The Ruling Class
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.
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Cast
38 people
Peter O'Toole
Jack 14th Earl of Gurney
Known for
Lawrence of Arabia
Ratatouille
Alastair Sim
Bishop Lampton
Known for
Scrooge
An Inspector Calls
Arthur Lowe
Tucker
Known for
Coronation Street
Dad's Army
Harry Andrews
13th Earl of Gurney
Known for
Battle of Britain
Jack the Ripper
Coral Browne
Lady Claire Gurney
Known for
Theatre of Blood
Auntie Mame
Michael Bryant
Dr. Herder
Known for
The Miracle Maker
Torture Garden
Nigel Green
McKyle
Known for
The Ipcress File
Zulu
William Mervyn
Sir Charles Gurney
Known for
Murder Ahoy
The Railway Children
Carolyn Seymour
Grace Shelley
Known for
Congo
Mr. Mom
James Villiers
Dinsdale
Known for
House of Cards
Repulsion
Kay Walsh
Mrs. Piggott-Jones
Known for
Oliver Twist
Stage Fright
Patsy Byrne
Mrs. Treadwell
Known for
Blackadder
David Copperfield
Peter Medak Director · Peter Barnes Screenplay John Cameron Composer
Budget $1.4M · United States release September 13, 1972 · Produced in United Kingdom
Box office
Budget
$1,400,000
Production
Keep Films
Production
United Kingdom
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English · French · German · Italian · Latin
Release dates
United Kingdom · May 24, 1972
Theatrical · London
United States · September 13, 1972
Theatrical
More from Peter Medak
Other films they directed, best known first.
Some details come from TheTVDB.