"Being There", the Hal Ashby Classic Quiz

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".

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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").

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.