Being There (1979)
Average Rating: 8.3/10
Reviews Counted: 41
Fresh: 39 | Rotten: 2
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 7.1/10
Critic Reviews: 5
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 1
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 4.1/5
User Ratings: 23,277
Movie Info
Having lived his life as the gardener on a millionaire's estate, Chance (Peter Sellers) knows of the real world only what he has seen on TV. When his benefactor dies, Chance walks aimlessly into the streets of Washington D.C., where he is struck by a car owned by wealthy Eve Rand (Shirley MacLaine). Identifying himself, the confused man mutters "Chance...gardener," which Eve takes to be "Chauncey Gardiner." Eve takes him to her home to convalesce, and because Chance is so well-dressed and
Dec 19, 1979 Wide
Apr 3, 2001
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Watch It Now
Cast
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Peter Sellers
Chance the Gardener -
Shirley MacLaine
Eve Rand -
Melvyn Douglas
Benjamin Rand -
Jack Warden
President Bobby -
Richard Basehart
Vladimir Skrapinov -
Richard Dysart
Dr. Robert Allenby -
Ruth Attaway
Louise -
David Clennon
Thomas Franklin -
Fran Brill
Sally Hayes -
Denise Du Barry
Johanna Franklin -
Elya Baskin
Karpatov -
Alfredine Brown
Old Woman -
Oteil Burbridge
Lolo -
-
Maurice Copeland
Pallbearer -
Brian Corrigan
Policeman -
Terrence Currier
Pallbearer -
Katherine de Hetre
Kinney News Researcher -
Stanley Grover
Baldwin -
Arthur Grundy
Arthur -
Georgine Hall
Mrs. Aubrey -
Mark Hammer
Pallbearer -
John Harkins
Courtney -
Austin Hay
Pallbearer -
Hanna Hertelendy
Natasha Skrapinov -
Alice Hirson
First Lady -
Gwen Humble
TV Guest -
Donald Jacob
David chauffeur -
Ravenell Keller III
Abbaz -
William Larsen
Lyman Stuart -
Fredric Lehne
TV Page -
Paul Marin
Reporter -
Ernest McClure
Jeffery -
James Noble
Kaufman Presidential Ad... -
Kenneth Patterson
Perkins -
Arthur Rosenberg
Morton Hull -
Richard Venture
Wilson -
Sandy Ward
Sen. Slipshod -
Allen Williams
Reporter -
Ned Wilson
Honeycutt -
Than Wyenn
Ambassador Gaufridi -
Jerome Hellman
Gary Burns -
Sam Weisman
Colson -
John Miller
Ron Steigler -
Melendy Britt
Sophie -
Danna Hansen
Mrs. Slipshod -
Mitch Kreindel
Dennis Watson -
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Being There Trailer & Photos
All Critics (41) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (2) | DVD (18)
A highly unusual and an unusually fine film.
No one seems to know what to do with the allegorical undertone of Jerzy Kosinski's script, but as a whole this 1979 film maintains a fine level of wit, sophistication, and insight.
What emerges in the end is a strange ambiguity of attitude to the American political system and a hollow humour about cultural values. The cinema of cynicism, really.
Top CriticHal Ashby directs Being There at an unruffled, elegant pace, the better to let Mr. Sellers's double-edged mannerisms make their full impression upon the audience.
Satire is a threatened species in American film, and when it does occur, it's usually broad and slapstick, as in the Mel Brooks films. Being There, directed by Hal Ashby, is a rare and subtle bird that finds its tone and stays with it.
Peter Sellers gives a stellar performance.
Amazingly poignant performance by Peter Sellers.
Sweet, feel-good sports flick is girl-powered.
a product not of Ashby's essential modesty but of Kosinski's essential egoism.
If you are going to see only one Peter Sellers movie, see Dr. Strangelove, but if you're going to see two, then Being There also belongs on your must-see list.
While the story is utterly ridiculous, since not everyone would be fooled all the time, it still works as a charming work of fiction.
Sellers uses simple looks and gestures to bring light to some very serious situations. At many points it's like he's in a trance, truly embodying Chance.
It's perhaps the great comic actor's most emotionally moving role.
Ground Zero for the cult of Sellers.
Whether Being There is an indictment of our narrow view of the world, a celebration of empty-headedness or all of the above, "Life is a state of mind," and Ashby's film is a gift to treasure. [Blu-ray]
...one of the shrewdest, funniest, and most touching sociopolitical satires in movie history.
So anti-Tom Hanks it ain't funny.
Peter Sellers' peculiar talents are ideally suited to the role of the idiot savant, and despite the Oscar going to co-star Douglas, his is the standout performance of a fascinating, funny film.
Jerzy Kosinski's modern fable gets a terrific translation to the screen due to his tight screenplay, capable direction by Ashby, and a marvelous performance by Sellers, one unlike any other in his career.
In an Oscar-nominated turn as a simpleton who rises to the top, Peter Sellers renders a remarkable performance in Ashby's satirical fable, one that doesn't rely on make-up, accent or impersonation.
Brilliant Ashby classic, Peter Sellers' best.
a vital statement on our TV reality, on how we develop our heroes, and on how power perpetuates itself
Audience Reviews for Being There
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Chance the Gardener: I like to watch.
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Movie: ID: 10184 Title: Being There Release Date: 1979-12-19 00:00:00.0 MPAA: 2 Status: 1
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Foreign Titles
- Bienvenue Mister Chance (FR)
This film is based on a novel (with the screenplay penned by the book's author), and it's quite an odd and interesting piece of work. It's also the sort of thing that I think only Peter Sellers and Hal Ashby could really sell and make work. It takes the right kind of touch to pull such a weird thing off, but I'm happy to say they get the job done.
The film is a journey of discovery, as well as a sharp satire about dependence on the media, and just how much it rules our lives. It's a funny film, but also a touch sad. It's also quite beautiful in a poetic kinda of way.In a lot of ways, it's kinda of a fantasy, though it's mostly pretty well (for the most part) grounded in reality. Well, if you can buy into the premise that is.
I enjoyed this film a great deal, but as of now, I don't think this is the masterpiece that others make it out to be. I think I'd need to see this a few more times and really absorb it before I could make that call myself. For the most part I really bought into it, though I had a hard time totally accepting the way people react to Chance and his behavior and way of life.
The perforamnces and cinematography are what really make it work though. Sellers is absolutely brilliant, and I can't think of anyoen else who could pull this off. SHirley MacLaine is also quite good in her role of a woman who takes a liking to Chance. There's some great scenes throughout, but my favorite is the long sequence that shows Chance's first steps out into the larger world abroad. That sequence alone is what had me sold on this movie.
All in all, a fine piece of work, but I'm not really 100% sure what I make of it.. It's odd, and I don't quite get it, yet it means no harm, and is pretty sharp when trying to make a point about life and society.