IMDb > How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989)
How to Get Ahead in Advertising
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany credits
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guidemessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsmemorable quotes
Did You Know?
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
box office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (See all 9 | slideshow) Videos (see all 8)
How to Get Ahead in Advertising -- Trailer for How To Get Ahead In Advertising
How to Get Ahead in Advertising -- You think your boss is tough? Reebok showed us what might happen if your manager were actually a policy-obsessed linebacker with a no-BS approach to enforcing office rules. Thank goodness for workman’s comp.
How to Get Ahead in Advertising -- US Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
How to Get Ahead in Advertising -- Few Super Bowl ads have had as much cultural impact (remember Scary Movie’s Wassup shoutout?) as this hilarious spot, which is about… well, nothing, really. Don’t overthink it. Just be glad your uncle has stopped trying to do his own impression.
How to Get Ahead in Advertising -- Two kids oogle a young Cindy Crawford as she takes a sultry Pepsi break. But which can are they admiring, anyway?

Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   2,673 votes »
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Bruce Robinson
Writer:
Bruce Robinson (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for How to Get Ahead in Advertising on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
29 March 1990 (West Germany) See more »
Genre:
Comedy | Fantasy See more »
Tagline:
The Career Where Two Heads Are Better Than One
Plot:
Dennis Dimbleby Bagley is a brilliant young advertising executive who can't come up with a slogan to sell a revolutionary new pimple cream... See more » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
NewsDesk:
(16 articles)
Rum Diary, The | Review - Austin Film Festival 2011
 (From SmellsLikeScreenSpirit. 28 October 2011, 6:41 PM, PDT)
Bruce Robinson's (and Johnny Depp's) "The Rum Diary"
 (From MUBI. 28 October 2011, 1:53 PM, PDT)
Bruce Robinson: 'I'm just going to take my liver for a wash'
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 15 October 2011, 4:10 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Awesome premise, writing, and acting; good direction See more (32 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Richard E. Grant ... Denis Dimbleby Bagley

Rachel Ward ... Julia Bagley

Richard Wilson ... John Bristol
Jacqueline Tong ... Penny Wheelstock

John Shrapnel ... Psychiatrist
Susan Wooldridge ... Monica
Hugh Armstrong ... Harry Wax
Mick Ford ... Richard
Jacqueline Pearce ... Maud

Christopher Simon ... Waiter
Gino Melvazzi ... Waiter
Victor Lucas ... Tweedy Man
Dawn Keeler ... Tweedy Woman
Kerryann White ... Girl in Elevator
Vivienne McKone ... Sullivan Bristol Receptionist
Donald Hoath ... Businessman on Train
John Levitt ... Businessman on Train
Gordon Gostelow ... Priest

Pip Torrens ... Jonathan

Tony Slattery ... Basil

Rachel Fielding ... Jennifer
Pauline Melville ... Mrs. Wallace
Roddy Maude-Roxby ... Dr. Gatty
Francesca Longrigg ... Nurse
Tanveer Ghani ... Hospital Doctor
Joanna Mays ... Phillis Blokey

Sean Bean ... Larry Frisk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Terry Jones ... Man on Train (uncredited)

Bruce Robinson ... The Boil (voice) (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Bruce Robinson 
 
Writing credits
Bruce Robinson (written by)

Produced by
Ray Cooper .... co-producer
George Harrison .... executive producer
Denis O'Brien .... executive producer
David Wimbury .... producer
 
Original Music by
David Dundas 
Rick Wentworth 
 
Cinematography by
Peter Hannan 
 
Film Editing by
Alan Strachan 
 
Casting by
Lucy Boulting 
 
Production Design by
Michael Pickwoad 
 
Art Direction by
Henry Harris 
 
Set Decoration by
Robyn Hamilton-Doney 
 
Costume Design by
Andrea Galer 
 
Makeup Department
Peter Frampton .... makeup creation
Peter Frampton .... makeup designer
Sue Love .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
Kathy Sykes .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dominic Allen .... assistant director
Peter Kohn .... assistant director
Melvin Lind .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Les Andrews .... art stand-by
John Bastin .... construction
Pete Beasley .... construction
Frank Berlin .... construction
Bruce Bigg .... property master
Peter Bigg .... dressing props
Peter Browne .... art stand-by
Alan Chesters .... construction manager
Stan Cook .... dressing props
Charles Cottrell .... construction
Martin Duffy .... construction
Peter Duffy .... construction (as Peter Duffey)
Jim Foran .... construction
Les Henning .... construction
Danny Hunter .... art stand-by
David Ned Kelly .... art stand-by (as Ned Kelly)
Patrick Lynch .... construction
Dennis Maddison .... props buyer
Larry Marchant .... construction
Don McLellan .... construction
Brian Morris .... art stand-by
John Robertson .... art stand-by
Ray Rose .... dressing props
Brian Webb .... construction
Michael Webb .... construction
 
