Salesman (1968)

Four relentless door-to-door salesmen deal with constant rejection, homesickness and inevitable burnout as they go across the country selling very expensive bibles to low-income Catholic families.

Directors:

Albert Maysles, David Maysles,

Stars:

Paul Brennan, Charles McDevitt, James Baker

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Paul Brennan	...	Himself - 'The Badger'
Charles McDevitt	...	Himself - 'The Gipper'
James Baker	...	Himself - 'The Rabbit'
Raymond Martos	...	Himself - 'The Bull'
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Melbourne I. Feltman
Margaret McCarron
Kennie Turner

Storyline

Filmmakers (and brothers) Albert and David Maysles follow four employees of a company that makes expensive, ornate, illustrated bibles as they attempt to sell the items door-to-door to less-than-interested customers, who are mainly poor or lower-middle-class Catholics with little money to spend on pretty Bibles.

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Plot Keywords:

bible | catholic | door to door | homesickness | customer | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Maysles Films

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kauppamatkustaja

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$105,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Maysles Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min 85 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was selected to the National Film Registry, Library of Congress, in 1992.

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Connections

Referenced in The Lives of Others (2006)

User Reviews

Desperation is painful to watch...

From the Maysles Brothers (Gimme Shelter, Monterey Pop, When We Were Kings) comes this unsettling portrait of door-to-door salesmen. In this case, the film is especially interesting since they're selling Bibles to Catholic families. All the sales tricks are there, with a special dose of guilt. Most interesting is the portrayal of Paul, one of the older salesmen, who is realizing he may have "lost it." His desperation is painful to watch. (9/ 10)