The Ruling Class
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Criterion Trailer 132: The Ruling Class
Type: Trailer • Published 2006-10-01
Top Cast
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Peter O'Toole
Jack 14th Earl of Gurney
Alastair Sim
Bishop Lampton
Arthur Lowe
Tucker
Harry Andrews
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
Kay Walsh
Mrs. Piggott-Jones
Patsy Byrne
Mrs. Treadwell
Graham Crowden
Truscott
Hugh Burden
Matthew Peake
James Grout
Inspector Brockett
James Hazeldine
Fraser
Joan Cooper
Nurse Brice
Hugh Owens
Toastmaster
Release History & Theatrical Window
September 13, 1972
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Peter Medak
- Screenplay & Story
- Peter Barnes
- Original Score
- John Cameron
- Original Title
- The Ruling Class
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- German, English, French, Italian, Latin
- Runtime
- 2h 34m
- Production Studios
- Keep Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Peter Medak
Peter Barnes
John Cameron
Ken Hodges
Ray Lovejoy
Jules Buck, Jack Hawkins
Department Leadership Roster
Peter Barnes
Screenplay
Peter Medak
Director
Jules Buck
Producer
Ray Lovejoy
Editor
Jack Hawkins
Producer
Ken Hodges
Director of Photography
Peter Murton
Production Design
Ruth Myers
Costume Design
John Cameron
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Ruling Class.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Ruling Class.
Criterion Collection
The Complete Criterion Collection. The Criterion Collection is a video distribution company that sells 'important classic and contemporary films' in editions that offer the highest technical quality. This list contains only the featured films released on DVD, BluRay and 4K Criterion releases — no supplements are included. Organized by spine number with the newest releases first. CC标准收藏完整收录版： 收录标准收藏（Criterion Collection）发行的重要经典及当代电影。仅包含正片（涵盖 DVD、蓝光及 4K 版本），已排除花絮补充内容。按 CC 发行编号倒序排列（最新发行在前）。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#214] Mangrove (2020) • [#215] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#216] Red, White and Blue (2020) • [#217] Alex Wheatle (2020) • [#486] Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day (1972) • [#647] Dekalog (1989) • [#944] World on a Wire (1973) • [#1187] Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) • [#1338] Fanny and Alexander (1984) • [#1341] Tanner '88 (1988) • [#1371] Scenes from a Marriage (1973) *注：以下影片因 TMDB 尚未收录，暂不在此片单中展示：* • [#531] First (2012) • [#1699] Ulysse (1983) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-11 07:39:08 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Ruling Class
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Ruling Class about?
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.
Who directed The Ruling Class?
The Ruling Class was directed by Peter Medak.
Who stars in The Ruling Class?
The principal cast of The Ruling Class includes Peter O'Toole, Alastair Sim, Arthur Lowe, Harry Andrews, Coral Browne.
When was The Ruling Class released and how long is it?
The Ruling Class was released in 1972 with a total runtime of 2h 34m.
Who composed the musical score for The Ruling Class?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Ruling Class was composed by John Cameron.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Ruling Class?
The Ruling Class holds official age classifications: GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).