The Ruling Class cover art

The Ruling Class Details

1972 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 370 members

A sprawling, bursting-at-the-seams send-up of the in-grown eccentricities of the British upper class with Peter O'Toole as one of the least crazy of the English blue-bloods -- he thinks he's Jesus Christ. Academy Award Nominations: Best Actor--Peter O'Toole. Read more

Starring Peter O'Toole, Alastair Sim, Arthur Lowe, Harry Andrews
Director Peter Medak
Genres Comedy

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The Ruling Class cover art

The Ruling Class

A sprawling, bursting-at-the-seams send-up of the in-grown eccentricities of the British upper class with Peter O'Toole as one of the least crazy of the English blue-bloods -- he thinks he's Jesus Christ. Academy Award Nominations: Best Actor--Peter O'Toole.

Starring Peter O'Toole, Alastair Sim, Arthur Lowe, Harry Andrews, Michael Bryant
Director Peter Medak
Studio OPTIMUM HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 2 hrs 4 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Genres Comedy
Language DVD: English
Subtitles DVD: None
Released DVD: 25 Jun 2001
Production year: 1972
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (3) of The Ruling Class

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    A black-hearted assault on British social institutions and the class system, this boasts moments of cruel comedy and real anger thanks to Peter Medak's inspired direction of Peter Barnes's play. Peter O'Toole stars as the madman who inherits the title of the Earl of Gurney. His relatives — played by a flurry of great character actors from Alastair Sim to Arthur Lowe — then bury their snouts in the trough of expected riches, but O'Toole fools them all: he switches from being Jesus Christ to Jack the Ripper. The film is dated in its approach, though it still has the power to shock, while cynics may claim that the satirical targets are very much alive and well.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006
  • 3 stars out of 4

    An overlong satirical play with brilliant patches is hamfistedly filmed but boasts some bright performances. The hits are as random as the misses, however.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • Most helpful member's review of The Ruling Class

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  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Extraordinary Black Comedy

    The Ruling Class is an extraordinary black comedy featuring possibly Peter O'Toole’s finest performance. He is the 14th Earl of Gurney who, through the sadomasochistic misadventure of his father, inherits the entirety of his family’s estate. There's only one problem: he's also a paranoid schizophrenic who believes he's Christ!

    The British upper classes are given a very stiff kicking - the range of hypocrisy and craziness that goes on among the 'sane' family are as disturbing as the thoughts of their frenzied nephew. No one here is free of the deadly sins and very little love or compassion is on display. That is left to the Uncle’s mistress who is willingly arranged into marriage with the Earl in the hope of producing a male heir to displace the madman with.

    A very dark and literate film (based on Peter Barnes’ stage play) this is a simultaneously funny, frightening, and exhilarating cinema experience.

      • Shane Bordas from London, England
      • Posted 16 Dec 2005 14:34

  • Most recent members' review of The Ruling Class

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  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    black comedy

    very funny dark comedy with a star cast

    musical numbers increase the enjoyment

      • A customer from england
      • Posted 15 Jun 2004 23:19

  • News and features

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    Venus

    Venus

    • 19 Jan 2007

    Premiere magazine recently rated Peter O'Toole's performance in Lawrence of Arabia the greatest ever committed to celluloid. It was his fourth film, his first lead, and a hell of a break - though he lost the Oscar to Gregory Peck and To Kill a Mockingbird. He's been nominated six times since (for Becket, The Lion in Winter, Goodbye Mr Chips, The Ruling Class, The Stunt Man, and My Favourite Year), and famously never won, except for an Honorary Award in 2003. 'I'm still in the game,' he... Read more

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Rating breakdown

370 Member ratings
  • 100
23
  • 90
22
  • 80
39
  • 70
52
  • 60
70
  • 50
43
  • 40
46
  • 30
28
  • 20
32
  • 10
15

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    • The Ruling Class

    • The Ruling Class
      A sprawling, bursting-at-the-seams send-up of the in-grown eccentricities of the British upper class with Peter O'Toole as one of the least crazy of the English blue-bloods -- he thinks he's Jesus Christ. Academy Award Nominations: Best Actor--Peter O'Toole....