The Ruling Class (1972)

7.2PG154 minDirector: Peter Medak

1972 British film by Peter Medak

The Ruling Class is a 1972 British black comedy film. It is an adaptation of Peter Barnes' satirical 1968 stage play The Ruling Class, which tells the story of a paranoid schizophrenic British nobleman (played by Peter O'Toole) who inherits a peerage. The film co-stars Alastair Sim, William Mervyn, Coral Browne, Harry Andrews, Carolyn Seymour, James Villiers and Arthur Lowe. It was produced by Jules Buck and directed by Peter Medak.

The film has been described as a "commercial failure ... [that] has since become a cult classic"; Peter O'Toole described it as "a comedy with tragic relief".

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Ruling Class about?
The Ruling Class (1972) — A member of the House of Lords dies in a shockingly silly way, leaving his estate to his son. Unfortunately, his son is insane: he thinks he is Jesus Christ. The other somewhat-more respectable members of their family plot to steal the estate from him; murder and mayhem ensue.
Is The Ruling Class based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Ruling Class scary?
Content rating: PG. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.
What is The Ruling Class (1972) about? Plot, synopsis and ending explained — Screencodex