Being There (1979): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Being There is a 1979 comedy drama directed by Hal Ashby, starring Shirley MacLaine, Peter Sellers and Melvyn Douglas. It is based on Being There by Jerzy Kosiński. It runs 2 hours 10 minutes and earned $30.2 million worldwide. It won 1 Oscar, including Actor in a Supporting Role, and 2 awards in all. Critics gave it 83 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 10m (130 min)
- Director
- Hal Ashby
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- United Artists
- Based on
- Being There by Jerzy Kosiński
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Being There About?
The premise of Being There without spoilers, adapted from Being There by Jerzy Kosiński. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Experience the thrill of competitive skiing as top athletes strive for excellence. This film showcases incredible skill and daring as they execute challenging stunts and maneuvers down snow-covered slopes. Viewers will witness the dedication, perseverance, and occasional setbacks inherent in the pursuit of victory in a demanding and visually stunning sport.
Being There Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- gardener
- washington d.c.
- politics
- impotence
- terminal illness
- television addiction
- satire
- doctor
- funeral
- country estate
- eviction
- wheelchair
+38 more Show fewer
- mansion
- remote control
- lawyer
- based on novel
- president of the united states
- garden
- loss of husband
- financier
- walking on water
- man child
- housekeeper
- television studio
- diplomat
- cocktail party
- bloopers during credits
- marriage
- ambassador
- greenhouse
- injury
- elevator
- secret service
- billionaire
- bar
- death of friend
- national film registry
- anemia
- the white house washington d.c.
- air force one
- umbrella
- limousine
- newspaper editor
- eulogy
- pallbearer
- nurse
- investigation
- masturbation
- gay
- tycoon
Being There Cast
Shirley MacLaine leads the cast, with Peter Sellers and Melvyn Douglas. Directed by Hal Ashby; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Hal Ashby
Also Starring in Being There
· 6 moreMore from Hal Ashby
More films directed by Hal Ashby, best-rated first: The Last Detail, Harold and Maude, The Landlord and Bound for Glory.
Being There Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Being There 83 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 83 Metascore
User score 7.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 76% User score
See on TMDB
Being There Plot Summary
What happens in Being There from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Middle-aged and somewhat naïve, Chance has spent his entire life in a wealthy old man’s townhouse in Washington, D.C., where he is cared for by the kind African-American maid, Louise. His life revolves around tending to the garden and consuming information exclusively from television. When the old man passes away, Chance is unceremoniously evicted by the estate’s lawyers, forcing him to navigate a world he has never experienced.
Full summary
The whole story of Being There, scene by scene
Being There Box Office
Being There grossed $30.2 million worldwide. $30.2 million came from the US and Canada and $93 (0%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$30.2M
- US & Canada
- $30.2M
- International
- $93
Being There Awards & Nominations
Being There won 1 Oscar, including Actor in a Supporting Role, and 2 awards in all. Its biggest night was the BAFTA 1981, with 1 win from 4 nominations.
2 wins12 nominations3 ceremonies
-
BAFTA 1981 1 win · 4 nominations- Won Best Screenplay
- Nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role – Peter Sellers
- Nominated Best Actress in a Leading Role – Shirley MacLaine
- Nominated Best Film
-
Oscars 1980 1 win · 2 nominations- Won Actor in a Supporting Role – Melvyn Douglas
- Nominated Actor in a Leading Role – Peter Sellers
-
Golden Globes 1980 6 nominations- Nominated Best Director – Hal Ashby
- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical (Actor) – Peter Sellers
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical (Actress) – Shirley MacLaine
- Nominated Best Screenplay
Being There Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 2 trailers and 3 featurettes.
- Trailer Being There (1979) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]
- Featurette Alan Spencer on BEING THERE
- Featurette Anatomy of a Gag: BEING THERE
- Featurette Hal Ashby on making BEING THERE
How Well Do You Know Being There?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is Chance's primary occupation throughout his life?
Cars in Being There
27 cars on screen, including the 1977 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine and the 1977 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine.
-
1977 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine Important role -
1977 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine Minor role -
1975 Lincoln Continental Stretched Limousine Minor role -
1938 Packard Eight Minor role
Being There Also Known As
35 alternative titles, including “Bienvenue Mister Chance” and “Bienvenido”.
- Also known as
-
- Bienvenue Mister Chance
- Bienvenido
- Mister Chance
- 妙人奇迹
- Muito Além do Jardim
- Bem-Vindo
- Senhor Chance
- Sr. Chance
- 챈스
- 찬스
- Willkommen
- Mr. Chance
+23 more Show fewer
- Oltre il giardino
- Bienvenue
- Bienvenido Mr. Chance
- Isten hozta
- Mister!
- 富贵逼人来
- Välkommen Mr Chance
- Будучи там
- Присъствие
- Bem-Vindo Sr. Chance
- Velkommen, mr. Chance
- להיות שם
- Коли я буду там
- Bir Yerde
- Wystarczy być
- Byl jsem při tom
- Find acolo
- チャンス
- Tervetuloa
- Mr. Chance!
- Να είσαι εκεί, κύριε Τσανς
- 富貴逼人來
- حضور, იქ ყოფნა
Seen Being There?
Movies Like Being There
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Paralympian, Downhill Racer and Winning.
Being There FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Being There, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Being There?
Being There runs 2 hours 10 minutes (130 minutes).
When was Being There released?
Being There was released on December 19, 1979.
Who directed Being There?
Being There was directed by Hal Ashby.
More films by Hal Ashby Who is in the cast of Being There?
Being There stars Shirley MacLaine, Peter Sellers and Melvyn Douglas, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Being There make at the box office?
Being There grossed $30.2 million worldwide ($30.2 million domestic, $93 international).
How is Being There rated?
Being There has 83 on Metacritic and 76% on TMDB.
Is Being There based on a book?
Yes. Being There is adapted from Being There by Jerzy Kosiński.
What awards did Being There win?
Being There won 2 awards from 12 nominations, including Best Screenplay at the BAFTA 1981.
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