class

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 10/23/2004
2.5/4
We get no real feeling that it knows where it's going, and every good comedy needs a certain headlong conviction. Go to Full Review Dick Lochte Los Angeles Free Press 01/04/2020
The Ruling Class is that rarity, a successful, satiric film. No other genre is so plagued by good intentions and regrettable results. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 06/18/2008
B
In spots a very amusing and irreverent tongue-in-cheek satire on class that features a tour de force performance by Peter O'Toole. Go to Full Review Jake Euker F5 (Wichita, KS) 03/18/2006
2/5
Mark Athitakis Filmcritic.com 03/11/2006
3/5
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 07/04/2005
B
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Rafi แก้ว M Oct 26 A classic of 60s-70s Pythonesque nuttiness, disjointed and lumbering, with some really funny moments, and some really scary ones. Lot's of shocked expressions and reversals. Scathing commentary on the Aristocracy and Christianity in a sumptuous old-money setting, probably a little too long, but worth the wait. O'Toole delivers the whole spectrum of personality, from tiptoeing flower child to sadistic martinet, and said of the film: 'It's a comedy with some tragic relief." See more bob c Jun 29 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. See more Rosie S Jun 18 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. See more Clinton R @CWRoss48 Jun 9 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. See more Jo B Feb 11 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. See more bao s Jan 18 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. See more Read all reviews
The Ruling Class

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Cast & Crew

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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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The Ruling Class

The Ruling Class (1972) The Ruling Class (1972) View more photos

Movie Info

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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