What Is The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer About?
The premise of The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer in 289 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a Britain painted with the bright colors of flared trousers, mini‑skirts and a restless media buzz, the world of opinion‑polling crackles with the same electric flamboyance that defines the era’s politics. The film opens amid the clatter of a struggling advertising agency, a place where stale hierarchies are about to be upended by a newcomer whose very presence feels like a calculated experiment in influence.
The newcomer is Michael Rimmer, a fresh‑faced, sharply observant figure whose weapon is not brute force but an uncanny knack for reading numbers and people alike. With a blend of charm, wit and a disquieting confidence, he slips into the firm’s routine, quickly asserting a quiet authority that eclipses the well‑meaning but inept manager known as Ferret. The staff’s bewilderment turns to fascination as Rimmer reshapes the operation, turning a dying outfit into a sleek engine for marketable insight.
Rimmer’s talents soon carry him beyond the office walls and onto television screens, where his polished demeanor and persuasive delivery make him a sought‑after polling expert. The burgeoning media persona catches the eye of the Conservative opposition, led by the charismatic Tom Hutchinson, whose own ambitions find a useful companion in Rimmer’s data‑driven savvy. Their uneasy alliance hints at a larger game in which perception can outweigh policy, and where the art of polling becomes a stepping stone toward political power.
The film balances razor‑sharp satire with a glossy, almost theatrical aesthetic, capturing the absurdity of a society that prizes opinion as much as fact. As Rimmer navigates the corridors of influence, the story invites the audience to contemplate how easily public sentiment can be moulded, and how a single, deftly‑played individual can turn the mechanisms of democracy into a personal platform for ascent.
What Happens in The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer?
The complete story of The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer, from the first scene to the last, in 600 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
The mysterious Michael Rimmer, played by Peter Cook, appears at a small and ailing British advertising agency, where the staff initially assume he is there to run a routine time-and-motion study. Yet he quickly asserts de facto authority over the firm’s largely ineffective crew, and the incompetent boss Ferret (Arthur Lowe) is soon eclipsed as Rimmer seizes control. With a keen eye for leverage and a knack for reading people, he begins reshaping the operation, transforming it into a nimble, profitable machine even as the other staff watch in a mix of disbelief and awe. The once-stodgy agency gains a new edge, and Rimmer’s presence begins to feel less like a management shake-up and more like the birth of something ruthless and deliberate.
Under his renewed leadership, the firm earns a reputation as the country’s leading polling agency, and Rimmer begins to appear regularly on television as a polished, persuasive polling expert. His charisma and strategic mind do not remain confined to the boardroom; they extend into the realm of politics. He becomes an adviser to the leader of the Tory opposition, Tom Hutchinson (Ronald Fraser), lending his growing influence to a sphere where ideas often matter less than perception. In a calculated move, he engineers an inflammatory anti-immigration speech by Shadow Home Secretary Sir Eric Bentley (Roland Culver) to hand Hutchinson a pretext for firing Bentley’s rival and to demonstrate Conservative opposition to immigration without laying down real policy proposals. This maneuver helps Rimmer position himself as a power broker in the background, even as the party’s banners wave in the foreground.
As his influence grows, Rimmer secures Bentley’s vacant Budleigh Moor seat and steps into the political arena with a combination of charm, cunning, and ruthless ambition. Along the way, he quietly acquires a trophy wife, a detail that underscores the personal costs and price of power in his ascent. The ascent itself is marked by a chilling mix of calculated moves and, when necessary, deadly force, culminating in a spectacular act of political theater: after propelling himself into the highest echelons, he manipulates the system enough to position himself as prime minister, a climb aided by throwing a predecessor off an oil rig in a dramatic prelude to his coronation.
Once at the helm, Rimmer redefines governance through a startling experiment in direct democracy. He unleashes an ongoing cycle of referendums on a dizzying array of issues, using postal ballots and televoting to enlist the public in a stream of votes that swamp the political landscape. The effect is immediate and paradoxical: instead of empowering citizens, the relentless referendums foster fatigue and apathy, sparking widespread protests against the very reforms he champions. Undeterred, Rimmer presses on with a final gambit: a last vote to “streamline government” that would grant him dictatorial powers. The public, exhausted by the perpetual polling and the chaotic cascade of outcomes, ultimately approves the proposal, handing him unprecedented control.
