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Tervetuloa, Mr. Chance!

Original title: Being There
  • 1979
  • K-12
  • 2h 10m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
78K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,541
11
Tervetuloa, Mr. Chance! (1979)
One of Peter Sellers finest and final roles as an unassuming gardener who is mistaken for a brilliant philosoper
Play trailer2:46
1 Video
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.

  • Director
    • Hal Ashby
  • Writers
    • Jerzy Kosinski
    • Robert C. Jones
  • Stars
    • Peter Sellers
    • Shirley MacLaine
    • Melvyn Douglas
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    78K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,541
    11
    • Director
      • Hal Ashby
    • Writers
      • Jerzy Kosinski
      • Robert C. Jones
    • Stars
      • Peter Sellers
      • Shirley MacLaine
      • Melvyn Douglas
    • 372User reviews
    • 123Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 14 wins & 15 nominations total

    Videos1

    Being There
    Trailer 2:46
    Watch Being There

    Photos176

    Peter Sellers in Tervetuloa, Mr. Chance! (1979)
    Shirley MacLaine and Peter Sellers in Tervetuloa, Mr. Chance! (1979)
    Shirley MacLaine and Melvyn Douglas in Tervetuloa, Mr. Chance! (1979)
    Peter Sellers, Oteil Burbridge, and Ravenell Keller III in Tervetuloa, Mr. Chance! (1979)
    Shirley MacLaine, Peter Sellers, and Jack Warden in Tervetuloa, Mr. Chance! (1979)
    Peter Sellers and Jack Warden in Tervetuloa, Mr. Chance! (1979)
    Peter Sellers in Tervetuloa, Mr. Chance! (1979)
    Peter Sellers and Melvyn Douglas in Tervetuloa, Mr. Chance! (1979)
    Peter Sellers in Tervetuloa, Mr. Chance! (1979)
    Peter Sellers in Tervetuloa, Mr. Chance! (1979)
    Peter Sellers in Tervetuloa, Mr. Chance! (1979)
    Peter Sellers in Tervetuloa, Mr. Chance! (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
    • 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
    • Director
      • Hal Ashby
    • Writers
      • Jerzy Kosinski
      • Robert C. Jones(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    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 reviews372

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Peter Sellers's Amazing Final Season
    Like most of Hal Ashby's films, there is a clarity of look and narrative that makes the film immediately compelling. Like Ruth Gordon in "Harold and Maude" Peter Sellers as Chance the Gardner tells us a few truths that stand at the center as well as quite outside the box of our daily lives. Obvious and unique. Contradictions co-existing in perfect harmony. Peter Sellers is superb, without ever betraying the grayness of his existence. It took me a while, I must confess, to settle in. I had seen the Goeffry Rush film about Sellers's life and it implied an effort to take those thoughts and images out of my mind and allow Chancey, without Sellers, to take me away. He did, he took me away completely. What a remarkable piece of acting. A special mention should go to Melvyn Douglas as well. Moving and powerful at the end of a legendary career. Highly recommended.
    helpful•53
    5
    • littlemartinarocena
    • May 1, 2007

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    FAQ20

    • How long is Being There?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 12, 1980 (Finland)
    • Countries of origin
      • West Germany
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Välkommen Mr. Chance!
    • 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
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $30,177,511
    • Gross worldwide
      • $30,177,663
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 10 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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