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How to Get Ahead in Advertising

  • 19891989
  • RR
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
6.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Richard E. Grant in How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989)
Trailer for How To Get Ahead In Advertising
Play trailer1:52
2 Videos
8 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Fantasy

A cynical advertising exec has a block at work leading to a meltdown. He's hilariously out of control. Getting a big, talking boil on his shoulder doesn't help.A cynical advertising exec has a block at work leading to a meltdown. He's hilariously out of control. Getting a big, talking boil on his shoulder doesn't help.A cynical advertising exec has a block at work leading to a meltdown. He's hilariously out of control. Getting a big, talking boil on his shoulder doesn't help.

IMDb RATING
6.8/10
6.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Bruce Robinson
  • Writer
    • Bruce Robinson
  • Stars
    • Richard E. Grant
    • Rachel Ward
    • Richard Wilson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bruce Robinson
  • Writer
    • Bruce Robinson
  • Stars
    • Richard E. Grant
    • Rachel Ward
    • Richard Wilson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 43User reviews
    • 41Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos2

    How to Get Ahead in Advertising
    Trailer 1:52
    How to Get Ahead in Advertising
    How to Get Ahead in Advertising
    Trailer 2:16
    How to Get Ahead in Advertising

    Photos8

    Video release poster, 1 sheet movie poster
    Richard E. Grant in How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989)
    Richard E. Grant in How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989)
    Richard E. Grant in How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989)
    Richard E. Grant in How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989)
    Richard E. Grant at an event for How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989)
    Richard E. Grant and Rachel Ward in How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard E. Grant
    Richard E. Grant
    • Bagleyas Bagley
    Rachel Ward
    Rachel Ward
    • Juliaas Julia
    Richard Wilson
    Richard Wilson
    • Bristolas Bristol
    Jacqueline Tong
    Jacqueline Tong
    • Penny Wheelstockas Penny Wheelstock
    John Shrapnel
    John Shrapnel
    • Psychiatristas Psychiatrist
    Susan Wooldridge
    Susan Wooldridge
    • Monicaas Monica
    Hugh Armstrong
    • Harry Waxas Harry Wax
    Mick Ford
    Mick Ford
    • Richardas Richard
    Jacqueline Pearce
    Jacqueline Pearce
    • Maudas Maud
    Christopher Simon
    Christopher Simon
    • Waiteras Waiter
    Gino Melvazzi
    Gino Melvazzi
    • Waiteras Waiter
    Victor Lucas
    Victor Lucas
    • Tweedy Manas Tweedy Man
    Dawn Keeler
    • Tweedy Womanas Tweedy Woman
    Kerryann White
    • Girl in Elevatoras Girl in Elevator
    Vivienne McKone
    • Sullivan Bristol Receptionistas Sullivan Bristol Receptionist
    Donald Hoath
    • Businessmanas Businessman
    John Levitt
    • Businessmanas Businessman
    Gordon Gostelow
    • Priestas Priest
    • Director
      • Bruce Robinson
    • Writer
      • Bruce Robinson
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Dennis Dimbleby Bagley is a brilliant young advertising executive who can't come up with a slogan to sell a revolutionary new pimple cream. His obsessive worrying affects not only his relationship with his wife, his friends and his boss, but also his own body - graphically demonstrated when he grows a large stress-related boil on his shoulder. But when the boil grows eyes and a mouth and starts talking, Bagley really begins to think he's lost his mind. But has he? —Michael Brooke <michael@everyman.demon.co.uk>
    • advertising
    • advertising executive
    • internal conversation
    • nudity
    • nervous breakdown
    • 175 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The Career Where Two Heads Are Better Than One
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Fantasy
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The classic Aston Martin seen (under a dust sheet) in the Bagleys' garage belonged to writer/director Bruce Robinson. A 1961 DB4 Convertible of which only 70 were made, he owned it for 30 years and it was auctioned off in 2008. It was also to be seen in the background of Withnail & I, when the boys leave London for their 'weekend in the country'
    • Goofs
      After Bagley has lunch with his wife, she drops him back at the advertising firm's office building, but it is a different building to the one used for the interior scenes, which is the tall red building several hundred yards up the street (visible in the crane shot of their car pulling up), right next to the Lambeth bridge, as we can see from the window view in the scenes in Bagley's and Bristol's offices.
    • Quotes

      Denis Dimbleby Bagley: My grandfather was caught molesting a wallaby in a private zoo in 1919.

      Psychiatrist: A wallaby?

      Denis Dimbleby Bagley: It may have been a kangaroo. I'm not sure.

      Psychiatrist: You mean sexually?

      Denis Dimbleby Bagley: I suppose so. He had his hand in its pouch.

    • Connections
      Edited into Video Macumba (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Oscillate Wildly
      (uncredited)

      Written by Johnny Marr

      Performed by The Smiths

      Courtesy of Rough Trade

    User reviews43

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Advertising exec gets a conscious...leading to challenges on the job.
    This brilliant attack on commodification and the misuse of language to cajole consumerism is a must see. I don't like to give anything away so suffice to say that Grant is excellent as the near-schizophrenic hero (anti-hero) who's copy writer's block leads to his confronting the hegemony he operates within. The film mocks the abuse of semiotics in the media; one particularly hilarious scene has Grant battling his fellow-commuters over a newspaper story designed, per Grant's character, Bagley, to lead readers to directed conclusions. In the exchange about a heroin arrest reported in the paper, police allege that a bag containing heroin "may" have also contained marijuana. Bagley burst out with, "It may have contained a f***ing pork pie!" Hilarity ensues, but not devoid of a moral lesson...you may find the rendering of William Blake's "Jerusalem" at the film's conclusion particularly ironically amusing.
    helpful•4
    0
    • greengene65
    • May 9, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 29, 1990 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Handmade Films Website
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ein erfolgreicher Mann
    • Filming locations
      • Hampton House - 20 Albert Embankment, Lambeth, London, England, UK
    • Production company
      • HandMade Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $418,053
    • Gross worldwide
      • $418,053
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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    Oldenburg Festival to Honor 'Withnail & I' Director Bruce Robinson
    Oldenburg Festival to Honor 'Withnail & I' Director Bruce Robinson
    Aug 23The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV

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