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Title: Being There (1979)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Peter Sellers | ... | Chance | |
| Shirley MacLaine | ... | Eve Rand | |
| Melvyn Douglas | ... | Benjamin Rand | |
| Jack Warden | ... | President 'Bobby' | |
| Richard Dysart | ... | Dr. Robert Allenby | |
| Richard Basehart | ... | Vladimir Skrapinov | |
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Ruth Attaway | ... | Louise |
| David Clennon | ... | Thomas Franklin (as Dave Clennon) | |
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Fran Brill | ... | Sally Hayes |
| Denise DuBarry | ... | Johanna Franklin | |
| Oteil Burbridge | ... | Lolo | |
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Ravenell Keller III | ... | Abbaz |
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Brian Corrigan | ... | Policeman by White House |
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Alfie Brown | ... | Old Woman asked for lunch (as Alfredine Brown) |
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Don Jacob | ... | David (as Donald Jacob) |
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. Written by Scott Renshaw <as.idc@forsythe.stanford.edu>
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"To see me as a person on screen would be one of the dullest experiences you could ever wish to experience" - quote from Peter Sellers.
Peter Sellers had many quotes like this in which he spoke of his near self-hatred, hated seeing himself, and that when he was not doing comedy, he was dull and unfunny. That makes his portrayal of Chauncey Gardner that much more amazing, because he portrays a very simple man totally comfortable within himself.
Being There is a great film. It deals with a simple premise - if you act in a certain way, people will make unquestioned assumptions about you. Chauncy is slow witted and has the mind of small child, and all that he knows in gardening. However, he dresses in nice suits, has impeccable manners and is not shy, so he is accepted into social circles. When he speaks of gardening, his ramblings are mistaken for metaphors and he is instantly considered an economic genius.
This is wrapped around a beautiful film, in which Chauncey wanders from one circumstance into another, never changing his demeanor, never faltering. I an reminded of Mr Magoo walking blindly down a succession of steel girders thinking they are stairs. Essentially, he is not in peril because he does not know he is in peril. The charm of this film exists in Chauncey's unwavering personality, and how it affects the world of phonies and bureaucrats he has come to inhabit.
Although the film sometimes comes across as forced, and some of the encounters with Eve (Shirley MacLaine) come off forced, the film is still a masterpiece. Its theme and Sellers' stunning performance lauch it into the catoegory of greatness.
There is much debate amongst the lovers of this film over its final scene. If you have not seen it, rent it, and draw your conclusions. Like many great movies steeped in mood and metaphor, we are left to draw our own conclusions.
The phrase "I like to watch" has become so famous from this movie - it refers to Chauncey's love for TV and the fact that it is his reference point for his existance. (Such has when he tries to click a remote to thwart off muggers). But there is a great deal more to Being There. It is a Top 10 Selection of 70s, Hal Ashby's best film and Peter Sellers greatest performance. **** out of ****.