When the Earl of Gurney dies in a cross-dressing accident, his schizophrenic son, Jack, inherits the Gurney estate. Jack is not the average nobleman; he sings and dances across the estate and thinks he is Jesus reincarnated. Believing that Jack is mentally unfit to own the estate, the Gurney family plots to steal Jack's inheritance. As their outrageous schemes fail, the family strives to cure Jack of his bizarre behavior, with disastrous results.
Acting
Peter O'Toole at his most dangerously unhinged
Writing
Peter Barnes' savage play adaptation
Direction
Medak balances grotesque comedy with genuine tragedy
Director
Peter Medak
Peter O'Toole
Jack 14th Earl of Gurney
Alastair Sim
Bishop Lampton
Arthur Lowe
Tucker
Harry Andrews
13th Earl of Gurney
Coral Browne
Lady Claire Gurney
Michael Bryant
Dr. Herder
Nigel Green
McKyle
William Mervyn
Sir Charles Gurney
Carolyn Seymour
Grace Shelley
James Villiers
Dinsdale
Kay Walsh
Mrs. Piggott-Jones
Patsy Byrne
Mrs. Treadwell
Graham Crowden
Truscott
Hugh Burden
Matthew Peake
James Grout
Inspector Brockett
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Peter O'Toole reportedly stayed in character between takes, once terrifying a crew member by blessing them in full Jesus mode.
The film's brutal satire of British class structure landed poorly in 1972; it found its cult audience only after O'Toole's death.
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