Marjoe
The Ruling Class
From the age of four, Marjoe Gortner has known the powerful effects of fame. As a child evangelist, he became a sensation on the religious-revival circuit preaching to millions. Marjoe offers a behind-the-scenes portrait of his final tour, modeled after the success of rock stars like Mick Jagger, whom Gortner shamelessly emulates onstage. Despite critical acclaim, the film courted controversy with scenes of Gortner revealing the capitalist nature of his religious enterprise. In The Ruling Class, Peter O’Toole plays a fanatic of a different sort. As the crazed son of the Earl of Gurney, he believes he is Jesus Christ and uses his newly inherited fortune to help the needy. His family forces him to straighten up for fear of losing their remaining riches, inciting him to embrace a new persona: Jack the Ripper.
PROGRAM
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Marjoe
Directed by Sarah Kernochan and Howard Smith.
US, 1972, 35mm, color, 88 min.
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The Ruling Class
Directed by Peter Medak.
With Peter O'Toole, Alistair Sim, Arthur Lowe.
UK, 1971, 35mm, color, 155 min.
Part of film series
Screenings from this program
Tol’able David / To the Last Man
Buffalo Bill and the Indians... / The Ballad of Cable Hogue
Daydreams / Drifters
The Silent World / In The Pink: Faded Films
