Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Peter Sellers | ... | ||
Shirley MacLaine | ... | ||
Melvyn Douglas | ... |
Benjamin Rand
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Jack Warden | ... |
President 'Bobby'
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Richard Dysart | ... | ||
Richard Basehart | ... |
Vladimir Skrapinov
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Ruth Attaway | ... |
Louise
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David Clennon | ... |
Thomas Franklin
(as Dave Clennon)
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Fran Brill | ... |
Sally Hayes
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Denise DuBarry | ... |
Johanna Franklin
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Oteil Burbridge | ... |
Lolo
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Ravenell Keller III | ... |
Abbaz
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Brian Corrigan | ... |
Policeman by White House
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Alfie Brown | ... |
Old Woman asked for lunch
(as Alfredine Brown)
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Don Jacob | ... |
David
(as Donald Jacob)
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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. After a run in with a limousine, he ends up a guest of a woman (Eve) and her husband Ben, an influential but sickly businessman. Now called Chauncey Gardner, Chance becomes friend and confidante to Ben, and an unlikely political insider. Written by Scott Renshaw <as.idc@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Melvyn Douglas as Ben Rand and Shirley MacLaine as Eve Rand were only two examples of the great casting in this film. The best casting of course was to place Peter Sellers in the role of Chauncey "Chance" Gardener. I have watched this film many times and each time I see something else to enjoy in Peter Sellers' performance along with something else to mourn for his passing. In "Being There" Sellers abandons the crowd pleasing slapstick which attracted the droves for the "Pink Panther" series to offer a far more sincere performance that to me is flawlessly in-character and ultimately believable. I am constantly debating with myself whether "Dr. Strangelove" or "Being There" was Sellers' best work. "Being There" is very enjoyable and I never seem to get tired of it. Apart from Sellers standout performance, "Being There" from every angle is an extremely well made film that holds up well to remain engaging 25 years later and is no doubt a source of pride for all involved in any regard. In short, this is a movie that, "I like to watch!"