“I like to watch.”
If you see Raphael tell him that I ain’t taking no jive from no Western Union messenger but that he should get his ass down here and buy this Blu-ray since I know that he is a fan of Being There. If he don’t then I’m going to cut him.
Chance (Peter Sellers) is the gardener of a wealthy older man in Washington D.C. When the man dies the child-like Chance finds that he has no where to live and no means to support himself as his meals are provided by Louise (Ruth Attaway) the housekeeper and he can neither read nor write.
He has no knowledge of the outside world as he’s lived in the old man’s house since he was a baby and learns what he knows from constantly watching television. The lawyers settling the old man’s estate find no record of Chance so they tell him he has to leave. He ends up wandering the streets of Washington D.C. (to a wild disco version of ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’ by Deodato) with his trusty television remote control.
Later that night he’s gazing into the display window of a store selling televisions, backs away to get a better look, and a limousine backs up and crushes his leg. The passenger of the limo is Eve Rand (Shirley MacLaine) the wife of business leader Ben Rand (Melvyn Douglas). She takes Chance into her car to take him to the emergency room to get his leg looked at and misinterprets his name as Chauncey Gardiner (instead of Chance the gardener).
Thinking he’s a businessman and to possibly avoid any lawsuits she takes him back to their mansion (the lovely Biltmore House in North Carolina playing the role) to be seen by Rand’s personal physician, Dr. Allenby (Richard A. Dysart). Rand is dying, but he’s still pulling the strings of the powerful as the visit of the President of the United States (Jack Warden) attests to.
Chance’s child-like repetition of what people say to him is interpreted as brilliance by those around him and soon he’s being mentioned in the President’s speech to the nation. This causes a flurry of press inquiries and soon the name of Chauncey Gardiner is on the tongue of everyone. Too bad he’s speaking gobbledygook.
Being There is based on the book by Jerzy Kosinski and is the last film that would be released while Peter Sellers was alive. It might’ve been the one to go out on since the final film of the comedy great would be the less than great Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu.
It would earn Sellers an Academy Award nomination for best actor, losing out to Dustin Hoffman for Kramer vs. Kramer, and would win Melvyn Douglas the supporting actor award. Sellers is no less than brilliant in the role.
His portrayal is quite the opposite of the madcap persona that he was known for at the time (the Pink Panther films). The film is one that will stay with you as well as prompt discussion regarding its ending. The ending is made even more brilliant as compared to the ho-hum alternate ending included on this Blu-ray.
Sadly, it would be Seller’s (next to) last film, but it would earn him the accolades he deserved as an actor, but it’s too bad that he didn’t win the golden statue that he so richly deserved. On watching the film again I wondered if a sequel with Chauncey running for the presidency might’ve been a thought, but the death of Sellers probably entombed those possibilities.
Being There is a dark comedy commentary on the media and how a person of very little brain can be propelled to the top of the heap because of their attentions or how we interpret their inane responses into what we want to hear and therefore think they’re brilliant when they really have a head full of rice pudding.
Being There is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (1.85:1). It looks wonderful with the palatial Biltmore House looking quite grand. If you’re getting the Blu-ray you do get more special features. First up is the 14-minute “Memories of Being There” in which Melvyn’s actress granddaughter Illeana Douglas is interviewed about her set visit and meeting Sellers.
If you’re getting the DVD then this is all you get. The Blu-ray adds 2 minutes of additional scenes, a 2-minute alternate ending, a 6-minute gag reel (which repeats the outtake shown during the closing credits), and the 3-minute theatrical trailer. The additional scenes have just been discovered but they’re rather slight.
The alternate ending doesn’t add much, but it would’ve been really disappointing on the film and I’m glad that the ending that appears on the film was chosen.
Being There is a triumph for Peter Sellers and proves that he was just more than a funny voice and a rubber face. Sadly, the accolades would come a little too late as he’d be gone too soon.
The film is the best it’s ever looked on home video in this Blu-ray presentation. The Blu-ray does get some extra special features over the DVD, but it’s the fantastic performance that you’ll remember. Take that Raphael.
Being There [Blu-ray] is now available at Amazon . Visit the DVD database for more information.
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