Every part of British life is lampooned here - or so it seems. Parliament, the aristocracy, the Church, homosexuality - you name it, The Ruling Class has a dig at it. And despite the fact that the film is a bit long and occasionally self-indulgent, there is much to admire and enjoy. Peter O'Toole is the loony earl (who thinks he's Jesus) who leaves the asylum to take his seat in the Lords after his almost-as-daft father (Harry Andrews) accidentally hangs himself. There's fine support from Alastair Sim as the local bishop, William Mervyn as O'Toole's uncle and a wonderful cameo by Nigel Green as another nut who also thinks he's Jesus. But the character to treasure is Tucker, the drunken and insubordinate butler played to perfection by Arthur Lowe. Patched and flawed, The Ruling Class is still great black fun.


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