The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer

1970
R
1h 34m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

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

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

738

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos13

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9:57

Storyline

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Trivia
Sir Eric Bentley is inspired by the late British Conservative politician Enoch Powell, who made the famous "Rivers of Blood" speech about immigration to the UK. Bentley repeats a piece of gossip about an old lady from an embarrassingly unreliable source - much as Powell had. Bentley mentions Powell by name at the end of the speech.

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

Featured review

8/10

a fresh satire on those in power

Michael Rimmer (Cook) joins an opinion poll company in a mysterious capacity, a silent and malevolent observer of what goes on. In this he's not a million miles from Bedazzled's George Spiggott, but in 'The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer' the targets are clear - big business, local government, the parliamentary parties, democracy itself.

As Rimmer gains more and more personal power, we see a Britain decaying at the seams in a sea of corruption - from the dim humbug makers with their sexy ad campaign to the would-be PM with planted questions at party conference. Supporting roles are judged well (Denholm Elliott, John Cleese, Arthur Lowe, Ronald Fraser in particular), while Cook himself looks the part, smirking and smart-suited, interfering in a cosy world of middle-aged execs and politics in need of a shake.

There's a lot going on here in a Britain stood still - and it makes for a very entertaining film.