Political Commentary in Cinema: Review of Peter Seller's 'Being There'

Rogert Ebert Review ^ | 1979 | Roger Ebert

[HitmanLV]

There's an exhilaration in seeing artists at the very top of their form: It almost doesn't matter what the form is, if they're pushing their limits and going for broke and it's working. We can sense their joy of achievement - and even more so if the project in question is a risky, off-the-wall idea that could just as easily have ended disastrously.

Hal Ashby's Being There is a movie that inspires those feelings. It begins with a cockamamie notion, it's basically one joke told for two hours, and it requires Peter Sellers to maintain an excruciatingly narrow tone of behavior in a role that has him onscreen almost constantly. It's a movie based on an idea, and all the conventional wisdom agrees that emotions, not ideas, are the best to make movies from. But Being There pulls off its long shot and is a confoundingly provocative movie.

Sellers plays a mentally retarded gardener who has lived and worked all of his life inside the walls of an elegant Washington town house. The house and its garden are in a decaying inner-city neighborhood, but what goes on outside is of no concern to Sellers: He tends his garden, he watches television, he is fed on schedule by the domestic staff, he is content.

Then one day the master of the house dies. The household is disbanded. Sellers, impeccably dressed in his employer's privately tailored wardrobe, wanders out into the city. He takes along the one possession he'll probably need: His remote-control TV channel switcher. He uses it almost immediately; surrounded by hostile street kids, he imperturbably tries to switch channels to make them go away. He hasn't figured out that, outside his garden, life isn't television.

And that is the movie's basic premise, lifted intact from a Jerzy Kosinski novel. The Sellers character knows almost nothing about real life, but he has watched countless hours of television and he can be pleasant, smile, shake hands, and comport himself; he learned from watching all those guests on talk shows. He knows nothing about anything, indeed, except gardening. But when he stumbles into Washington's political and social upper crust, his simple truisms from the garden ("Spring is a time for planting") are taken as audaciously simple metaphors. This guy's a Thoreau! In no time at all, he's the closest confidant of a dying billionaire industrialist (Melvyn Douglas) - and the industrialist is the closest confidant of the president.

This is, you can see, a one-joke premise. It has to be if the Sellers performance is to work. The whole movie has to be tailored to the narrow range within which Sellers' gardener can think, behave, speak, and make choices. The ways in which this movie could have gone out of control, could have been relentlessly boring on the one hand, or manic with its own audacity on the other, are endless. But the tone holds. That's one of the most exhilarating aspects of the joy you can sense, as Ashby pulls this off: Every scene needs the confidence to play the idea completely straight.

There are wonderful comic moments, but they're never pushed so far that they strain the story's premise. Some of them involve: a battle between the CIA and the FBI as to which agency destroyed the gardener's files; Shirley MacLaine unsuccessfully attempts to introduce Sellers to the concept of romance; Sellers as a talk-show guest himself (at last!), and Sellers as the hit of a Washington cocktail party. The movie also has an audacious closing shot that moves the film's whole metaphor into a brand-new philosophical arena.

What is Being There about? I've read reviews calling it an indictment of television. But that doesn't fit; Sellers wasn't warped by television, he was retarded to begin with, and has TV to thank for what abilities he has to move in society. Is it an indictment of society, for being so dumb as to accept the Sellers character as a great philosophical sage? Maybe, but that's not so fascinating either. I'm not really inclined to plumb this movie for its message, although I'm sure that'll be a favorite audience sport. I just admire it for having the guts to take this weird conceit and push it to its ultimate comic conclusion.

[HitmanLV]

I had the pleasure of watching my DVD of this classic film last eve. It's one of my favorite films ever and tackles the Washington scene in a way that has never been done before or since.

While more people know about the similar 'Forrest Gump,' 'Being There' is the genuine article and superior in almost every way. Gump is a big mac, and Chance the Gardner is a lovely steak dinner.

Any thoughts or memories of this fine film? A shame they don't make them like this anymore!

[Lijahsbubbe]

That is a great movie! I remember the scene where Shirley Maclaine is trying to seduce Sellers, who is staring at the TV, oblivious to Shirley's attention. When he says "I like to watch," she assumes he's talking about sex! Funny.

When Jesse Ventura was running for, and became governor, I thought of this film quite often. Every time he said something stupid or shallow, the press would give him rave reviews, and try to ascribe deep meaning to his statements.
"Brilliant!" They'd say, or "what strategy!"

It was hilarious. (but frustrating)

[SeeRushToldU_So]

I loved that movie, I saw it on TV a couple of times, but I could never remember the title.

Now I will soon own it on DVD.

Thanks for bringing this up.

Congrats Tex :)

[JacksonCalhoun]

A great 'adult' movie I enjoyed as an 11 year old. I was at the Biltmore House (Asheville, NC) last week where most of the movie was filmed, and I couldn't help but think of it, especially in the big banquet hall.

A much subtler movie than Forrest Gump (no bloated 60's travelogue) and unfortunately, one of Peter Sellers' last movies. The outtakes at the end where he kept cracking up after saying 'a***ole' are priceless.

Of course if Ebert reviewed it today, he'd find some way to turn it into a vicious "Dubya" hit piece.

[Scenic Sounds]

What is Being There about?

This is a great movie and more than just a comedy. I think it works because it contains more than just a grain of truth about how we actually operate.

[okie01]

"Being There" is one of the ten best comedies ever.

In turn, subtle, pointed, erudite and hilarious.

Ebert gives great credit to the director, Hal Ashby, as he should. There are several directors, though, who might have been able to bring it off.

