Chance (Peter Sellers) is an innocent feeble-minded simpleton who grows up in the home of a wealthy recluse in Washington, D.C. He tends the garden and watches TV. Except for his limited relationship with Louise the maid (Ruth Attaway), his only social and cultural education has been television. When his benefactor dies, middle-aged Chance must vacate his home and discover the world outside for the first time.
A minor car accident allows him to meet industrialist Benjamin Turnbull Rand (Melvyn Douglas) and his wife Eve (Shirley MacLaine). They misinterpret his name as "Chauncey Gardner", rather than "Chance the gardener". The Rands believe Chauncey is a bankrupt businessman and they interpret his bewildered silence as brilliant wisdom. When riding in a car for the first time Chance remarks, "This is just like television, only you can see much further." Upon walking out of an elevator for the first time he says, "That was a very small room."
Ben Rand is a dying man and an advisor to the US President "Bobby" (Jack Warden). Chauncey meets the President and his remarks about seasonal changes in the garden are misinterpretted as profound economic and political advice. The President is very impressed, and Chauncey rises to great political heights as a mysterious sage, homespun philosopher, and national celebrity.
President: "Mr. Gardner, do you agree with Ben, or do you think that we can stimulate growth through temporary incentives?
(Long pause)
Chance: "As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden."
President: "In the garden."
Chance: "Yes. In the garden, growth has it seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again."
President: "Spring and summer."
Chance: "Yes."
President: "Then fall and winter."
Chance: "Yes."
Ben Rand: "I think what our insightful young friend is saying is that we welcome the inevitable seasons of nature, but we're upset by the seasons of our economy."
Chance: "Yes! There will be growth in the spring."
Ben Rand: "Hmmm."
Chance: "Hmmm."
President: "Hmm. Well, Mr. Gardner, I must admit that is one of the most refreshing and optimistic statements I've heard in a very, very long time."
(Ben Rand applauds)
President: "I admire your good, solid sense. That's precisely what we lack on Capitol Hill."
Steigler: "Mr. Gardner, uh, my editors and I have been wondering if you would consider writing a book for us, something about your um, political philosophy. What do you say?"
Chance: "I can't write."
Steigler: "Heh, heh, of course not, who can nowadays? Listen, I have trouble writing a postcard to my children. Look uhh, we can give you a six figure advance. I'll provide you with the very best ghost-writer, proof-readers..."
Chance: "I can't read."
Steigler: "Of course you can't! No one has the time. We, we glance at things, we watch television..."
Chance: "I like to watch TV."
Steigler: "Oh, oh, oh sure you do. No one reads."
When Ben Rand dies, members of the board of his companies decide that Chauncey Gardiner is obviously the best candidate to become the next President of the United States. As usual, Chauncey is oblivious to everything, and wanders around Rand's estate and goes across a small lake, walking on the surface almost like Jesus.
Some of Chance's lines:
(on death) "I've seen this before. It happens to old people."
(on TV) "I like to watch" (misinterpreted by Eve Rand who masterbates for him)
"Chauncy's fine." (When asked by Rand if he may call him Chauncy)
"Yes" and "I understand." (his most frequent responses)
Some of Ben's quotes read at his funeral:
"I have no use for those on welfare, no patience whatsoever. But if I am to be honest with myself, I must admit that they have no use for me either."
"When I was a boy, I was told that the Lord fashioned us from His own image. That's when I decided to manufacture mirrors."
"Security. Tranquility. A Well Deserved Rest. All the aims I have pursued will soon be realized."
"Life is a state of mind."
BEING THERE is a classic satiric comedy, a provocative seriocomic parable on the media's role in modern society. This droll low-key fable is full of black humour and viciously witty comments on American life. It is Peter Sellers' last screen performance, remarkably inspired, and he abandons his usual slapstic style and plays it straight-faced. During production, director Hal Ashby said, "Sellers has created this character that's so amazing, I could have him walk on water and people would believe it." Hal stopped and thought, "As a matter of fact, I will have him walk on water."
Adapted by Jerzy Kosinki from his 1971 novel, the movie is cynical, subtle, yet profound, existential, and far-fetched at times. It is somewhat similar to FORREST GUMP (1994). Peter Sellers died the year it was released, and it is definitely one of his best films. He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor, and Melvyn Douglas won a well-deserved Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Shirley MacLaine is excellent. But BEING THERE is too long at 130 minutes, and sometimes it's almost a one-joke movie that overworks its wisdom-of-the-innocent theme.
Others in the cast include: Richard A. Dysart (Dr. Robert Allenby), Richard Basehart (Vladimir Skrapinov), David Clennon (Thomas Franklin), Fran Brill (Sally Hayes), Denise DuBarry (Johanna), Oteil Burbridge (Lolo), Ravenell Keller III (Abraz), Donald Jacob (David), Ernest McClure (Jeffrey), Kenneth Patterson (Perkins), Richard Venture (Wilson), Arthur Grundy (Arthur), W.C. Burton (Lewis), Henry B. Dawkins (Billings), Georgine Hall (Mrs. Aubrey), Nell P. Leaman (Constance), Villa Mae Barkley (Teresa), Alice Hirson (First Lady), James Noble (Kaufman), Gerald C. McNabb, Jr. (Woltz), Hoyt Clark Harris, Jr. (Riff), Ned Wilson (Honeycutt), Stanley Grover (Baldwin), John Harkins (Sidney Courtney), Katherine De Hetre (Kinney), William Larsen (Lyman Stuart), Jerome Hllman (Gary Burns), Arthur Rosenberg (Morton Hull), Sam Weisman (Colson), Gwen Humble (Annie Lawson), Meledy Britt (Sophie), Hanna Herteledy (Natasha Skrapinov), Elya Baskin (Karpatov), Than Wyenn (Ambassador Gaufridi), Richard McKenzie (Ron Steigler), Sandy Ward (Senator Slipshod), Danna Hansen (Mrs. Slipshod), Mitch Kreindel (Dennis Watson), and many others. Jerzy Kosinski wrote the screenplay from his novel with Robert C. Jones. Johnny Mandel composed the music. Hal Ashby directed.
