Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer, The

Date: 1970
Director: Kevin Billington
Production Company: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts

Stars: Peter Cook, Denholm Elliott, Ronald Fraser, Vanessa Howard, Arthur Lowe, Harold Pinter, James Cossins, Dudley Foster, Dennis Price, John Cleese, Diana Coupland, Ronnie Corbett
Location(s): London, Surrey, West Sussex

Region(s): London R-S, South East R-Z

Storyline:

Mysterious Michael Rimmer appears at a small, ailing advertising agency and quickly begins to assert authority. After acquiring control of the business from the incompetent boss he moves onwards and up the political ladder to become Prime Minister.

Additional Information:

Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson

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Capture 1
'Now' required

Crodder (James Cossins) carrying out an opinion poll for Fairburn Polls in an unidentified street.

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13 Apr 2025

Pumer (John Cleese) asks a diver questions. The Grand Union Canal, facing east from beneath Ladbroke Grove bridge, London, W10. Identified by Alan F. on the BritMovie forum. (SD)

Nobody here when i popped by. SJ

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20 Oct 2015

A rival Interviewer (Ronnie Corbett) prepares to ask questions in Nuneaton, actually this is the now redeveloped shopping centre in Walton on Thames, Surrey.

The Heart shopping centre now. Looking towards Hepworth Way, named after Cecil Hepworth, whose studio originally occupied this site. SD

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20 Oct 2015

The poll takers from Fairburn arrive in Nuneaton. Walton on Thames.

The entrance to The Heart shopping centre, looking towards New Zealand Avenue. The white building is the now demolished town hall which was seen in a Monty Python sketch. SD

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20 Oct 2015

Walton on Thames shopping centre. Designed by R. Seifert & Partners and opened in 1965.

The redesigned shopping centre, opened as The Heart in 2006. The original version was also seen in 'Psychomania'. SD

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24 Apr 2012

An interview takes place in front of The Dukes Head public house in Hepworth Way, Walton on Thames.

The Dukes Head in 2001. The pub was closed in 2005 and has since disappeared due to redevelopment. Picture copyright Walton-on-thames.org

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'Now' required

Michael Rimmer (Peter Cook) is interviewed by Steven Hench (Harold Pinter) high above London. Steve Hardy is pretty sure that this is the rooftop of Sudbury House which stood on Newgate Street EC1, the entrance to which was seen in 'Darling'. Completed in 1964, the building was demolished in 1998.

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23 Jun 2015

Outside London Zoo on Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London NW1

The same entrance now, captured by Peter.

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23 Jun 2015

London Zoo's Mappin Pavilion, seen from 'Goat Mountain'.

Peter found many alterations at the zoo but this is one location that remains relatively unchanged.

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25 Jun 2015

Rimmer makes plans with Peter Niss (Denholm Elliott) and Tom Hutchinson (Ronald Fraser) in Brighton. Only pretending to be Brighton, this is Worthing with the pier that also impersonated Brighton's West Pier in 'Cor Blimey'. (SD)

Worthing Pier was also seen in 'Ashes and Sand', 'Dance with a Stranger', 'Seamonsters' and 'Wish You Were Here'. (SD)