But there is only one person who could have played Chance the gardener.

[HitmanLV]

I saw the film when It came out, I think I was 12, and I enjoyed it a lot. I watched it again in my 20s, and really got a lot more out of it. I decided to pop it into my DVD player - it was a disc I bought a year ago and still in the shrink wrap (don't ask about my crazy DVD collection)!

I was so glad I did - Chance is the perfect mirror to everyone. They all see only what they want to see, and what they project onto him. Can a simple, sincere, yet retarded gardner whose life experience comes only from watching tv become leader of the free world?

It's great seeing these 'smart' people in the DC scene fail to grasp what Chance is saying and doing. Shirley Maclaine's characters confession to him that he helped her find a passion she never felt before is hilarious - and very telling. As you say, he was just absorbed watching TV. The fullfilment came from something she completely imagined.

There is a lot of stuff in this movie - a lot of food for thought. I think every self absorbed person should watch this movie and see if they recognize themselves!

In the end it's all spelled out, isn't it? "Life is a state of mind." Isn't that true?

[HitmanLV]

Great movie and the DVD is only around $ 10. They don't make them like this anymore!

[Lijahsbubbe]

They all see only what they want to see, and what they project onto him.

Great point. Usually what they wanted to see was something that would benefit them!

[HitmanLV]

Hey we must be around the same age. I saw this film at the Waverly Theater in downtown manhattan with my dad. Even at 12, I was a huge Sellers fan and was excited when the movie was coming out.

My dad is the best: turned me and my brothers on to lots of cool stuff. So we would appreciate Sellers, Pink Panther films, old movie serials, Universal monster movies, Godzilla films, etc.

I revisited the film a few times as I got older and my opinion of the movie only grew.

That must have been awesome being at that home - I can't imagine thinking of anything else except Chance and 'Being There.' That must have been a real treat!

And right you are - shows you what a difference a couple of decades make. 'Being There' would be considered by Ebert and many other less schooled critics a thinly vieled parody of President Dubya.

Ironic! This is so similar to the type of self absorbed world view of almost every character in the film! Haha!

[FreedomPoster]

A favorite of mine as well. Mentally added to the "DVD's to acquire" list. Haven't seen it since the first run in the theaters.

[HitmanLV]

This is a great movie and more than just a comedy. I think it works because it contains more than just a grain of truth about how we actually operate.

Very true, and not very flattering. I prefer it to the overrated Gump (which was good, but not GREAT) because it really comes dangerously close to the truth.

Could it really happen? Nah. Is there a lot of truth in 'Being There?' You bet! More than most people would care to admit!

[NutCrackerBoy]

there is only one person who could have played Chance the gardener.

It could have been fun to see Jack Nicholson try.

[HitmanLV]

But there is only one person who could have played Chance the gardener.

This tidbit isn't anywhere on the disc, but enjoy this bit of movie trivia.

In 1971, when Jerzy Kosinski published the novel Being There, he received a mysterios telegram from its lead character, Chance the Gardener: "Available in my garden or outside of it." A telephone number followed and when Kosinski dialed it Peter Sellers answered!

You are right - Sellers is always awesome but he is incredible as Chance. He tried to get the film made for most of the 70s, and it finally got made in 79. He would pass away shortly afterwards, his next-to-last film (The Fiendish Plot of Dr Fu Manchu was his last film, which I also saw in the same theater that I originally enjoyed "Being There").

Great film - understated and powerful. And while a bit of a farce, certainly full of truth.

[L_Von_Mises]

Of course if Ebert reviewed it today, he'd find some way to turn it into a vicious "Dubya" hit piece.

When I saw the movie title and who the reviewer was I just figured that's what it was. Once I started reading the comments I had to go back and read the whole review.

I read the book in high school 25 years ago and loved it.

[Joe Bonforte]

Here's my favorite scene, extracted from the script:

STIEGLER:
Mr. Gardiner, my editors and I have been wondering if you'd consider writing a book for us? Something on your political philosophy. What do you say?

CHANCE:
I can't write.

STIEGLER:
(smiles)
Of course, who can nowadays? I have trouble writing a post card to my children! Look, we could give you a six figure advance, provide you with the very best ghostwriters, research assistants, proof readers...

CHANCE:
I can't read.

STIEGLER:
Of course not! No one has the time to read! One glances at things, watches television...

CHANCE:
Yes. I like to watch.

STIEGLER:
Sure you do! No one reads! ...Listen, book publishing isn't exactly a bed of roses these days...

CHANCE:
(mild interest)
What sort of bed is it?

---

By the way, you can look at the script at http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/8200/being.txt

[HitmanLV]

Haha! It's all fresh in my mind since I watched it last night! Amazing exchange! Thanks!

[IncPen]

I saw the movie when I was in college in the 80s and assumed it was ginned up as a hit piece on Reagan, because it paralleled so many of the 'accusations' about RR

Those myths were shattered when "In His Own Hand", the book of Reagan's handwritten radio addresses came out, which were the basis for the themes he rode to the White House

I'll take a look at this movie again, on your recommendation.

[lorrainer]

Any thoughts or memories of this fine film? A shame they don't make them like this anymore!

Yes, fond memories of this film. My husband introduced me to it, and we've enjoyed "watching" it together several times, LOL. We miss Peter Sellers terribly now that he's gone and watch him every time his movies are on TV.

What I am also very nostalgic about is Mr. Ebert's reviews before he got political. We used to rely heavily on his reviews years ago, over anyone else's. Sadly, those days are gone, too.

[ambrose]

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