The Ruling Class (1972)

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:

Alastair Sim modeled his characterization of Bishop Lampton on the Primate of All England (chief religious figure in the Church of England), Michael Ramsay Archbishop of Canterbury (subsequently Baron Ramsay of Canterbury). Portraits of Ramsay in the National Gallery bear a likeness to the physical aspects of Sim's character.

Goofs:

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

Quotes:

Sir Charles: What about Jack?
Dr. Herder: Remember he's suffering from delusions of grandeur. In reality he's an earl, an English aristocrat, a member of the ruling class. Naturally, he's come to believe there's only one person grander than that: the Lord God Almighty Himself.
Sir Charles: Are you English?
Dr. Herder: No.
Sir Charles: [slowly] Ah.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Pomp and Circumstance

One of the best black comedies ever to come out of Britain... a side-splitting indictment of their class system.

British `dark comedy' was possibly as its zenith with this rich Peter O'Toole offering by director Peter Medak. O'Toole is Jack Gurney, the youngest and `somewhat eccentric' heir to the House of Gurney. He suddenly finds himself being forced by his late father's will into taking up his role in British society - assuming the family seat in the House of Lords. The biggest problem is not that the late Earl of Gurney has just accidentally hung himself wearing a cocked hat and a ballet skirt, or that Jack has just released himself from `hospital' where the doctors were treating his `nerves.' No the biggest problem is that, on a good day, the new 14th Earl of Gurney thinks he's Jesus Christ and, on a bad day, he thinks he's Jack the Ripper!

And if that mix of the macabre doesn't make you chuckle, try this unexpected twist. At several poignant moments throughout the film, the cast will suddenly break from straight-faced dialogue into a full-blown, song and dance numbers, some of which would make Busby Berkley proud. In one case, the tune of `Connect 'dem Bones' is ushered up to punctuate a scene with O'Toole lecturing the local gentry about the need for capital punishment. Herein lies one of the big reasons why this film is so off-the-wall and refreshingly funny.

For my money, this is one of the most original, thought-provoking and honest critiques of the British class system ever to be put on film. O'Toole is simply mesmerizing as he juggles Jack's multiple personalities, the funniest of which is Christ or, as he prefers it, `J.C.' It's hysterical to watch the cumulative effect of J.C.'s `touched' outlook on the members in his stuffy, conspiring family who are out to get Jack committed permanently.

A true `Must See Film' for anyone who enjoys a juicy, sardonic, intelligent black comedy, especially when the topic focuses on the silly pomposity of the British upper classes.