Being There

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Being There ★★★½ 1979 (PG)

A feebleminded gardener, whose entire knowledge of life comes from watching TV, is sent out into the real world when his employer dies. Equipped with his prize possession, his remote control unit, the gardener unwittingly enters the world of politics and is welcomed as a mysterious sage. Sellers is wonderful in this satiric treat adapted by Jerzy Kosinski from his novel. 130m/C VHS, DVD . Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden, Richard Dysart, Richard Basehart; D: Hal Ashby; W: Jerzy Kosinski; C: Caleb Deschanel; M: Johnny Mandel. Oscars '79: Support. Actor (Douglas); Golden Globes '80: Actor—Mus./Comedy (Sellers), Support. Actor (Douglas); L.A. Film Critics '79: Support. Actor (Douglas); Natl. Bd. of Review '79: Actor (Sellers); N.Y. Film Critics '79: Support. Actor (Douglas); Natl. Soc. Film Critics '79: Cinematog.; Writers Guild '79: Adapt. Screenplay.