The Ruling Class (1972): cast, story & where to watch
1972 · Film · ★ 6.6
Released in 1972, The Ruling Class is a comedy and drama film directed by Peter Medak, running about 154 minutes.
What it’s 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’s in it. The Ruling Class stars Peter O'Toole as Jack 14th Earl of Gurney, Alastair Sim as Bishop Lampton, Arthur Lowe as Tucker and Harry Andrews as 13th Earl of Gurney, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.6/10, The Ruling Class has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Britbox Apple TV Channel , YouTube TV and Criterion Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Ruling Class page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Ruling Class tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Ruling Class (1972)?
- In US, The Ruling Class is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Britbox Apple TV Channel and YouTube TV. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Ruling Class worth watching?
- The Ruling Class holds an audience score of 6.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Ruling Class?
- The Ruling Class stars Peter O'Toole, Alastair Sim, Arthur Lowe, Harry Andrews and Coral Browne.
- When was The Ruling Class released?
- The Ruling Class was released in 1972, with a runtime of about 154 minutes.