Sound Department
Allan Brereton .... sound maintenance
Alan Paley .... sound editor
Trevor Rutherford .... boom operator
Paul Smith .... dialogue editor
Otto Snel .... dubbing mixer
Clive Winter .... sound mixer
 
Special Effects by
Sue Higgins .... foam
Ruth Hogg .... special effects runner
Richard Neal .... special effects sculptor
Daniel Parker .... animatronic constructor
Mike Quinn .... puppeteer (as Mike Quinby)
Luke Sawh .... special effects runner
David White .... animatronics
Nik Williams .... animatronic constructor
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Sophie Baker .... still photographer
Adam Cooper .... camera loader
Alan Grosch .... electrician
Brian Martin .... best boy
Andrew McDade .... electrician
Reg Parsons .... gaffer
Luke Quigley .... grip
Ronnie Rampton .... electrician
Bob Smith .... camera operator
Stefan Stankowski .... focus puller
John Turner .... electrician
 
Casting Department
Marilyn Milgrom .... casting secretary
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Heather Williams .... wardrobe
 
Editorial Department
Pat Brennan .... assistant editor
Paula Connor .... assistant editor
Peter Holt .... associate editor
Kevin Lane .... assistant editor
Sarah Thomas .... assembly editor
 
Music Department
Keith Grant .... music engineer
Gerry O'Riordan .... assistant music engineer
Rick Wentworth .... conductor
Rick Wentworth .... orchestrator
 
Transportation Department
Mike Beaver .... transportation
Roy Clarke .... transportation
Dave Manning .... transportation
 
Other crew
Bobby Blues .... production accountant (as Bob Blues)
Vicky Burton .... trainee
Gilly Case .... location manager
Stephanie Clark .... production secretary
Valerie Craig .... production coordinator
Gordon Davis .... assistant accountant
Lynn Hoey .... runner
Jacky Holding .... accounts secretary
Sally Jones .... script supervisor
Lorraine Luke .... trainee
Graham Norton III .... trainee (as Graham Norton)
Libby Shearon .... unit publicist
Guy Tannahill .... location assistant
 
Thanks
Inger Best .... special thanks
John Buckley .... special thanks
Cathy Bunce .... special thanks
Denis Carrigan .... special thanks
Marigold Charrington .... special thanks
Bob Crowdy .... special thanks
Neil Grimshaw .... special thanks
Rand Holston .... special thanks
Richard Kuttner .... special thanks
Lee Martin .... special thanks
Gerry O'Riordan .... special thanks (as Gerry O'Riorden)
Paul Olliver .... special thanks
Ronnie Pearce .... special thanks
Anthony Price .... special thanks
Mary Selway .... special thanks
Willy Smax .... special thanks
Martin Sponticcia .... special thanks
John Stanborough .... special thanks
Ralph Steadman .... special thanks
Paul Talkington .... special thanks
Ian Weil .... special thanks
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
90 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Iceland:L | Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16
Filming Locations:
Hampton House - 20 Albert Embankment, Lambeth, London, England, UKSee more »
Company:
HandMade FilmsSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
The classic Aston Martin seen 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.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: During the anniversary party, the strap on Julia's dress changes shoulders for one scene. When the dress is on the opposite shoulder, it looks a different colour as well.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Denis Dimbleby Bagley:Let me try and clarify some of this for you. Best Company Supermarkets are not interested in selling wholesome foods. They are not worried about the nation's health. What is concerning them, is that the nation appears to be getting worried about its health...
[...]
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Melrose Place: My New Partner (#1.23)" (1993)See more »
Soundtrack:
Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78 ('Organ Symphony')See more »

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
10 out of 12 people found the following review useful.
Awesome premise, writing, and acting; good direction, 20 November 2000
Author: David Sticher (das315@nyu.edu)

This is a severely underrated film. Richard Grant's more-than-capable slimeball antics are put to a very worthy test in this bitter little polemic about consumerism. It's very British, and very 80's, but its message is still as universal as ever, and the execution is wickedly original, affecting, and cough-out-loud funny.

The only negative point about the movie is the occasionally lax direction towards the end, but that's just a quibble.

Overall, this is definitely very cool, and highly recommended to fans of Withnail and I, Network, and Fight Club who want something nice and bitter at the end of the day.

This would make an awesome play...

Was the above review useful to you?
See more (32 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
How did everyone discover this film? justsomerandomirrelevantweirdo
Does anyone else see the hypocisy?! ozkit2003
Favourite scene? sillyspaghetti
Mrs. Wallace, the housekeeper BOOCAKE4U
the love birds slduncan79
Overlooked Movies. dan_flamingo
See more »

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Factory Girl 8½ I'm Not There. Persepolis My Own Private Idaho
IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb UK section

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.