Event Details
In person: cinematographer Caleb Deschanel and Academy Governor Peter Devlin
Hal Ashby directed this satirical comedy-drama, adapted by Jerzy Kosinski from his own novel, about a sheltered gardener of little intellect (Best Actor nominee Peter Sellers, in a subtle and remarkable comic performance) who finds himself among Washington, DC, power brokers who interpret his every befuddled utterance as great wisdom.
Oscar winner Johnny Mandel (The Sandpiper, 1965) composed the film’s Satie-esque score. Expert sound for this dialogue-driven story, which contrasts the harsh noises of urban life with the hushed halls of power, was the work of Oscar-nominated production sound mixer Jeff Wexler and Oscar-winning re-recording mixer Donald O. Mitchell. Melvyn Douglas won his second Supporting Actor Oscar for his moving performance as the tycoon Benjamin Rand.
Academy Museum film programming generously funded by the Richard Roth Foundation.
1979 | 130 min. | USA/West Germany | Color | English | Rated PG | 35mm
DIRECTED BY: Hal Ashby
WRITTEN BY: Jerzy Kosinski
WITH: Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Jack Warden, Melvyn Douglas