The Ruling Class( 1972)

TV-MAComedyDrama

64%

User
Score

Overview

When the Earl of Gurney dies in a cross-dressing accident, his schizophrenic son, Jack, 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.

Top Billed Cast

Peter O'Toole
Jack 14th Earl of Gurney
Alastair Sim
Bishop Lampton
Arthur Lowe
Tucker
Harry Andrews
13th Earl of Gurney
Coral Browne
Lady Claire Gurney
Michael Bryant
Dr. Herder
Nigel Green
McKyle
William Mervyn
Sir Charles Gurney
Carolyn Seymour
Grace Shelley
James Villiers
Dinsdale
Kay Walsh
Mrs. Piggott-Jones
Patsy Byrne
Mrs. Treadwell
Graham Crowden
Truscott
Hugh Burden
Matthew Peake
James Grout
Inspector Brockett
James Hazeldine
Fraser
Joan Cooper
Nurse Brice
Hugh Owens
Toastmaster
Henry Woolf
Inmate
Griffith Davies
Inmate
Oliver MacGreevy
Inmate
Neil Kennedy
Dr. Herder's Assistant
Cyril Appleton
McKyle's Assistant
Leslie Schofield
McKyle's Assistant
Declan Mulholland
Poacher
Ronald Adam
Lord
Julian D'Albie
Lord
Llewellyn Rees
Lord
Kenneth Benda
Lord Chancellor
Ernest Blyth
Lord (uncredited)
Terence Conoley
Lord (uncredited)
George Hilsdon
Lord (uncredited)
Margaret Lacey
Midwife (uncredited)
Mike Reynell
Gurney Village Pedestrian (uncredited)
Robert Rietti
Various Roles (voice) (uncredited)
Guy Standeven
Peer (uncredited)
John Tatham
Lord (uncredited)
Fred Wood
Corpse (uncredited)

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Review 1Discussion

A review by CinemaSerf

Written by CinemaSerf on Sun May 28 2023

The isn't actually a very good film, I felt - but it is does feature an extraordinary performance from Peter O'Toole as the "Earl of Gurney", about to take his seat in the house of Lords after his father has an untimely accident involving a noose and a tutu. His family are horrified at the prospect. Why? Well, that's because the new peer happens to believe he is Jesus. He spends much of his day contemplating or sleeping erect on his cruciform ornament in the great hall whilst the remainder of his rather eccentric family, and their boozy butter "Tucker" (Arthur Lowe) go about their business. The...