How to Get Ahead in Advertising

"The career where two heads are better than one."

1989 1h 35m EN

😐

6.3

MID

★6.3TMDB · 116

FantasyComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Pressure from his boss and a skin-cream client produces a talking boil on a British adman's neck.

“The career where two heads are better than one.”

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Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

Cast

Richard E. Grant
Denis Dimbleby Bagley
Rachel Ward
Julia Bagley
Richard Wilson
John Bristol
Jacqueline Tong
Penny Wheelstock
Susan Wooldridge
Monica
John Shrapnel
Psychiatrist
Hugh Armstrong
Harry Wax
Mick Ford
Richard

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Bruce Robinson
Writers: Bruce Robinson
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

37 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Bruce Robinson, shot by Peter Hannan. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by David Dundas. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Alan Strachan shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Richard E. Grant and Rachel Ward and Richard Wilson carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The career where two heads are better than one.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0097531 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Bruce Robinson directs. Peter Hannan behind the camera. David Dundas scores. Alan Strachan cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

137 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Bruce Robinson, shot by Peter Hannan. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by David Dundas. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Alan Strachan shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Richard E. Grant and Rachel Ward and Richard Wilson carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "The career where two heads are better than one.".
7IMDB entry: tt0097531 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.