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WHV Press Release: Being There 30th Anniversary (DVD/Blu-ray)

#1
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“Confoundingly provocative. Wonderful comic moments.”
- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

BEING THERE
30TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION
Peter Sellers’ Film Classic Directed by Hal Ashby Debuts February 3 on DVD and Blu-ray Hi-Def

Includes New Additional Scenes and Alternate Ending,
New Featurettes, Cast/Filmmaker Profiles and More

Burbank, Calif., October 13, 2008 – On February 3, Warner Home Video celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Being There -- director Hal Ashby (Coming Home, Shampoo) and writer Jerzy Kosinski’s tour-de-force satirical fable that takes on politics, celebrity and the media – with a 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. Starring Peter Sellers (Pink Panther franchise), Melvyn Douglas, Shirley MacLaine and Jack Warden, the film was nominated for two Academy Awards® (for Sellers and Douglas) and won one for Douglas as Best Supporting Actor. Being There 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition will be available on both Blu-ray Hi-Def ($28.99 SRP) and Standard DVD ($19.96 SRP).

The Blu-ray Hi-Def version of Being There 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition boasts special bonus content including 10 minutes of never-before-seen additional footage consisting of deleted scenes, a gag take, and an alternate ending. Both versions, restored and remastered with 5.1 Dolby Digital audio, include a revealing new retrospective featurette with Melvyn Douglas’ actress-granddaughter Illeana Douglas.

“I’m very proud to have participated in this beautiful new DVD version of Being There,” said Ms. Douglas. “My grandfather and Peter Sellers had a very warm and special relationship that started years before the movie and is definitely reflected throughout in their scenes together,” she continued. In the featurette, Ms. Douglas, who visited the set as a young girl, speaks revealingly about the movie, her bond with her grandfather and his encouragement and support in her choice to become an actress. In fact, the elder Douglas bequeathed his Oscar® statuette to her.


Synopsis
After Being There was published, author Jerzy Kosinski got a telegram from its lead character, Chance the Gardener: “Available in my garden or outside of it.” Kosinski dialed the accompanying telephone number and Peter Sellers answered. Sellers indeed got the part and gave an indelible performance (scoring National Board of Review and Golden Globe® Best Actor Awards and an Academy Award® nomination) in this modern comedy classic.

Isolated all his life in a Washington, DC, townhouse, Chance knows only what he’s seen on TV. Cast into the world, he stumbles into the inner circle of political power brokers (including Melvyn Douglas in his second Oscar®-winning role) eager for “sage wisdom.” As Chance might say, you’ll like to watch.

Special Features:
Featurette: Memories from Being There with Illeana Douglas
Theatrical trailer

Additional Special Features Exclusive to Blu-ray Hi-Def:
Additional scenes
Alternate ending
Gag take


BEING THERE 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITIONS
Street Date: February 3, 2009

BEING THERE DELUXE EDITION
$19.96 SRP

BEING THERE BLU-RAY HI-DEF DELUXE EDITION
$28.99 SRP

Feature Running Time: 130 minutes -- Rated: PG
16x9 Widescreen, Color
English 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Ronald J Epstein
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Email me at: repstein@hometheaterforum.com 
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#2
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Re: WHV Press Release: Being There 30th Anniversary (DVD/Blu-ray)

Fantastic news! A real jewel of a film.

I'm slightly off put that the sound is DD 5.1, and not higher resolution, especially since it's a 30th Anniversary edition, but I'd like to think that being completely dialogue driven, it won't suffer too much. It's a title that I'll snap up, so long as the video presentation meets or exceeds expectations.
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Re: WHV Press Release: Being There 30th Anniversary (DVD/Blu-ray)

logos_beingthere.jpg
Ronald J Epstein
Home Theater Forum co-owner
Email me at: repstein@hometheaterforum.com 
To View My Massive DVD Collection Click Here
HTF Rules and Regulations
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#4
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Re: WHV Press Release: Being There 30th Anniversary (DVD/Blu-ray)

The Blu-Ray picture is strange because I thought this was announced as a digi-book. Early artwork perhaps?

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Ted K.

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#5
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Re: WHV Press Release: Being There 30th Anniversary (DVD/Blu-ray)

I was hoping they might make a deluxe version with Hal Ashby's "edit your own version of Being There" included. I admit it was wishful thinking on my part.

\"My opinion is that (a) anyone who actually works in a video store and does not understand letterboxing has given up on life, and (b) any customer who prefers to have the sides of a movie hacked off should not be licensed to operate a video player.\"-- Roger Ebert

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#6
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Re: WHV Press Release: Being There 30th Anniversary (DVD/Blu-ray)

I just saw that the digi-book is off. It's a standard release now.

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Ted K.

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