The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer

Name: The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer
Genre: Comedy
Released: 1971-07-23
Duration: 1 h 40 min
Rating: 6.9
Cast: Ann Beach, Desmond Walter-Ellis, Peter Cook

1970
R
1h 40m

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

Photos14

+ 10

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Storyline

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Did you know

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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

British Comedy Gem

I was lucky enough to discuss this film with David Frost in 2005 and it is a film he is still (he was the producer) very proud of, citing it as one of Peter Cook's best works.

The film was given a very limited release in 1970. I saw it in the Cosmo Cinema in Glasgow in 1970 and fell off my seat laughing - the first time I have ever done that in a cinema - and I was not the only one. The Cosmo by the way (now the Glasgow Film Theatre) was a specialist cinema which attracted intellectuals and serious film students, so they clearly saw the importance of this film from the word go and it is such a shame that Warner Brothers are unable to do the same and recognise this as an important historical film document.

The film disappeared and has only been shown on TV 3 times - originally shown on ITV in 1979 by various channels who usually used it to pad out their late night schedules - and the version I taped then runs about 8 minutes short. It has also been shown on Channel 5 twice and they have made less cuts, but there is still some material missing which is why it needs to be issued on DVD with care and by someone who knows the film well and understands its importance to fans of John Cleese, Peter Cook, Monty Python - and 60s British comedy.

Another perspective is that Michael Rimmer is essentially Tony Blair, so this film predicts presidential style UK politics and spin and contrasts it with old fashioned Labour thud and blunder with Harold Wilson lookalike George A Cooper in his best ever role.

This should be compulsory viewing for all political students and if you liked the "Yes Minister" TV series, chances are you will very much enjoy this.

Post Mortem Since I wrote the initial comment above, the DVD has been released complete with director commentary - and I still find this an incredibly funny film all these years later.