Being There
Simple-minded gardener Chance has spent all his life in the Washington D.C. home 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 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.
The film earned $30.2M at the global box office.
1 Oscar. 14 wins & 15 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Being There (1979) reveals deliberately positioned dramatic framework, characteristic of Hal Ashby's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 10 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.4, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Chance
Eve Rand
Benjamin Rand
President Bobby
Thomas Franklin
Main Cast & Characters
Chance
Played by Peter Sellers
A simple-minded gardener whose literal statements about gardens are mistaken for profound philosophical insights about economics and life.
Eve Rand
Played by Shirley MacLaine
Elegant wife of dying industrialist Benjamin Rand who takes in Chance and becomes romantically interested in him.
Benjamin Rand
Played by Melvyn Douglas
Wealthy, dying industrialist and advisor to the President who befriends Chance and mistakes his gardening talk for economic wisdom.
President Bobby
Played by Jack Warden
The President of the United States who seeks counsel from Benjamin Rand and becomes impressed by Chance's apparent wisdom.
Thomas Franklin
Played by Richard Dysart
Benjamin Rand's attorney and confidant who is skeptical of Chance and investigates his mysterious background.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Chance tends the garden in the enclosed world of the Old Man's townhouse, his entire universe limited to the house, garden, and television. He has never been outside these walls.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Chance is forced out of the only home he has ever known. He walks out the front door into Washington D.C. For the first time in his life, carrying a suitcase and completely unprepared for the outside world.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 33 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Chance is brought into the Rand estate and introduced to Eve and her dying husband Ben. When asked his name, static on TV creates "Chauncey Gardiner" - he actively enters this new identity and world., moving from reaction to action.
At 66 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Chance appears on a national television talk show. His simple statement about gardening - "growth has its season" - is taken as profound political philosophy. He becomes a national figure. False victory: fame without substance., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 97 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Ben Rand dies. The "whiff of death" - the man who was Chance's protector and gateway to this world is gone. Eve grieves, and the fragility of Chance's position is exposed., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 105 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. During Ben's eulogy, political power brokers seriously discuss nominating Chance for Vice President. Chance wanders away from the funeral, synthesis moment: he remains unchanged while the world has completely transformed around him., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Being There's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Being There against these established plot points, we can identify how Hal Ashby utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Being There within the comedy genre.
Hal Ashby's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Hal Ashby films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Being There takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Hal Ashby filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Hal Ashby analyses, see Coming Home, Shampoo and The Last Detail.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Chance tends the garden in the enclosed world of the Old Man's townhouse, his entire universe limited to the house, garden, and television. He has never been outside these walls.
Theme
The Old Man's lawyer tells Chance he must leave: "You have no history, no identity." This establishes the film's central theme about perception creating reality - Chance is a blank slate upon which others will project meaning.
Worldbuilding
Chance's sheltered existence is established: he has lived his entire life in one house, never been outside, watches television constantly, and knows only gardening. The Old Man dies, and the servants pack to leave.
Disruption
Chance is forced out of the only home he has ever known. He walks out the front door into Washington D.C. for the first time in his life, carrying a suitcase and completely unprepared for the outside world.
Resistance
Chance wanders the streets bewildered by the real world. He uses a TV remote to try to change reality. He is struck by Eve Rand's limousine, which becomes his entry into high society.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Chance is brought into the Rand estate and introduced to Eve and her dying husband Ben. When asked his name, static on TV creates "Chauncey Gardiner" - he actively enters this new identity and world.
Mirror World
Eve Rand begins to develop feelings for Chance. She represents the thematic mirror - an intelligent woman who projects her desires onto Chance, seeing depth where there is only simplicity.
Premise
The "promise of the premise" - Chance's simple gardening metaphors are interpreted as profound economic wisdom. He meets the President, appears on television, and becomes a sensation in Washington society. Everyone sees what they want to see.
Midpoint
Chance appears on a national television talk show. His simple statement about gardening - "growth has its season" - is taken as profound political philosophy. He becomes a national figure. False victory: fame without substance.
Opposition
The stakes rise as Chance becomes more deeply embedded in power circles. The President quotes him, Eve falls in love with him, and he's considered for high political office. One character begins investigating his background and finds nothing.
Collapse
Ben Rand dies. The "whiff of death" - the man who was Chance's protector and gateway to this world is gone. Eve grieves, and the fragility of Chance's position is exposed.
Crisis
At Ben's funeral, Chance processes this encounter with death - the first real loss in his sheltered life. Eve seeks comfort from him. The powerful men discuss making Chance a vice-presidential candidate.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
During Ben's eulogy, political power brokers seriously discuss nominating Chance for Vice President. Chance wanders away from the funeral, synthesis moment: he remains unchanged while the world has completely transformed around him.
Synthesis
The finale: Chance walks on the grounds during the funeral. While power brokers inside plan his political future (quoting Ben's last words about Chance), Chance encounters a lake and walks across the water, testing its depth with an umbrella.
Transformation
Chance walks on water and reaches into the lake with his umbrella. The final image mirrors the opening: Chance remains exactly who he was - a simple gardener - but the world has completely transformed its perception of him. He is unchanged; only context has shifted.