Rating: 
Summary: The Eyes Have It
Review: "The Ruling Class" has to be one of the most bizarre major productions that I have ever seen. It's a wonder it was ever made or who it's intended audience would have been. The film's basic premise, a titled member of the British aristocracy who believes that he is Jesus Christ or at least reincarnated thereof whose family attempts to cure him with the result being an acceptable psychopath is potentially offputting. The film also contains strange musical interludes. The film works mostly through the gusto that Peter O'Toole invests in the role of J.C. O'Toole inhabits this character completely and doesn't let go. The intensity of his performance is exhibited in his booming voice but primarily in his intense eyes. You can see it when he plays the benevolent J.C. how soft they look. When he has to go to psycho mode they are steely and unforgiving. This film is not everyone but if your not easily offended I give it a recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: Black, black comedy- Scathingly funny!
Review: 2 words to see this movie- Peter O'toole. Amazing performance- and what a lot to work with! The 14th Earl is well, NUTS! Whether he be "J.C." (that famous one, whose father was God and was into crosses), or the OTHER Jack, the Victorian one, who had a thing for pretty hookers and knives.. Charming, rich, dark comedy- Brilliant! The supporting cast is a delight as well. The movie has aged a tad, but Who Cares? This was O'toole at his finest (if you liked My Favorite Year- SEE THIS..) Enjoy
Rating: 
Summary: Stay Away
Review: and those expectations were totally wrong. I read reviews that tried to be overly critical of exactly what was satirized in the film. I read the attempts to place this in its status as a classic film and to categorize it. All of that misled. In the first few minutes of the film, I began to understand what The Ruling Class was for me. It was (and is) a hilarious masterpiece. I came in with a little more plot knowledge than I wanted, but even with that extra knowledge of some of the big jokes, I found myself with a smile on my face for the majority of the film. It was intelligent enough to keep me occupied for it's 2 and 1/2 hours. It was eccentric enough to fit my tastes and to break out of the norm of so many movies that just don't stand up to multiple viewings (plus it completely changed my view of Peter O'Toole). This is a movie I will re-visit time and again.
Rating: 
Summary: I came in with expectations...
Review: and those expectations were totally wrong. I read reviews that tried to be overly critical of exactly what was satirized in the film. I read the attempts to place this in its status as a classic film and to categorize it. All of that misled. In the first few minutes of the film, I began to understand what The Ruling Class was for me. It was (and is) a hilarious masterpiece. I came in with a little more plot knowledge than I wanted, but even with that extra knowledge of some of the big jokes, I found myself with a smile on my face for the majority of the film. It was intelligent enough to keep me occupied for it's 2 and 1/2 hours. It was eccentric enough to fit my tastes and to break out of the norm of so many movies that just don't stand up to multiple viewings (plus it completely changed my view of Peter O'Toole). This is a movie I will re-visit time and again.
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Satire
Review: As brilliant as this movie is, I can only give it 4 stars because its pacing often drags. However, if viewed with patience, this is a very worthwhile film to watch and a wonderful satirical examination of classism (specifically British).Peter O'Toole, playing Jack Gurney, inherits an estate and a title from his eccentric father. This is much to his relatives' horror since Jack believes that he is Jesus/the God of Love. They come up with a scheme to marry him to a prostitute so she will bear him an heir, then they can lock him away for life, thus avoiding any embarrassment to his title. Jack starts out as a harmless eccentric who loves and accepts all people and rejects materialism (which frightens visiting snobs). However, as the result of the interference of his relatives and his psychiatrist, he begins to believe instead that he is Jack the Ripper/the God of Wrath. While Jack's new personality is far more disturbing than his original harmless eccentricities, he is now accepted by the ruling class as one of them. Since he now answers to his own name (Jack) and begins to act like a racist and snobby bigot, his relatives believe him to be perfectly sane. The upper class applauds his newfound goal of reintroducing capital punishment and torture to the corrections system in order to restore a grip of fear over the lower classes and restore dignity to Britain. The fact that he refers to himself as the Lord also no longer draws attention since, through his inheritance, he is now a member of the House of Lords. One particularly striking scene has Jack perceiving the House of Lords as a decayed hall occupied by rotting corpses even as the members wildly applaud his speech, a very biting commentary on that institution's nature. Sure, the satire is a bit one-sided, but I have had enough personal experience with members of the elite who are completely out of touch with reality to recognize that there is little exaggeration in it, and I find great personal satisfaction watching this movie. O'Toole's performance is also excellent and fun to watch. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Black comedy in a superb DVD presentation
Review: At long last the outrageous 1972 British farce, "The Ruling Class" has arrived on DVD in all its demented glory - and I do mean ALL as it includes an additional 13 minutes of footage to the "uncut" version released in 1983, making this a true "director's cut" running the complete 154 minutes. Director Peter Medak even supervised this restoration, and the entire Criterion Collection package provides enough extras (including Medak's 16mm "home movies" shot during the filming) for hours of viewing enjoyment. Play the brief trailer first (for comparison's sake) and you will see just how impressive this remastering is with strikingly deep color saturation and crisply upgraded monaural sound.
