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MTDb โ€บ Best of โ€บ 1979 โ€บ Being There

Being There poster

Being There (1979)

โ€œGetting there is half the fun; being there is all of it!โ€

7.6/10 ยท 1,166 votes 2h 10m pg ComedyDrama

#8 of 32 films from 1979 #210 of 2885 in comedy

Directed by Hal Ashby ยท Written by Jerzy Kosiล„ski, Robert C. Jones

โ–ถ Trailer, images & where to stream

Overview

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.

Cast

Peter Sellersas Chance
Shirley MacLaineas Eve Rand
Melvyn Douglasas Benjamin Rand
Jack Wardenas President 'Bobby'
Richard Dysartas Dr. Robert Allenby
Richard Basehartas Vladimir Skrapinov
Ruth Attawayas Louise
David Clennonas Thomas Franklin
Fran Brillas Sally Hayes
Denise DuBarryas Johanna Franklin
Alice Hirsonas First Lady
Jerome Hellmanas Gary Burns
John Harkinsas Sidney Courtney
James Nobleas Kaufman

Facts

Release dateDecember 19, 1979
Runtime130 min (2h 10m) โ€” longer as the 1979 average of 113 min
GenresComedy, Drama
LanguageEN
Box office$30,177,511
IMDbtt0078841

More from Hal Ashby

Harold and MaudeHarold and Maude1971 ยท โ˜… 7.6 ยท 1h 32m

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We All Loved Each Other So MuchWe All Loved Each Other So Much1974 ยท โ˜… 8.3 ยท 2h 5m The StingThe Sting1973 ยท โ˜… 8.0 ยท 2h 9m Paper MoonPaper Moon1973 ยท โ˜… 7.9 ยท 1h 42m AmarcordAmarcord1973 ยท โ˜… 7.9 ยท 2h 3m The King of ComedyThe King of Comedy1982 ยท โ˜… 7.8 ยท 1h 49m Day for NightDay for Night1973 ยท โ˜… 7.8 ยท 1h 56m Annie HallAnnie Hall1977 ยท โ˜… 7.7 ยท 1h 33m ManhattanManhattan1979 ยท โ˜… 7.7 ยท 1h 36m

Questions

How long is Being There?
Being There runs 130 minutes (2h 10m).
Is Being There worth watching?
TMDB users give it 7.6/10 across 1,166 votes, which places it #8 of 32 films released in 1979 in this index (top 78%) and #210 among 2885 comedy titles.
Who directed Being There?
Being There was directed by Hal Ashby. Other well-rated titles by the same director: Harold and Maude (1971).
Who stars in Being There?
Peter Sellers as Chance; Shirley MacLaine as Eve Rand; Melvyn Douglas as Benjamin Rand; Jack Warden as President 'Bobby'; Richard Dysart as Dr. Robert Allenby; Richard Basehart as Vladimir Skrapinov.
What is Being There rated?
It carries a pg certification in its home market. Ratings differ by country.
Where can I watch the trailer for Being There?
Open the title in the MTDb app for trailers, images and streaming links: https://mv.peoplentools.com/titles/14862.

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Film data and images from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Ratings are TMDB user scores as of 2026-10-05.