The Ruling Class (1972)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Peter Medak

Writers:

Peter Barnes (play)
Peter Barnes (screenplay)

Release Date:

10 May 1972 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Plot:

A member of the House of Lords dies in a shockingly silly way, leaving his estate to his son. Unfortunately...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | House Of Lords | Pub | Schizophrenia | Prologue

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Peter O'Toole	...	Jack Arnold Alexander Tancred Gurney - 14th Earl of Gurney
Alastair Sim	...	Bishop Bertie Lampton
Arthur Lowe	...	Daniel Tucker
Harry Andrews	...	Ralph Gurney - 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 Gurney
Hugh Burden	...	Matthew Peake
Graham Crowden	...	Truscott
Kay Walsh	...	Mrs. Piggot-Jones
Patsy Byrne	...	Mrs. Treadwell
Joan Cooper	...	Nurse Brice

Runtime:

154 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:15 (video rating) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:PG | Australia:M | Chile:(Banned) | Sweden:15 | USA:R (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Cliveden Estate, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Keep Films

Trivia:

Nigel Green committed suicide after production. It had already been decided that his dialog should be replaced by that of another actor in the finished film, Graham Crowden.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When they are burying Lady Gurney, the camera casts a shadow over the grave stones and ground.

Quotes:

Dr. Herder: He can't forget being rejected by his mother and father at the age of 11. They sent him away, alone, into a primitive community of licensed bullies and pederasts.
Sir Charles: You mean he went to public school.
Dr. Herder: Exactly.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 75th Annual Academy Awards (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Pomp and Circumstance

Hilarious, Biting Classic

Mind blowing, superior satire on the class system in Britain, with a once in a lifetime cast (Peter O'Toole, Alastair Sim "The Zambeesi Missions", Arthur Lowe "Alexi Kronstadt...Revolutionary!", Coral Browne, William Mervyn and so forth). Cinematically, the British have long proved that no one has a better sense of humor, or is as self critical of them, than they themselves. Perhaps, as the saying goes, "It keeps the old girl honest."

This scathing comedy takes no prisoners, whether engaging in outlandish situational dialogue or performers suddenly zipping out in a song and dance routines. There are too many individual gems of dialogue to count (although a personal fave is O'Toole's talk with Mrs. Piggot-Jones and Mrs. Treadwell). The performances are delivered with just the right amount of relish and timing. A modern classic. Highly recommended.