The ad man has played a recurring role in American films, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s, the golden era of high living and martini-drinking creatives that “Mad Men” recaptures. Here are a few:
1957
“Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?” revolves around the unlikely possibility that blond bombshell Jayne Mansfield could fall for Tony Randall, who is handling her publicity.
1959
“North by Northwest” begins as a comedy: We follow bachelor and ad agency big shot Cary Grant on his Manhattan rounds of parties and fancy saloons. Why would anyone believe he actually is who he says he is?
1961
“Lover Come Back” could be considered the ultimate movie about Madison Avenue as wine-’em-dine-’em ad man Rock Hudson convinces rival agency executive Doris Day that he is the inventor of a fantastic new product. Of course the product doesn’t yet exist: Only its ad campaign is real.
2000
“Bounce” again relies on a plot that stems from a case of mistaken identity and the deep sense of guilt that flashy public relations wizard Ben Affleck feels for causing the death of Gwyneth Paltrow’s husband. Affleck’s chief client is the airline on whose plane the husband died.
2000
“What Women Want” Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt spar to be top dog at a Chicago advertising company. Gibson’s secret weapon is that he reads minds.
