Review of The Ruling Class (1972) by Matthew B — 10 Sep 2007

Paddy Chayefsky's screenplay for Network and James Goldman's adaptation of his own play for The Lion in Winter are two of an exceptionally limited number of films that compare, in the sphere of literary genius, with Peter Medak's The Ruling Class.

Peter Barnes' fabulously outrageous screenplay tests the limits of cinematic credibility, and the film is further suspended from reality by Ray Lovejoy's masterful (and occasionally disturbing editing) and the dynamic performances.

Peter O'Toole's transformation from Jesus to Jack the Ripper rivals his perfection as T.E. Lawrence in sheer vitality and theatrical dedication; Arthur Lowe's irreverent Tucker is a masterpiece of faux anarchism; Alastair Sim reaches a new summit of hilarity as the mentally failing Bishop Lampton; Harry Andrews is uproariously bizarre as the demented, masochistic 13th Earl of Gurney; and Coral Browne, Michael Bryant, William Mervyn, and Nigel Green (mortifying as the High Voltage Messiah) are all fantastic.

This is a classic fusion of comedy, musical, and horror; it transcends category as it transcends all level of reality and reasonable humor. An immensely rewarding and side-splitting attack on post-Edwardian classism and the real nature of insanity.