Comprehensive information and links about Being There

Being There This article is for the 1971 book and 1979 movie. For the 1996 album by the band Wilco, see Being There (album). is a political, satirical 1971 novel by Jerzy Kosiński and a 1979 film directed by Hal Ashby. The film stars Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden, Richard A. Dysart and Richard Basehart. The screenplay was adapted by Kosiński and Robert C. Jones (uncredited). It won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (Melvyn Douglas) and was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Peter Sellers).

table Chauncey Gardiner who grew up living as an employee in the townhouse of a wealthy man in Washington, D.C. with virtually no contact with the outside world and no social interaction. Apart from his limited relationship with Louise, the maid, Chance's cultural and social education is derived entirely from what he watches on the televisions provided by his employer.

When his employer dies, Chance is forced to leave his sheltered existence in the house and discover the world outside for himself. His simplistic, deliberative speaking is interpreted by those he encounters as a sign of deep wisdom, and after a car accident which leads him into the company of a wealthy and powerful businessman, Chance quickly rises to national public prominence.

Though well-dressed and appearing capable of deep thoughts, Chance is mentally limited, stunted by his sheltered upbringing. The people he meets almost all see qualities in him that are not there, but instead reflect qualities and needs of their own. Kosiński uses this to satirize our media-driven society in a merciless yet cunningly subtle way.

Most memorable scenes in the film version include Chance being confronted early on by a street gang, and pulling out his TV remote control to "change the channel" in self-defense, then being surprised when it doesn't work; repeating several times to important people the famous "All is well...and all will be well...in the garden," and having that interpreted as an uplifting economic and political comment; MacLaine's character writhing in long-suppressed sexual pleasure on a bear rug while Chance obliviously channel-surfs; and in the final scene, walking across the surface of a lake because his attention is not caught by the funeral that's going on, as the most important movers and shakers in the USA discuss running him for President.

That final scene continues to generate discussion and controversy. Is there a prosaic explanation, such as hidden stepping-stones? Was Chance in fact a supernatural being, or a purely symbolic abstraction, or did he truly possess some special grace, given his simple innocence and simply being present to each moment without filters and ideas? In his 2001 book

Use of television

The film makes continued use of actual television clips throughout. These clips are part of the ambient visual and audio background, presented as a natural occurrence of a television being on in the room where the scene is taking place. The clips were chosen by Dianne Schroeder, and are referenced in the film credits as "Special Television Effects."

These clips are an essential element of the film. They provide a window into the mind of Chance, who knows nothing of the world outside the old man's home except from what he's learned on television.

Basketball Jones cartoon and song (sung by Cheech and Chong), including the line "I've got more moves than Ex-Lax!", "Pardon me for intruding at a time like this, but were you very close to Max?" "Are you kidding? We were inseparable."Fuzzbuster commercial, "You wouldn't think of driving without your rearview mirror. And yet some people still drive without a Fuzzbuster."Gatorade commercial, "Ever watch a game on TV and see the players chuggin' down this stuff? Ever wonder why?"

Clips are also included which were made especially for the film and not taken from actual programs, such as Chance's appearance on the Gary Burns Show, and the president (Jack Warden) appearing on television.

Now, get this, honky. You go tell Raphael that I ain't taking no jive from no Western Union messenger.