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The Ruling Class ()

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A member of the House of Lords dies, leaving his estate to his son. Unfortunately, his son thinks he is Jesus Christ. Their other, somewhat more respectable family members plot to steal the estate from him; murder and mayhem ensue.
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Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
  • Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.
  • See more »
Reviews:

Photos and Videos

66 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

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Hugh Owens ...
Toastmaster
...
13th Earl of Gurney
...
Tucker
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Sir Charles Gurney
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Lady Claire Gurney
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Dinsdale
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Bishop Lampton
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Matthew Peake
...
Jack 14th Earl of Gurney
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Dr. Herder
...
Inmate
Griffith Davies ...
Inmate
Oliver MacGreevy ...
Inmate (as Oliver McGreevy)
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Mrs. Piggott-Jones
...
Mrs. Treadwell
...
Grace Shelley
Neil Kennedy ...
Dr. Herder's Assistant
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McKyle
...
McKyle's Assistant
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McKyle's Assistant
Joan Cooper ...
Nurse Brice
Declan Mulholland ...
Poacher
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Truscott
...
Inspector Brockett
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Fraser
...
Lord
Julian D'Albie ...
Lord
Llewellyn Rees ...
Lord
...
Lord Chancellor
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lewis Alexander ...
Lord (uncredited)
Ernest Blyth ...
Lord (uncredited)
Terence Conoley ...
Lord (uncredited)
...
Lord (uncredited)
Margaret Lacey ...
Midwife (uncredited)
Mike Reynell ...
Man Walking in Gurney Village (uncredited)
...
Various Roles (uncredited) (voice)
...
Peer (uncredited)
...
Lord (uncredited)
...
Corpse (uncredited)

Directed by

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Peter Medak

Written by

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Peter Barnes ... (screenplay)
 
Peter Barnes ... (play)

Produced by

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Jules Buck ... producer
Jack Hawkins ... producer
David Korda ... associate producer

Music by

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John Cameron

Cinematography by

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Ken Hodges ... director of photography

Editing by

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Ray Lovejoy

Editorial Department

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William Parnell ... assistant editor (uncredited)
Noel Rogers ... assistant editor (uncredited)

Casting By

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Maude Spector

Production Design by

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Peter Murton

Costume Design by

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Ruth Myers

Makeup Department

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Eric Allwright ... makeup artist
Ramon Gow ... hair stylist
Susie Hill ... hairdresser
Charles E. Parker ... makeup creator (as Charles Parker)

Production Management

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Tim Hampton ... production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Bert Batt ... assistant director
Bill Westley ... second assistant director

Art Department

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John Paterson ... construction
Peter Young ... set dresser
Allan Croucher ... set plasterer (uncredited)
Roy Pembrooke ... props (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Stan Fiferman ... dubbing editor
Robin Gregory ... sound mixer
Gerry Humphreys ... dubbing mixer (as Gerry Humphries)
Don Wortham ... boom operator
Richard Daniel ... sound maintenance (uncredited)
Robin O'Donoghue ... assistant dubbing mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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Roy Whybrow ... special effects
Colin Chilvers ... special effects technician (uncredited)

Stunts

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Peter Diamond ... stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Herbert Smith ... camera operator (as Herbie Smith)
Malcolm Vinson ... camera assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Jean Muir ... wardrobe: Miss Browne
Tiny Nicholls ... wardrobe master

Location Management

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Lee Bolon ... location manager

Music Department

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John Cameron ... musical director
Vic Smith ... music mixer

Script and Continuity Department

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Maggie Unsworth ... continuity

Additional Crew

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Andy Birmingham ... production accountant
Roy Everson ... production aide
Eleanor Fazan ... choreographer
Bill Finch ... accountant
Joseph E. Levine ... presenter
Crew believed to be complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

A member of the House of Lords dies in a shockingly silly way, leaving his estate to his son. Unfortunately, his son is insane: he thinks he is Jesus Christ. The other somewhat-more respectable members of their family plot to steal the estate from him; murder and mayhem ensue. Written by Mark Logan

Plot Keywords
Taglines How do you know you're... God? Simple when I pray to Him I find I'm talking to myself. See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Dieu et mon droit (France)
  • La clase dirigente (Spain)
  • Locuras de grandeza (Peru)
  • 支配階級 (Japan, Japanese title)
  • Управляващата класа (Bulgaria, Bulgarian title)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 154 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Did You Know?

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Trivia Nigel Green died shortly after production from an overdose of sleeping pills; it was ruled an accident but is believed by some to have been a suicide, as Green was said to have been greatly depressed during filming. It had already been decided that his dialog should be replaced by that of another actor in the finished film, Graham Crowden. See more »
Goofs The 13th Earl is referred to as "Ralph". Upper class pronunciation of this name is always "Rafe". All the characters (and actors) would know this. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in Twilight Zone: The Movie/The Survivors/The Grey Fox/The Ruling Class/The Evil Dead (1983). See more »
Soundtracks God Save the Queen See more »
Quotes Lady Claire Gurney: How do you know you're God?
Jack Arnold Alexander Tancred Gurney, 14th Earl of Gurney: Simple. When I pray to Him, I find I am talking to myself.
See more »
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