The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer

Name: The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer
Genre: Comedy
Released: 1971-07-23
Duration: 1 h 34 min
Rating: 6.9
Cast: Ann Beach, Desmond Walter-Ellis, Peter Cook

1970
R
1h 34m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

731

YOUR RATING

Peter Cook in The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970)

Satire Comedy

Fresh-faced young Michael Rimmer worms his way into an opinion poll company and is soon running the place. He uses this as a springboard to get into politics, and in the mini-skirted, flared... Read allFresh-faced young Michael Rimmer worms his way into an opinion poll company and is soon running the place. He uses this as a springboard to get into politics, and in the mini-skirted, flared-trousered world of 1970 Britain, he starts to rise through the Tory ranks.Fresh-faced young Michael Rimmer worms his way into an opinion poll company and is soon running the place. He uses this as a springboard to get into politics, and in the mini-skirted, flared-trousered world of 1970 Britain, he starts to rise through the Tory ranks.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

731

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
The mysterious and diabolical character played by Peter Cook may be seen as an unaffectionate parody of the film's executive producer, David Frost. Frost was once said to have "risen without trace", which is more or less what Rimmer does in the film; he achieves fame via television much as Frost did in the early 1960s; he becomes influential in politics as Frost allegedly sought to do with his famous "power breakfasts"; and, the most obvious resemblance, he is seen sitting in a hanging chair of the type known as an "orange bomb", exactly like the much-photographed one which Frost had in his home. Peter Cook - who once said that the only thing he really regretted in his life was saving Frost from drowning - acknowledged that Frost had been quite peeved by the resemblances in the portrait of Rimmer.

Goofs
During the sex survey scene, Michael Bate's character exclaims that the last time he and his wife made love was Tuesday June 3rd 1953 and it was the Coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II that 'got her going'. Whilst he may remember the occasion with some nostalgia, he doesn't remember the day as June 3rd 1953 fell on a Wednesday.

Quotes
Mrs. Ferret: Have you been fired?
Ferret: [brushing it off] Fired?
[laughs]
Ferret: Hahaha! Fired? Hahahaha
[more nervous now]
Mrs. Ferret: Then why is the car for sale?
[we see the car through the house window; in the side window there is a crudely written sign saying FORSALE]
Ferret: Oh that? That's a mistake. That's one of Rimmer's cockups. That should read Fors Ale. A new beer we're advertising.
[as giving a slogan]
Ferret: Fors Ale - keeps you hearty and hale.
Mrs. Ferret: Well I've never heard of it.
Ferret: And you may never! Very hush hush.

Connections
Featured in Omnibus: Some Interesting Facts About Peter Cook (1995)

User reviews27

Review

Featured review

10/10

One of the best satirical films I have ever seen.

This film was shown recently on Channel 5 in the UK. Basically, a young official looking man with a clipboard, Michael Rimmer (Peter Cook) walks into a dead beat polling company - and begins to change it dramatically. Very soon, the company is a thrusting dynamic organisation - with Michael Rimmer as it's head. He is loved by everyone, and he can manipulate people easily. He then begins to move into politics, and rises very quickly up to Prime Minister. It is then that his true motives begin to appear - he wants to be President of Great Britain. Will he succeed? Of course, he's Michael Rimmer. Watch this film and be amazed. Don't be concerned if you find you rewind it and watch it all over again. It is superb.