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

post #1 of 10
Thread Starter 
“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
post #2 of 10

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

Hmmm; Warners have decided to go down the BD exclusives route it seems - we will see more and more of this. One of my favourite films.
post #3 of 10

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

Yes, it seems the studios are giving the Blu-Ray editions more content, presumably to push the format to undecided consumers. Though I'm surprised Being There is a lock on Blu-ray so quickly, Peter Sellers and Hal Ashby working together is sheer gold--I'll be replacing my SD DVD with the Blu-ray!
post #4 of 10

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

argh...i hope they stop this blue ray crap exclusives.
post #5 of 10

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

argh...i hope they stop this blue ray crap exclusives.


Me too! For now, it simply means that I won't be buying this DVD. I would love to add it to my collection, but I will pass until I convert to Blu-Ray. Unfortunately by then, this title will be an old Blu-Ray title and I probably won't get it then either. Maybe when the Tru-Blu-Ray edition comes out in five years!!
post #6 of 10

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

This is one of my all-time favorite films, but no SD double-dip for me.

Keep up the Blue-ray exclusive features, WHV...you'll be saving me $$$!
post #7 of 10

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

The '01 DVD is excellent in terms of PQ, so it would be a little silly to upgrade just for extras... so I can't see why BluRay exclusives would be that abusive.

I read somewhere that hours of outtakes were found on the video assist tapes, though. Only ten minutes included?
post #8 of 10

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

I work in the DVD authoring & post production industry, and HD is just being considered the standard now, for new production, acquisition and broadcast, so that is simply extending to Blu Ray.

I wouldn't take BD exclusives personally. HD is where everything is going, and I think most studios are simple being pro-active.

I do look forward to seeing Being There on BD. I too saw this film at least twice in the theaters. One of the few films (the original Superman, Star Wars and this) that I can remember seeing twice theatrically.
post #9 of 10

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

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Deeb
I wouldn't take BD exclusives personally.
Oh, I'm not taking it personally. It just means that instead of a 100% chance of my upgrading my SD DVD, it is now a 0% chance. Nothing personal.
post #10 of 10
Thread Starter 

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

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