Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Warner Brothers
DVD Layers: 2
DVD Sides: 1
EAN: 9780790757230
Format: Anamorphic
ISBN: 0790757230
Item Dimensions: Array
Label: Warner Home Video
Languages: Array
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
MPN: WARD938D
Number Of Items: 1
Picture Format: Academy Ratio
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2001-04-03
Running Time: 130
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1979-12-19

Based on Jerzy Kosinski's satirical novel about an illiterate gardener who has lived his entire life behind the walls of a Washington, D.C., house, his only knowledge of the world coming from the TV programs he watches. When his employer and protector dies, he is catapulted into the fast lane of political power.
Thanks to an extraordinary, delicately balanced performance by Peter Sellers, Being There received mixed reviews during its theatrical release in 1979, but has since become a celebrated comedy with a loyal following. It's one of the most unusual black comedies ever made, simply because it stretches a simple premise over 130 minutes of straight-faced, strangely compelling commentary on politics, media, and celebrity in media-savvy America. Adapted by Jerzy Kozinsky from his own novel, the movie's about a simple-minded, middle-aged gardener who, after a lifetime of seclusion and safety in a Washington, D.C. townhouse, gets his first exposure to reality beyond the walls of his sheltered existence. His only reference to the world is through his childlike addiction to television, and when a chance encounter brings him into the inner fold of a dying billionaire (Melvyn Douglas), he suddenly finds himself the toast of Washington's political elite. His simple phrases about gardening are misinterpreted as anything from economic predictions to sage political advice, and under the sharp direction of Hal Ashby, Sellers has the audacity to take this comedic conceit to its logical extreme. Being There is not for all tastes--especially not for those who don't appreciate comedic subtlety. But as a showcase for the daring genius of Peter Sellers, this is a classic movie in a category all its own. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Rating:
Summary: Slow Moving But ...Ain't It The Truth?
Comment: This movie is uniquely funny and in my opinion the funniest Peter Sellers movie ever... it takes life and personal interpretation to the extreme; people will always make their own assumptions of what they think they hear and or experience!!! Too funny yet sadly so true!!!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A Classic
Comment: Very comical film about a simple gardener who is misintrepreted by others who assume he is offering allegories on the economy when he is simply stating gardening facts. Hysterical at points.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Been There, Seen That
Comment: I missed "Being There" when it came out and I never seemed to find it later on TV so I finally rented it to see what all the excitement was about. I now understand the reputation it has accrued and I must say that I really did enjoy it. I can't see my way to rating it with "5 Stars" but "4 Stars" is certainly an indication of my respect and appreciation of this quality film. I laughed out loud on several occassions but the more common reaction I got was one of curiosity. Although everything that takes place in "Being There" seems to be normal, I never knew what to expect next. That's because, in the midst of all these characters who play their expected roles, there is one person who is completely out of place. Right from the beginning we are aware of who this character is and why he is so out of place. We just aren't prepared for the places he goes, the people he meets and the things he does. At times we see the parody of lifestyles, at times the parody of philosphies, at time the parodies of relationships, and at times the parodies of something else (we may not fully grasp what the parody is of...but we know it must be a parody).

The movie, will draw you in if you let it. Although I am often too pragmatic for my own good, I found it easy to be drawn into "Being There". A cursory look at some other reviews tells me others were not. I think the way this movie succeeds is the way the character was set up for us. I recall seeing "The Sixth Sense" years ago when it came out. I was insulted not by the movie but by a trailer in which the writer and director reviewed scenes in which a deceased character was able to believe that he was actually alive based on his perceived interaction with living persons. Their contention was; See! You doubted that this could happen but we just showed you how it could! OK, I thought, that proves your point for those 7 or 8 scenes but they took place over several days at least and you don't account for what this character did the rest of his time. In "Being There" we never need to concern ourselves with such pragmatic issues because we know that Chance Gardner is usually going to be off by himself watching TV. We can accept that the only scenes with him interacting with others were the only ones that actually occurred. (My pragmatism often works overtime). We can accept him as he is which enables viewers like myself to then accept everything else that happens as well.

The ending is a bit peculiar and left me reviewing what I had seen. There is an opportunity to elevate the meaning of "Being There" depending on how you react to that final scene. Personally, I thought it was simply more parody only this time it was of us.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: So painful to watch that I
Comment: wanted to burst into tears. I like movies that are long, with character development, but this isn't one of them. I can't believe how many people gave this movie 4 or 5 stars. This is a movie/plot that could have been cut down to 90 minutes and STILL have been way too long of a movie. Lastly, what the heck was up with the ending?! I didn't get that at all. My family and I sat there and stared at each other blankly when the credits started rolling, then had to watch another movie to try to erase the painful memories of that one. Ugh.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: being there dvd
Comment: It is obvious that some portions of the movie were cut out on the dvd version of Being There which was disapointing to me. I don't know if the vhs version is the complete film or not, but I would have opted for vhs if it was a complete version of the film.

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