Being There (1979)
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Videos & Photos
- One of Peter Sellers finest and final roles as an unassuming gardener who is mistaken for a brilliant philosoper (02:45)
- (02:45)
Movie Info & Cast
Synopsis
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.
Cast
- Peter Sellers
- Shirley MacLaine
- Melvyn Douglas
- Jack Warden
- Richard Dysart
- Richard Basehart
- Ruth Attaway
- David Clennon
- Fran Brill
- Denise DuBarry
Letterboxd User Reviews
4.1
121.9K
58.6K
37.1K
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So... I watched this for the first time a month ago. I had dinner with Michael Shannon and he called himself Chauncey Gardener, he said "I'm a fraud, I don't know what I'm doing and I've fooled everyone." People on Letterboxd have told me to watch this film for years and…
Jim CummingsMay 7, 2020the scene where shirley maclaine masturbates on the floor while peter sellers does yoga on the bed saved cinema.
eelyFeb 24, 2021Instead of its on-the-nose political allegory, I would prefer to see Being There, one of the most quirky yet transcendental comedies I've seen, as a witty take on "what if God was one of us", or the tragic ways innocence gets tarnished in this highly complicated, yet…
nick - Mar 8, 2022
Shirley MacLaine masturbates while Peter Sellers does a head-stand. Cinema sure was something else in the 1970s.
Willow MaclayNov 14, 202280 There's a simplicity and gentle nature to Being There that compliments the more extensive political focus of the narrative. Consistent laughs, with Peter Sellers' performance being a career highlight, but the sadness and melancholy is what stands out. Gorgeous final…
SilentDawnAug 23, 2019what if we kissed😳during mr. rogers’ neighborhood🙈
nora - Mar 6, 2021
That guy really loved TV. And who can blame him! Lot of great stuff on there. Seinfeld, etc. Yes, TV has been bringing the heat for decades, and with today’s wide variety of streaming services, there is no shortage of wonderful programming for the modern viewer. And if…
brendan o'hareAug 13, 2016Being There should have been Peter Sellers last movie, instead, his final credit was the cringe worthy The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu. In retrospect, the same could be said of Director Hal Ashby. This was his last, and possibly, best out of a string of critical and…
Jonathan WhiteSep 29, 2024have been reading about peter sellers and if i ever turned in a performance as capital s Stellar as he did in this movie, and then my 15 year old daughter victoria said i looked fat and old in it, i would also dump my drink on her, send her and her sister a telegram about…
dylan gelula
Queue Community Reviews
84%
Community 807
Top Reviews
- Kareem is "meh" onBeing There
Disappointed. Disappointed by the weird shift the script took after the first 30 minutes in order to reach its political themes, only to comment on them superficially. Disappointed that I spent almost the entire movie awkwardly detached from everything,just waiting for Chance to-
James New lovedBeing ThereMaybe one of my favourite performances in a film ever from Peter Sellers. The characterisation is just genius, the experienced naivety of the lead is just remarkable. Not a single dud in the supporting cast either. It’s funny, heartfelt, dry and tragic. Just a wonderful film
RayRay likedBeing ThereIt’s been a while, but it was a very fun movie. The ending made it even more interesting and it didn’t feel like it overstayed its welcome. Funny, happy?, thought provoking and creative.
- Assaf Revacha lovedBeing There
8.5/10 this is one of the funniest movies I see. Peter Sellers is so iconic and the criticism of the American society and politics is so good
Matthew Golad likedBeing ThereWatched the Blu-ray. Had heard it was good but knew nothing about it. Very funny. Great satire. Very original. Will definitely watch again.
Hank Leet lovedBeing ThereThe rise of the legend, known as, Chauncey Gardiner
- TJ Lane likedBeing There
Would happen in 2024
Alex likedBeing ThereC + A + P +
Atom Users Reviews
Metacritic
A placid, poignant, well-kept secret of a movie.
Ian Nathan
Empire
You can see the movie’s influence on everything from Forrest Gump to Idiocracy to Elf, all comedies with oblivious, world-changing simpletons at their center.
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm
A delightfully dark comedy that, despite a cynical bent, offers viewers a good time.
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Being There (1979) (1980) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as PG (Parental Guidance Suggested). It's generally considered a family-friendly movie.
How long is Being There (1979) (1980)?
The movie is 2hr 10min long.
What's Being There (1979) (1980) about?
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.
Who's the cast of Being There (1979) (1980)?
- Peter Sellers as Chance
- Shirley MacLaine as Eve Rand
- Melvyn Douglas as Benjamin Rand
- Jack Warden as President 'Bobby'
- Richard Dysart as Dr. Robert Allenby
- Richard Basehart as Vladimir Skrapinov
- Ruth Attaway as Louise
- David Clennon as Thomas Franklin
- Fran Brill as Sally Hayes
- Denise DuBarry as Johanna Franklin
Who's the director behind Being There (1979) (1980)?
Hal Ashby directed Being There (1979) (1980).
Who produced Being There (1979) (1980)?
Andrew Braunsberg produced Being There (1979) (1980).
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