In the story’s conclusion, Ferret reappears not as a rival to challenge Rimmer but as a casualty of the power struggles surrounding the new regime. During a lavish ride through the capital in an open-topped car, Ferret makes a desperate effort to strike back, but the attempt ends in tragedy as he falls to his death, sealing the brutal arc of Rimmer’s ascent from a fixer in a fading ad agency to a commander wielding sweeping, if precarious, authority. The film leaves viewers contemplating the seductive lure of popularity, the fragility of democratic systems when manipulated by rhetoric and spectacle, and the price paid by those who chase power through illusion rather than policy.
The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
11 key events in the order they happen, from “Arrival at the advertising agency and power grab” to “Ferret's assassination attempt and death”. 11 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
Arrival at the advertising agency and power grab
Rimmer arrives at a small, ailing British advertising agency and is mistaken for a time and motion consultant. He quickly asserts de facto authority over the staff and outmaneuvers the incompetent boss Ferret, reshaping the leadership. This marks the start of his rise within the company.
Where:small, ailing British advertising agency
- 2
Transforms firm into leading polling agency with TV presence
Rimmer rebuilds the firm into the country's leading polling agency and becomes a familiar face on television as a polling expert. His media visibility amplifies his influence and signals his move from advertising into politics.
Where:UK advertising industry and television studios
- 3
Moves into politics as adviser to the Tory opposition leader
He shifts his focus from advertising to politics, acting as an adviser to Tom Hutchinson, the leader of the Tory opposition. His strategic meddling begins shaping policy directions from behind the scenes. This marks a transition from media influence to political power.
Where:UK political arena, Conservative Party
- 4
Orchestrates anti-immigration speech to create firing pretext
Rimmer arranges for Shadow Home Secretary Sir Eric Bentley to deliver an inflammatory anti-immigration speech. The speech provides Hutchinson with a pretext to fire Bentley and demonstrates Conservative opposition to immigration without any concrete policies. The scheme demonstrates Rimmer's willingness to manipulate events for political gain.
Where:UK political arena
- 5
Becomes MP for Budleigh Moor
With Bentley out of the way, Rimmer secures the vacant seat of Budleigh Moor and enters Parliament. His ascent into elected office accelerates his climb up the political ladder. This marks a concrete turning point from strategist to national politician.
Where:Budleigh Moor
- 6
Acquires a trophy wife
During his rise, Rimmer acquires a trophy wife, illustrating his transformation into a power-courting political operator. The marriage broadens his public profile and social reach. It underscored his new life among the political elite.
Where:UK high society
- 7
Becomes Prime Minister after throwing predecessor off an oil rig
Rimmer's ascent continues as he rapidly climbs to the position of prime minister. He ends his predecessor's tenure by throwing him off an oil rig, a dramatic act that cements his dominance. The incident demonstrates his willingness to use extreme measures to gain control.
Where:oil rig
- 8
Introduces direct democracy via referendums
Rimmer implements endless referendums on trivial and complex matters, conducted by postal voting and televoting. This direct democracy campaign rapidly saturates government decision-making and shows how referendum fatigue can erode public engagement. It marks a radical shift in how power is exercised.
Where:Across the United Kingdom via postal voting and televoting
- 9
Referendums spark voter apathy and protests
The constant referendums generate voter apathy and widespread protests against the reform. The public grows weary of the endless ballots and begins to question the legitimacy of the process. The political climate becomes unsettled as the system begins to break down.
Where:United Kingdom
- 10
Final vote to streamline government grants dictatorial powers
Rimmer holds a last vote to 'streamline government' that would grant him dictatorial powers. Exhausted voters pass the proposal, inadvertently enabling his unchecked rule. The referendum marks the culmination of his plan to dominate politics.
Where:United Kingdom
- 11
Ferret's assassination attempt and death
Ferret attempts to assassinate Rimmer as he and his wife ride through the capital in an open-topped convertible. The attempt fails and Ferret dies in the process, removing a major obstacle to Rimmer's continued power. The event signals the ruthlessness of the political game.
Where:capital city
Who Are the Main Characters in The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer?