But even this glorious widescreen presentation can hardly contain the quirky antics and surreal goings-on that parade before your eyes and ears. Medak has directed this potentially unwieldy material by aiming to get the biggest laughs out of even the most trifling bits of humor, be they visual or verbal, front-stage or in the background. And he keeps the pace so frenetic you won't be bored for a minute.
Brooding more deeply than he did in "Lawrence of Arabia", shouting louder than he did in "The Lion in Winter", Peter O'Toole plays the 14th Earl of Gurney, a royal heir considered "bonkers" by his relatives, who is right at home as Jesus Christ sprawled over a giant cross, or as Jack the Ripper brandishing a switchblade. At one point, as the latter, he leads the cast in a rambunctious vaudeville version of "Dem Bones", one of several bizarre and hilarious musical interludes (including a striptease!) that crop up thoughout the film. The supporting cast includes such high profile names as Alistair Sim, Nigel Green, Coral Browne and Harry Andrews; but, as with most British films, even the smallest role is cast to perfection.
This is one DVD that will definitely not collect dust on your shelf. You'll be pulling it down to show friends, or just to watch your favorite scenes when you need a good belly laugh.
As the 14th Earl asks early on, "Is everybody HAPPY?" Yes, indeed we are. And thank you again Criterion!
Rating:
Summary: Don't miss the HOOSIER CONNECTION !
Review: Check out the comprehensive customer reviews -- I echo the acclaim for Peter O'Toole -- wild, unchained! And favorite actors Coral Browne & Alistair Sim contribute to my unrestrained laughter. The DVD adds "home movies" of beautiful Harlaxton Manor in Lincolnshire UK where most filming was done. Oh, to see the cedar staircase again! And Peter dancing on the grassy rise above the manor -- unforgettable. I'll have to move the DVD player up to top spot on my Wish List! Here is the HOOSIER CONNECTION: Harlaxton Manor is owned by Indiana's University of Evansville & is the site of their overseas studies. What lucky students to be in those amazing surroundings.
Rating:
Summary: How one extreamly crazy man can be made crazier by family.
Review: Definately a good movie for the religious zealot or the aristocrat wanna-be, The Ruling Class combines the wonder of a man, so intensely bizarre, that love is actually "pure" to him and a walk in the rain, sublime. Peter O'Toole is wonderful as "The Lord" aka Jack...and finally "Jack The Ripper"...a "Jack of All Trades" so to speak...his "Top Hat And Tails" rendition of a "Godly" show tune can be topped by none. Definately worth seeing, no matter what price you have to pay!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Spaced-out British satire that is right on target.
Review: Hilarious fun is poked at the eccentric British upper-class in this no holds barred satire. Peter O'Toole is memorable as the mad Earl of Gurney who believes that he is Jesus Christ and when restored to "normalcy" turns into Jack the Ripper.Characters at various times take to madcap songs. The aristocracy, it seems would rather welcome a Jack the Ripper or an extremely reactionary lord than it would Christ. With Alistair Sim as a feeble-minded Bishop and Arthur Lowe as a hilariously insolent, left wing "Bolshie" manservant. 3 1/2 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Biting hilarious satire
Review: I loved this movie when I saw it many years ago. I hope very much that this film gets justice and gets released on DVD very soon!
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