Plot: What’s it about?
It’s 1979 and at United Artists the lineup for filming and release included James Bond going into outer space, the continuing story of one Rocky Balboa and an epic called Heaven’s Gate, In between those came a film that put a well known comic actor in the most challenging role of his life that was lobbied for many years and when it was let loose onto the public, it showed a different side and handed two actors their last great performances (unless you count the 1980s short lived revival of Fu Manchu). Peter Sellers puts his Inspector Clouseau persona aside for the role of a man who likes to watch. This is Being There.
Chance (Peter Sellers) is a simple gardener for a rich man who’s life is lived all on the television. When the rich man dies, the gardener finds himself without a home and wandering about leading him to Washington D.C.. As he’s watching his favorite thing, a car hits him and a wealthy lady (Shirley Maclaine) takes Chance in and when asking his name, talking with his mouthful, he spoke “Chauncey Gardener”. With a new name and a new place of recovery, he comes across an elderly businessman (Melvyn Douglas) and with his limited knowledge his knowledge of the tube comes across as a fresh perspective for many around him.
This is not a film that’s anywhere along the lines of Sellers’ previous works. There’s no slapstick and no sight gags and no battles with assistant Kato, but it does have a calm and a quirky sense that lets the film flow at a sometimes casual pace but it is needed for material like this and Sellers is more than up to the task as he is a man with a case of mistaken identity and wisdom but one through the circumstances of his name, he finds a way for his story to continue with all the pitfalls that many go through in life, he has a way of walking through them ever so calmly.
The path that Being There takes is a unique one and makes great use of Deodato’s version of the theme from 2001 (even if its a nice tip of the hat to one of Sellers’ early collaborators) and much of that is also credited to director Hal Ashby who’s take on odd premises have turned into some satisfying films whether its a kid falling for a senior citizen or the whimsical tale such as this, his mark is put on and its had some breathing room to stand the test of time.
While much of the stuff can be given away from this film, a few other Academy Award nominated films owes a debt of gratitude to this film for they took a similar path of a person raised to heights under unusual unexpected circumstances. Nevertheless, Being There is one worth witnessing while its playing in front of you and there’s a lot to love about it even though most short attention spanned viewers might be turned off but this is one television that is worth turning on.
Video: How does it look?
Being There is released in the 1.85:1 anamophic widescreen and even though Ashby was never known as a widescreen Panavision filmmaker, he makes great use of his camera and for a film released in 1979, the picture quality is surprisingly good with very little hints of specks or debris or print flaws. One thing that did strike this viewer quite a bit was its use of color and how surprisingly vibrant it showed on this DVD making for a surprisingly very good transfer.
Audio: How does it sound?
The Dolby Digital Mono track does the best that it can with its own audio limitations. Other than the occasional use of score and the aformentioned seventies reimagining of the 2001 theme, this relies heavily on dialogue and it comes out clearly but with that slight bit of mutedness so the channels on the outside and center are not tested to the challenge but at least everything can be heard no matter how little or minimal. This disc also has a French and Spanish Mono track along with English, French and Spanish subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
For a “Deluxe Edition”, very little is offered in terms of extras as we get a featurette called “Memories of Being There” where recollections are made from Illeana Douglas who not only being a wonderful actress in her own right but also the granddaughter of Melvyn Douglas and she reminisces of being on the set with her grandfather and his relationship with Peter Sellers. It’s a nice fifteen minute looking back piece and a few details about the making of the film are given and are decent.
The disc also has a 1.85:1 theatrical trailer.
And that as they say is that! It’s interesting to note that there was not an alternate credit sequence offered which was seen on television and VHS releases where the credits were shown over white noise of television. It’s obvious most of the players that were involved with the film have passed on, but for a Deluxe Edition, it comes up pretty minimal.
Being There provides a great turn for Peter Sellers in a more serene environment free of the madness of the world and its great to see its more of a simple edition of the film instead of it being so DELUXE. It makes for a very good film but a decent sized DVD that could’ve been called the “I Like To Watch” edition.