4 characters, among them Michael Rimmer (Peter Cook), Ferret (Arthur Lowe) and Tom Hutchinson (Ronald Fraser): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Michael Rimmer (Peter Cook)
Played by Peter Cook
A charismatic, calculating operative who uses charm and deception to seize control of a failing advertising agency and then the political landscape. He leverages media campaigns and public-facing persona to manipulate colleagues and voters alike. His ruthless ascent demonstrates how a single persuasive figure can redefine institutions for personal gain. The character embodies the satire of media-driven politics at its most invasive.
- 💼 Ambition
- 🧠 Manipulation
- 🎭 Showmanship
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Ferret (Arthur Lowe)
Played by Arthur Lowe
The inept, ailing boss of the agency whose incompetence becomes the opening for Rimmer’s takeover. He underestimates the threat, providing the space for Rimmer to consolidate power. Ferret’s downfall—dying during an assassination attempt on an oil rig—highlights the ruthlessness of the political game. His character serves as a cautionary counterpoint to the leading schemer.
- 💼 Incompetence
- 🧪 Scheming
- TH
Tom Hutchinson (Ronald Fraser)
Played by Ronald Fraser
The Tory opposition leader who becomes a vehicle for Rimmer’s calculated ascent. He relies on rhetorical poses about immigration without presenting solid policies. His position illustrates how political theater and expedient alliances can advance careers. The dynamic shows how populist strategies can thrive on opportunistic collaborations.
- 🗳️ Politics
- 🎯 Ambition
- SE
Sir Eric Bentley (Roland Culver)
Played by Roland Culver
Shadow Home Secretary who delivers an inflammatory anti-immigration speech to facilitate Hutchinson’s position. He becomes a conduit for the manipulation that propels Rimmer’s plans. His role underscores how legal and moral justifications can be orchestrated to serve political ends. The downfall of his character demonstrates the precarious balance between policy and performance.
- ⚖️ Law
- 🎭 Manipulation
Where and When Is The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer Set?
The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer is set in Britain, London and Budleigh Moor (Early 1970s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Early 1970s
The action unfolds in contemporary Britain, a period when television and polling began to shape political life. The era features booming mass media, aggressive campaigning, and media-driven public discourse. The plot uses these elements to critique how campaigns can manipulate voters and institutions.
Where
Britain, London, Budleigh Moor
Set across Britain, it begins in a struggling British advertising agency and unfolds through the corridors of power in the capital. The scenes move between the agency, marketing campaigns, and parliamentary politics, reflecting how media and persuasion shape public life. Budleigh Moor, a parliamentary seat, figures in Rimmer's rapid ascent and ultimate political dominance.
- 🗺️ Britain
- 🏢 Advertising industry
- 🏛️ Politics
What Are the Themes of The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Power, Media Influence and Democracy.
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01
Power
Michael Rimmer uses charisma and calculated deception to seize control of the ailing advertising agency. He rewrites how the firm speaks to the public, turning advertising into a tool for political influence. The ascent reveals how power can be built on manipulation, uncertainty, and a knack for exploiting others. The film critiques the ease with which media-savvy figures can redraw the rules to their advantage.
-
02
Media Influence
Rimmer’s regular television appearances and strategic campaigns demonstrate how media exposure can elevate a person into political relevance. The film portrays advertising and TV as powerful instruments that blur the lines between business, persuasion, and policy. It shows how media narratives can manufacture a personality while shaping public expectations. Ultimately, media machinery becomes a central vehicle for political ascent.
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03
Democracy
The plot centers on referendums and postal/televoting as tools of mass participation. However, the constant voting breeds apathy and distraction, undermining informed decision-making. The state appears to be weakened by a flood of plebiscites that favor the manipulator’s ends. In the end, an exhausted public enables a consolidation of power.
What Kind of Film Is The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer?
Dark in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bleak
A darkly satirical and cynical thriller that follows the fast-paced, chillingly calculated ascent of a manipulative protagonist, creating a feeling of absurd dread as democratic institutions are dismantled.
- satirical
- cynical
- chilling
- absurd
- ambitious
- calculated
- political satire
- power corruption
- media manipulation
- ambition
Content notes: political violence, murder, death of a character.
Quiz
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