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Quiz about Being There the Hal Ashby Classic

"Being There", the Hal Ashby Classic Quiz

A quiz for one of my favorite films. "Being There" stars Peter Sellers as Chance, a simple gardener mistaken for a brilliant man. How well do you know the movie? Do your best!

A multiple-choice quiz by LucasRiley. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
LucasRiley

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
387,137

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
112

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The film opens as Chance is awakened by the sound of his bedroom TV coming on automatically. What type of programming does he first see? Hint

An orchestra playing classical music

Morning news

A game show

A children's show

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. The wealthy gentleman for whom Chance has been a gardener his whole life is generally only referred to as 'the old man', but his actual last name is mentioned. What is it? Hint

Forsythe

Livingston

Reynolds

Jennings

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. After leaving his lifelong home and wandering the city for the day, Chance ends up being taken in by Eve Rand, the wife of a wealthy businessman. How does Chance first encounter Eve? Hint

Chance meets her in a bar.

She picks Chance up while he's hitchhiking.

Chance asks her the time on the street.

Her chauffer backs into Chance, hitting him in the leg.

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Through Eve's rich and influential husband, Ben Rand (played by Melvyn Douglas), Chance is able to meet what significant American political figure? Hint

The Vice President of the United States

The President of the United States

The Governor of Maryland

The U.S. Ambassador to China

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. When the President quotes Chance's so-called wisdom in a speech, the media quickly becomes interested in Chance and his background. He is invited to appear on what fictional talk show? Hint

Political Late Night

The Gary Burns Show

Fernwood Tonight

The Al Taylor Hour

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Which children's show is Chance NOT seen watching at any point in the film? Hint

Sesame Street

H.R. Pufnstuf

Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood

Captain Kangaroo

7. Eve Rand twice tries to seduce Chance. The first time she mistakes his indifference for moral restraint, and thanks him. The second time she becomes convinced that he would rather do what? Hint

Play a board game

Go to sleep

Watch her pleasure herself

Watch an adult movie

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. The last line of the film (prior to outtakes shown during the end credits) states that life is what? Hint

For the living

Short, so make the most of it

Not fair

A state of mind

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. The film is based on the novel of the same name by what author? Hint

Norman Mailer

Jerzy Kosinski

Truman Capote

John Updike

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. The outtakes at the end of the film show Sellers attempting which scene? Hint

Leaving the Jennings house in which he grew up

Delivering the message from the street gang meant for Rafael

Appearing on the Gary Burns show

Being seduced by Shirley MacLaine

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The film opens as Chance is awakened by the sound of his bedroom TV coming on automatically. What type of programming does he first see?

Answer: An orchestra playing classical music

Opening the film as Chance is opening his eyes effectively communicates to the audience that we're going to see the world through his unique perspective, which is largely shaped by the TVs he has in nearly every room. For those who enjoy the music being played, it is Schubert's "8th symphony", generally referred to as his "Unfinished Symphony".

2. The wealthy gentleman for whom Chance has been a gardener his whole life is generally only referred to as 'the old man', but his actual last name is mentioned. What is it?

Answer: Jennings

The name is revealed by the lawyers for the old man's estate, who show up at the house early in the film and inform Chance that he must move out. The old man is seen only once, when Chance learns he's dead and visits his bedside. Chance is typically unemotional, and ends up just turning on yet another TV.

3. After leaving his lifelong home and wandering the city for the day, Chance ends up being taken in by Eve Rand, the wife of a wealthy businessman. How does Chance first encounter Eve?

Answer: Her chauffer backs into Chance, hitting him in the leg.

On the ride back to the Rand estate, Eve becomes the first person to mistake Chance's name as Chauncey Gardiner. As the limo has a TV, Chance of course asks to turn it on. One of the programs he watches features a cartoon adaptation of the Cheech & Chong song "Basketball Jones".

4. Through Eve's rich and influential husband, Ben Rand (played by Melvyn Douglas), Chance is able to meet what significant American political figure?

Answer: The President of the United States

Ben Rand is a special advisor to the President, who visits Rand to get advice on stimulating the economy, but Chance ends up involved in the conversation. The part of the President is played by Jack Warden, who spent 50 years in television and film before retiring in 2000. He passed away in 2006.

5. When the President quotes Chance's so-called wisdom in a speech, the media quickly becomes interested in Chance and his background. He is invited to appear on what fictional talk show?

Answer: The Gary Burns Show

The interview with Gary Burns spotlights the way in which people consistently misinterpret Chance's tendency to relate everything to gardening as a form of larger insight. The part of Gary Burns is played by Jerome Hellman, who was primarily a producer; "Being There" was his only acting credit.

6. Which children's show is Chance NOT seen watching at any point in the film?

Answer: H.R. Pufnstuf

Chance's tendency to enjoy children's programming is a window into his simplicity. "Sesame Street" and "Captain Kangaroo" are seen very briefly toward the beginning of the film; "Mister Rogers" plays during Eve Rand's first attempt to seduce Chance. "H.R. Pufnstuf", which originally ran for only 17 episodes in 1969, is never seen.

7. Eve Rand twice tries to seduce Chance. The first time she mistakes his indifference for moral restraint, and thanks him. The second time she becomes convinced that he would rather do what?

Answer: Watch her pleasure herself

Chance at first seems to respond to the second seduction attempt, but it's only because he happens to see a couple kissing on TV (Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway in the film "The Thomas Crown Affair") and so he kisses Eve. However, as soon as the romantic scene on TV ends, Chance seems to lose interest, saying only, "I like to watch." We the audience understand this to mean TV, but Eve assumes it means her.

8. The last line of the film (prior to outtakes shown during the end credits) states that life is what?

Answer: A state of mind

The phrase is credited to Melvyn Douglas' character Ben Rand, and appears on Rand's tomb at the end of the film. The phrase also appears on Sellers' real-life grave; he died only eight months after the film came out.

9. The film is based on the novel of the same name by what author?

Answer: Jerzy Kosinski

Kosinski also wrote the screenplay. He committed suicide in 1991 at the age of 57. The cinematographer for the film was Caleb Deschanel, who is the father of Zooey Deschanel ("New Girl").

10. The outtakes at the end of the film show Sellers attempting which scene?

Answer: Delivering the message from the street gang meant for Rafael

The outtakes seem to show that Sellers struggled with delivering tough street talk and profanity in Chance's trademark dispassionate voice. Sellers argued against including the outtakes; he felt that they broke the spell of his character. The director, Hal Ashby, disagreed; they were included.

Source: Author LucasRiley

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor jmorrow before going online.
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