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Comedy drama

The Ruling Class (1972): Cast & Plot

The Ruling Class (1972) movie poster

The Ruling Class is a 1972 comedy drama directed by Peter Medak, starring Peter O'Toole as Jack 14th Earl of Gurney, Mike Reynell and Harry Andrews. It runs 2 hours 34 minutes.

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The Ruling Class (1972) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 34m (154 min)
Director
Peter Medak
Genres
Drama , Comedy
Original language
English
Studio
Keep Films
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Ruling Class About?

The premise of The Ruling Class without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

When the Earl of Gurney dies in a cross‑dressing mishap, his schizophrenic son Jack inherits the estate. Jack, convinced he is Jesus reborn, spends his days singing and dancing around the grounds. The family, deeming him unfit, plots to seize his inheritance, but their insane schemes and attempts to “cure” him only lead to disastrous results.

The Ruling Class Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • bestiality
  • european literature on screen
  • horseback riding
  • screenplay adapted by author
  • mentally ill person
  • insane person
  • mental illness
  • mentally ill protagonist
  • mentally ill man
  • satire comedy
  • parody comedy
  • dark comedy
+38 more
  • family relationships
  • earl of gurney character
  • based on a stage play
  • jack the ripper character
  • talking to oneself
  • breaking the fourth wall
  • hospital
  • murder
  • house of lords
  • pressure cooker
  • love
  • cure
  • ruling class
  • death
  • psychiatric hospital
  • psychiatrist
  • reference to the virgin mary
  • electroshock therapy
  • prostitute
  • mistaken autoerotic asphyxiation
  • slow motion scene
  • lumbago
  • crying
  • epileptic fit
  • talking to a plant
  • greenhouse
  • drunkenness
  • singer
  • toast
  • dog
  • finger in a light socket
  • reference to la traviata
  • thunderstorm
  • tricycle
  • wastrel
  • noose
  • drinking
  • public school
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Cast & crew

The Ruling Class Cast & Characters

Peter O'Toole leads the cast as Jack 14th Earl of Gurney, with Mike Reynell as Gurney Village Pedestrian (uncredited) and Harry Andrews as 13th Earl of Gurney. Directed by Peter Medak; 38 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Ruling Class

· 34 more
Show all 38 cast members
Plot

The Ruling Class Plot Summary

What happens in The Ruling Class from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Following the accidental death of Ralph Gurney, the 13th Earl of Gurney, Jack Gurney ascends as the 14th Earl of Gurney. Jack is a paranoid schizophrenic who truly believes he is Jesus Christ and dreams of returning to the world to spread love and charity. He punctuates his beliefs with spontaneous song, dance, and even sleeping upright on a cross, a sight that unsettles his family and friends. When confronted with the uncomfortable fact of his aristocratic identity, he retreats into a personal ritual, tucking troublesome truths away in his galvanized pressure cooker until they vanish from view.

Full summary

The whole story of The Ruling Class, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

The Ruling Class Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Ruling Class.

Criterion Trailer 132: The Ruling Class
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Ruling Class?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who becomes the 14th Earl of Gurney after Ralph Gurney's death?
Cars

Cars in The Ruling Class

6 cars on screen, including the 1957 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith and the 1957 Bedford A 2Z Ambulance.

All 6 cars
  • 1957 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith in The Ruling Class 1957 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Important role
  • 1957 Bedford A 2Z Ambulance in The Ruling Class 1957 Bedford A 2Z Ambulance Minor role
  • 1952 Bentley R-Type in The Ruling Class 1952 Bentley R-Type Minor role
  • 1967 Humber Hawk Series IV in The Ruling Class 1967 Humber Hawk Series IV Minor role
Details

The Ruling Class Also Known As

9 alternative titles, including “La clase dirigente” and “Dieu et mon droit”.

Also known as
  • La clase dirigente
  • Dieu et mon droit
  • 统治阶层
  • Det skjer i de beste familier
  • La classe dirigente
  • Правящий класс
  • A Classe Dominante
  • 지배 계급
  • 豪门怪杰

Seen The Ruling Class?
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FAQ

The Ruling Class FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Ruling Class, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Ruling Class?

The Ruling Class runs 2 hours 34 minutes (154 minutes).

When was The Ruling Class released?

The Ruling Class was released on September 13, 1972.

Who directed The Ruling Class?

The Ruling Class was directed by Peter Medak.

More films by Peter Medak

Who is in the cast of The Ruling Class?

The Ruling Class stars Peter O'Toole as Jack 14th Earl of Gurney, Mike Reynell as Gurney Village Pedestrian (uncredited) and Harry Andrews as 13th Earl of Gurney, among 38 credited actors.

Does The Ruling Class have a post-credit scene?

No. The Ruling Class has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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