Peter Sellers delivers one of his most understated and nuanced performances in Hal Ashby’s 1979 comedy classic Being There, a sharp satire of power and perception. Warner Bros. recently reissued the satirical comedy-drama’s 30th anniversary Blu-ray edition, originally released in 2009, which retains its 1080p presentation (1.85:1) and Dolby TrueHD/Dolby Digital audio tracks. Because everything is the same from 2009, bonus features differ from Being There’s Criterion Collection Blu-ray, released in 2017.

Chance (Peter Sellers), a middle-aged, simple-minded gardener, has spent his entire life secluded in a wealthy man’s Washington, D.C. townhouse. His world consists only of the garden he tends and the television that educates him. When his employer dies, Chance is abruptly evicted and wanders into a world he has never seen before. His innocent behavior leads to a comical misunderstanding when he’s struck by a limousine belonging to Eve Rand (Shirley MacLaine), who mistakes his introduction—“Chance, the gardener”—for “Chauncey Gardiner.”

Eve takes him home to recover under the care of her ailing husband, Ben Rand (Melvyn Douglas), a powerful businessman and an advisor to the president (Jack Warden). Ben assumes “Chauncey” is a refined, upper-class man whose simple remarks hide deep wisdom. When Chance likens economic growth to the cycles of a garden, the president interprets his words as profound political insight and quotes him publicly—turning the naïve gardener into a media sensation and overnight political celebrity.

As Chauncey becomes a Washington darling, he’s invited to high-profile events and TV appearances, where his vague gardening metaphors are mistaken for philosophical commentary. His newfound influence extends even to Soviet Ambassador Vladimir Skrapinov (Richard Basehart), who takes a liking to him. Meanwhile, Ben’s doctor, Dr. Robert Allenby (Richard Dysart), grows suspicious of this mysterious man with no past. Louise (Ruth Attaway), the former maid, watches in disbelief as television turns Chance into a national figure, remarking bitterly that his success is proof that whiteness and simplicity can open any door in America.

Even as Ben dies believing in Chauncey’s “wisdom,” Chance remains childlike and detached, more interested in television than human intimacy—even when Eve pursues him sexually. As the president addresses the crowd at Ben’s funeral, the pallbearers quietly agree that “Chauncey Gardiner” should be the next president, unaware he’s merely a gardener. In one of the final visuals on screen, Chance walks across the surface of a lake, serene and uncomprehending, while the president quotes Ben in saying, “Life is a state of mind.”

I hadn’t watched Being There since 2009, and it plays so much better now than it did nearly sixteen years ago. In terms of Peter Sellers’ work, it’s remarkable to think this film came after a string of box-office disappointments outside The Pink Panther series. Yet in the bigger picture, it’s astonishing how this simple-minded gardener captures the attention—and admiration—of some of the most powerful people in the country.

Had Chance not coughed while introducing himself to Eve, she might never have misheard his name. He clearly didn’t say “Chauncey Gardiner,” but that misunderstanding fuels the film’s comedy. Scene after scene leaves you dumbfounded that everyone around him takes his platitudes as profound. That’s why Louise’s perspective is so vital to Being There—she actually knows him. Yet this man with no real understanding of the world somehow finds himself in the president’s inner circle, even discussed as a potential successor.

Being There remains one of the greatest comedies in cinematic history—the highest-ranked of Hal Ashby’s three films on AFI’s 100 Years…100 Laughs list from 2000. The film also brought Melvyn Douglas his second Oscar, this time for Best Supporting Actor, while Sellers earned his second Best Actor nomination after Dr. Strangelove. Across the Atlantic, BAFTA recognized the film with a win for Best Screenplay and nominations for Best Film, Best Actor, and Best Actress.

Decades later, Being There endures not just for Sellers’ quietly brilliant performance, but as a sharp, prescient satire of celebrity, media, and political obsession—a comedy that feels as timely today as it did in 1979.

Bonus Features

• Memories from Being There
• Two Recently Discovered Scenes
• Alternate Ending
• Gag Reel
• Theatrical Trailer

DIRECTOR: Hal Ashby
SCREENWRITER: Jerzy Kosiński
CAST: Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden, Richard Dysart, Richard Basehart

Warner Bros. Pictures released Being There in theaters on December 19, 1979. Grade: 5/5

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