Being There (1979 Hal Ashby)

I could say quite a lot about Hal Ashby, who made his name being a stoned editor of some distinction on films like In the Heat of the Night and The Thomas Crown Affair, then graduated to direct a string of iconoclastic, satirical and highly individual films like The Landlord, Harold and Maude (a total flop on release), Cinderella Liberty and Shampoo. Pretty much after this his career began to nose dive following drug problems - a great loss.

'Being There' was a novel by Jerzy Kozinski that Peter Sellers had read and desperately wanted to act, and he ended up being Oscar and BAFTA nominated for it - he died just days after the UK release (heart attack). Kozinski's satirical script also won the BAFTA, and throws in one of the most offbeat of all film endings, though its effect is slightly diluted by being followed by Sellers outtakes under the credits (later removed). Ashby uses well contemporary TV and music clips to also present a skewed version of the US of the times; the sound design is great (notice jet planes in two key scenes); 'Thus Spake Zarathustra' sequence memorable, as is Johnny Mandel's music, the main theme of which sounds strongly like Satie.

Great little touches like the maid who knows Chance's true nature, and the lift guy who keeps laughing.

Melvyn Douglas won the Oscar for Supporting Actor, died in 1981. With Shirley MacLaine (make up by Frank Westmore), Jack Warden, Richard Dysart (doctor). Photographed in rich tones by Caleb Deschanel, edited by (Ashby and) Don Zimmerman.