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IMDbPro

Being There

  • 19791979
  • 14A14A
  • 2h 10m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
74K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,035
2,133
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
ComedyDrama
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
74K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,035
2,133
    • Hal Ashby
    • Jerzy Kosinski(novel)
    • Robert C. Jones(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Peter Sellers
    • Shirley MacLaine
    • Melvyn Douglas
    • Hal Ashby
    • Jerzy Kosinski(novel)
    • Robert C. Jones(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Peter Sellers
    • Shirley MacLaine
    • Melvyn Douglas
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 361User reviews
    • 123Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar

    Videos2

    Being There
    Trailer 2:46
    Watch Being There
    Sneak Previews Season 2 Episode 18
    Video 28:56
    Watch 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
    • Chance
    Shirley MacLaine
    Shirley MacLaine
    • Eve Rand
    Melvyn Douglas
    Melvyn Douglas
    • Benjamin Rand
    Jack Warden
    Jack Warden
    • President 'Bobby'
    Richard Dysart
    Richard Dysart
    • Dr. Robert Allenby
    Richard Basehart
    Richard Basehart
    • Vladimir Skrapinov
    Ruth Attaway
    Ruth Attaway
    • Louise
    David Clennon
    David Clennon
    • Thomas Franklin
    • (as Dave Clennon)
    Fran Brill
    Fran Brill
    • Sally Hayes
    Denise DuBarry
    Denise DuBarry
    • Johanna Franklin
    Oteil Burbridge
    Oteil Burbridge
    • Lolo
    Ravenell Keller III
    • Abbaz
    Brian Corrigan
    • Policeman by White House
    Alfie Brown
    • Old Woman asked for lunch
    • (as Alfredine Brown)
    Don Jacob
    • David
    • (as Donald Jacob)
    Ernest McClure
    • Jeffrey
    • (as Ernest M. McClure)
    Kenneth Patterson
    • Perkins
    Richard Venture
    Richard Venture
    • Wilson
      • Hal Ashby
      • Jerzy Kosinski(novel) (screenplay)
      • Robert C. Jones(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    7.4
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    Storyline

    Edit

    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 reviews361

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Perhaps one of the saddest movies ever made?
    To learn that Peter Sellers spent the last ten years of his life dedicated to producing this film, reluctantly taking parts in the Pink Panther series to gain enough money to do so, is dedication enough to tell you that this film meant a lot to Sellers.

    It is sad that Sellers died just one year after completing the film, which to me stands as a testament to his talent.

    Being There was not a successful film, indeed many people have never heard of it. If you haven't seen it, track it down. It is one of the most touching films I have ever seen.
    helpful•156
    46
    • Stephen-35
    • Jan 12, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 8, 1980 (Canada)
      • United States
      • English
      • Russian
      • Italian
    • Also known as
    • 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
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 10 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono

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