Upon graduation from college with a business degree, John Issel is promptly hired by Helmes's company I.N.C. At INC, the one who gets ahead, does it by kissing ass, or over someone else's ...
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Before entering art school, Rick Kane sets out to surf the big wave season on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii, after winning a surfing contest in an Arizona wave pool by his home. Once in ... See full summary »
Nice guy junior exec Peter doesn't play dirty but unfortunately, some of his colleagues do. In comes Kris, his new temp, who is bright and efficient and saves him. She's willing to play dirty for Peter.
The escaped delinquent John W. Burns, Jr. replaces Dr. Maitlin on a radio show, saying he's the psychiatrist Lawrence Baird. His tactless radio show is a hit, and he becomes very popular. ... See full summary »
Director:
Michael Ritchie
Stars:
Dan Aykroyd,
Walter Matthau,
Charles Grodin
A wise-cracking husband and wife team of ex-Spies arrive in New Orleans on maternity leave with their baby girl. There they are hassled by muggers, the police and their FBI boss, who wants ... See full summary »
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 ... See full summary »
Director:
Bruce Robinson
Stars:
Richard E. Grant,
Rachel Ward,
Richard Wilson
Upon graduation from college with a business degree, John Issel is promptly hired by Helmes's company I.N.C. At INC, the one who gets ahead, does it by kissing ass, or over someone else's dead body. John keeps getting promotions, but cant figure out why. Actually management doesn't care about him, they hope that having hired him, his father, Senator Issel, will vote the way they like.Written by
Brian W Martz <B.Martz@Genie.com>
The band General Public is featured performing "Cry on Your Own Shoulder" in a night club scene. See more »
Goofs
When Jack is first shown his new office in Complaints, the name plate by his door appears and disappears between shots. See more »
Quotes
[first lines]
Pete Helmes:
Hi. My name is Pete Helmes. 30 years ago, I started a small company called INC Bearing and Tool, and with these balls of steel I built INC International. Now, we produce over 10,000 products, from a 50-megaton nuclear warhead to a creamer, nuttier peanut butter and a new, quieter, artificial heart. Every day at INC we're developing products that will improve your life, like Permalax, an all-new laxative implant, that relieves irregularity for up to 25 years with a one-step ...
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Alternate Versions
The TV network version has various additional scenes which include:
Jack walking across a basketball court and shooting a basket with some player friends of his while on his way to his first day at INC.
Additional bit of dialog between Helms and General Toliver in the helicopter.
A scene of Jack buying a Rolling Stones magazine at a corner news stand and the first introduction Robert Hoover and Al Kennedy bickering about Helms.
Additional dialog between Jack and Jane in her office telling him that "information is power."
Another bit of dialog where Kennedy discuses INC's plans for a proxy fight over a company called West Oil during the board meeting in which Helms disagrees.
Helms detailing INC's strengths in another bit while discussing an unpaid phone bill over a client.
Kennedy telling Jane about him quitting INC and his plan for asking Helms to join a Los Angeles office during the board meeting scene with the little German-speaking man.
Additional scene of Jack first arriving at Helms' house and a frantic Kennedy trying to talk to Helms during his morning jog around his back garden about an Los Angeles job and being set upon by a guard dog as well as treading across a reflecting pond to keep up with him.
About 20 years ago I ran into Eddie Albert at "Disneyworld", and asked him about one of the greatest "black comedies" of all time, "Head Office". What I wanted to know was, with a great cast, and a terrific script, how come the film sank into obscurity? His answer was that the studio thought it hit a little too close to home, lampooning big business. What makes "Head Office" so special is that the lack of communication between top executives and the people who are actually on the firing line, is all true. "Never make a decision, just approve other peoples decisions" I love this movie, and if you enjoy "dark comedy" this is one of the best. - MERK
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About 20 years ago I ran into Eddie Albert at "Disneyworld", and asked him about one of the greatest "black comedies" of all time, "Head Office". What I wanted to know was, with a great cast, and a terrific script, how come the film sank into obscurity? His answer was that the studio thought it hit a little too close to home, lampooning big business. What makes "Head Office" so special is that the lack of communication between top executives and the people who are actually on the firing line, is all true. "Never make a decision, just approve other peoples decisions" I love this movie, and if you enjoy "dark comedy" this is one of the best. - MERK