Episode 727: Being There (1979)

Mike White is joined by Maurice Bursztynski and Suzen Tekla Kruglinska to explore Hal Ashby's Being There (1979), a satirical masterpiece based on Jerzy Kosinski’s novel. This listener request from Patreon supporter Jordan Nash examines the story of Chance, played brilliantly by Peter Sellers, a sheltered, developmentally delayed man who steps out of isolation after his caretaker's death.

Wandering the streets of Washington, D.C., Chance is swept into the elite world of Benjamin and Eve Rand (Melvyn Douglas and Shirley MacLaine) and influential power players, including the President (Jack Warden), thanks to a series of misunderstandings. The trio delves into the film's themes of perception, power, and simplicity, discussing its layered satire, unforgettable performances, and enduring relevance.

Professor Aaron Hunter, author of Authoring Hal Ashby: The Myth of the New Hollywood Auteur, discusses the film's evolution from Kosinski's novel to the screenplays by Robert C. Jones to the final film.

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