The Ruling Class (1972)

In the wake of the absurd and unexpected demise of the esteemed Lord Ralph Gurney, his son, Jack Gurney, unexpectedly inherits his father's sprawling estate, along with the prestigious title of the Earl of Gurney. Having spent the last seven years in self-imposed seclusion, Jack is abruptly thrust back into high society; a society that he views from the unique perspective of one who believes himself to be Jesus Christ, championing eternal love and equality for all. Unknown to his aristocratic family, Jack's retreat was not in a monastery, as he claims, but in a psychiatric hospital. At his father's behest, Jack had remained there voluntarily, his mind ensnared in the clutches of paranoid schizophrenia. His conviction that he is God incarnate, in combination with his egalitarian ideologies, shakes the very foundation of his family's established place in the ruling class. Yet, it's not his delusion of divinity that poses the greatest threat to the Gurney legacy, but his radical notion of universal equality. As the new Earl of Gurney, Jack's eccentricities and radical ideas instigate a ripple of concern within the family, stirring fears for the preservation of their historic name and vast estate. Intrigue ensues as divided loyalties, nefarious plots, and competing interests within the family lead to a frantic scramble to seize control. Some seek to manipulate a suitable Gurney successor into place, hoping to recommit Jack to the asylum, while others gamble on the possibility of his long-serving psychiatrist, Dr. Herder, bringing him back to reality. However, Jack, with his unorthodox beliefs and unpredictable nature, might just have a few surprises up his sleeve. Will he succumb to the machinations of his family, or will he turn the tables on them? Only time will tell in this darkly comedic exploration of power, sanity, and the ruling class.

The Ruling Class is a comedy movie featuring Peter O'Toole and directed by Peter Medak.

The Ruling Class is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Plex, Plex Player, The Roku Channel and Tubi TV and it's also available on BritBox, BritBox Amazon Channel, Britbox Apple TV Channel , Criterion Channel and Max Amazon Channel.