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Being There

  • 19791979
  • PGPG
  • 2h 10m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
72K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,710
294
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Being There (1979)
One of Peter Sellers finest and final roles as an unassuming gardener who is mistaken for a brilliant philosoper
Play trailer2:46
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama

After the death of his employer forces him out of the only home he's ever known, a simpleminded, sheltered gardener becomes an unlikely trusted advisor to a powerful tycoon and an insider in... Read allAfter the death of his employer forces him out of the only home he's ever known, a simpleminded, sheltered gardener becomes an unlikely trusted advisor to a powerful tycoon and an insider in Washington politics.After the death of his employer forces him out of the only home he's ever known, a simpleminded, sheltered gardener becomes an unlikely trusted advisor to a powerful tycoon and an insider in Washington politics.

IMDb RATING
8.0/10
72K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,710
294
  • Director
    • Hal Ashby
  • Writers
    • Jerzy Kosinski(novel)
    • Robert C. Jones(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Peter Sellers
    • Shirley MacLaine
    • Melvyn Douglas
Top credits
  • Director
    • Hal Ashby
  • Writers
    • Jerzy Kosinski(novel)
    • Robert C. Jones(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Peter Sellers
    • Shirley MacLaine
    • Melvyn Douglas
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 355User reviews
    • 123Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 14 wins & 15 nominations total

    Videos2

    Being There
    Trailer 2:46
    Being There
    Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 18
    Video 28:56
    Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 18

    Photos171

    Peter Sellers in Being There (1979)
    Shirley MacLaine and Peter Sellers in Being There (1979)
    Shirley MacLaine and Melvyn Douglas in Being There (1979)
    Peter Sellers, Oteil Burbridge, and Ravenell Keller III in Being There (1979)
    Shirley MacLaine, Peter Sellers, and Jack Warden in Being There (1979)
    Peter Sellers and Jack Warden in Being There (1979)
    Peter Sellers in Being There (1979)
    Peter Sellers and Melvyn Douglas in Being There (1979)
    Peter Sellers in Being There (1979)
    Peter Sellers in Being There (1979)
    Peter Sellers in Being There (1979)
    Being There (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peter Sellers
    Peter Sellers
    • Chanceas Chance
    Shirley MacLaine
    Shirley MacLaine
    • Eve Randas Eve Rand
    Melvyn Douglas
    Melvyn Douglas
    • Benjamin Randas Benjamin Rand
    Jack Warden
    Jack Warden
    • President 'Bobby'as President 'Bobby'
    Richard Dysart
    Richard Dysart
    • Dr. Robert Allenbyas Dr. Robert Allenby
    Richard Basehart
    Richard Basehart
    • Vladimir Skrapinovas Vladimir Skrapinov
    Ruth Attaway
    Ruth Attaway
    • Louiseas Louise
    David Clennon
    David Clennon
    • Thomas Franklinas Thomas Franklin
    • (as Dave Clennon)
    Fran Brill
    Fran Brill
    • Sally Hayesas Sally Hayes
    Denise DuBarry
    Denise DuBarry
    • Johanna Franklinas Johanna Franklin
    Oteil Burbridge
    Oteil Burbridge
    • Loloas Lolo
    Ravenell Keller III
    • Abbazas Abbaz
    Brian Corrigan
    • Policeman by White Houseas Policeman by White House
    Alfie Brown
    • Old Woman asked for lunchas Old Woman asked for lunch
    • (as Alfredine Brown)
    Don Jacob
    • Davidas David
    • (as Donald Jacob)
    Ernest McClure
    • Jeffreyas Jeffrey
    • (as Ernest M. McClure)
    Kenneth Patterson
    • Perkinsas Perkins
    Richard Venture
    Richard Venture
    • Wilsonas Wilson
    • Director
      • Hal Ashby
    • Writers
      • Jerzy Kosinski(novel) (screenplay)
      • Robert C. Jones(uncredited)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Simple-minded gardener Chance has spent all his life in the Washington D.C. home of an old man. When the man dies, Chance is put out on the street with no knowledge of the world except what he has learned from television. After a run-in with a limousine, he ends up a guest of Eve and her husband Ben, an influential but sickly businessman. Now called Chauncey Gardner, Chance becomes friend and confidante to Ben, and an unlikely political insider. —Scott Renshaw <as.idc@forsythe.stanford.edu>
    • gardener
    • politics
    • presidential visit
    • washington d.c.
    • wealth
    • 98 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • "I like to watch".
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      It took Peter Sellers nearly nine years to get this movie made by a studio, mainly because by the 1970s Sellers' career had hit rock bottom and no studio in Hollywood would work with him. After the revival (and success) of the Pink Panther movies, Lorimar Pictures finally greenlit the project.
    • Goofs
      While at dinner for the first evening with Ben and Eve, Chauncey's wine glass fills and empties within seconds.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      President "Bobby": Life is a state of mind.

    • Crazy credits
      Under the end titles of the theatrical release are outtakes of Peter Sellers as Chance recounting the encounter with Abbaz. Sellers breaks character and laughs during each attempt. The lines do not appear in the movie. Certain versions of the film have credits with white text on a black background without the outtakes.
    • Alternate versions
      In different versions, the credits are either shown over retakes of Chance saying a line that was not in the movie, or (for TV and video) shown over TV white noise.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 37th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      Basketball Jones Featuring Tyrone Shoelaces
      Written and Performed by Cheech Marin (as Cheech) & Tommy Chong (as Chong)

      Band: George Harrison (lead guitar), Carole King

      (piano/background vocals), Billy Preston (keyboards) and Tom Scott (saxophone)

      Background vocals (cheerleaders): Darlene Love and Michelle Phillips

    User reviews355

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A Gift....
    Even as a kid I loved this movie and upon seeing it again as an adult I found much to re appreciate in this marvelous sleeper of a film. Sellers is in top form as are the supporting cast--the shear farce of it all makes the improbable seem probable--and as a vehicle for political/social commentary it ranks as one of the best dark comedies ever made. The inclusion of all the 70's TV clips make Being There an invaluable period piece and provide the film with some of it's funniest scenes. The movie also provides an interesting portrayal of the trappings of the super wealthy and it's portrayal of the workings of power and money are reminiscent of some of Kubrick's better work. Check out the all seeing eye of the Illuminati on the apex of the pyramid of "Rand's" mausoleum during the funeral scene. Pretty powerful stuff--makes Being There all the more an important and revealing work--as well as spiritual. Like the protagonist, Chauncey Gardner, there's something about this film that makes you feel better about life and , yeah, even about death. Kosinski's, Ashby's and Seller's gift to us all.
    helpful•114
    16
    • juliano66
    • Jan 31, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 8, 1980 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • West Germany
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Willkommen, Mr. Chance
    • Filming locations
      • Biltmore Estate - 1 Approach Road, Asheville, North Carolina, USA
    • Production companies
      • BSB
      • CIP
      • Lorimar Film Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $30,177,511
    • Gross worldwide
      • $30,177,511
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 10 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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