Being There
Seen it?1979 | 130 min | Comedy, Drama
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (95% on Rotten Tomatoes), it won an Oscar, audiences rate it highly (7.6 out of 10) and it's still drawing plenty of interest. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved All the President's Men, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Funny with heart.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 10 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Made in 1979: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
A simple-minded gardener named Chance has spent all his life in the Washington D.C. house of an old man. When the man dies, Chance is put out on the street with no knowledge of the world except what he has learned from television.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
95% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesStrong
7.6 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 1 Oscar: Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor. Won 2 Golden Globes: Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Golden Globe Awards: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture. Won 1 BAFTA: British Academy Film Awards: Best Screenplay. Won 1 WGA Award: Writers Guild of America Awards: Best Comedy – Adapted from Another Medium. Also nominated for 1 more Oscar, 5 more Golden Globes and 3 more BAFTAs. Plus 7 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$30 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 264K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Hal Ashby
- Peter SellersChance
- Shirley MacLaineEve Rand
- Melvyn DouglasBenjamin Rand
- Jack WardenPresident 'Bobby'
- Richard DysartDr. Robert Allenby
- Richard BasehartVladimir Skrapinov
- Ruth AttawayLouise
- David ClennonThomas Franklin
- Fran BrillSally Hayes
- Denise DuBarryJohanna Franklin