Review of The Ruling Class (1972) by Max M — 11 Apr 2009
Peter Medak's brilliant black comedy about the 14th Earl of Gurney (Peter O'Toole in what is probably his best cinematic performance this side of Lawrence) who moves from divine Megalomania (he thinks he's Jesus through half the picture, replete with a cross to hang from in his stately Manor's sitting room) to being 'cured' and becoming a modern-day embodiment of Jack the Ripper, is the kind of film whose grand ambition, take-no-prisoners satire, and sheer anarchic spirit is something to marvel over.
Like such terrific satirical and surreal films as Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, Lindsay Anderson's If... and O Lucky Man!, this picture's goal is to both criticize and brutally lampoon the stodgy image and practices of the British Upper Class and government. However, Medak takes it a few steps further by also taking playful swipes at both theatrical (dialogue from Shakespeare, Marlowe, and Wilde are dropped on a regular basis) and cinematic conventions (mainly the musical, as characters will sometimes break into brief yet energetic renditions of various songs, as well as the horror film, when Jack descends deeper into his role of the Whitechappel killer).
That all of these aspects never overwhelmed the story or the characters is a real feat of brilliance.
This review of The Ruling Class (1972) was written by Max M on 11 Apr 2009.
The Ruling Class has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
