Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Salesman (1968)
Salesman
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Photos (see all 5 | slideshow) Videos
Salesman (1968) -- Four relentless door-to-door salesmen deal with constant rejection, homesickness and inevitable burnout as they go across the country selling very expensive bibles to low-income Catholic families.

Overview

User Rating:
8.2/10   1,141 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 18% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Contact:
View company contact information for Salesman on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1968 (USA) more
Genre:
Documentary more
Plot:
Four relentless door-to-door salesmen deal with constant rejection, homesickness and inevitable burnout as they go across the country selling very expensive bibles to low-income Catholic families. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
1 win more
NewsDesk:
Five: Documentary recommendations
 (From LateFilmFull. 18 April 2009, 11:56 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Searing and unforgettable more

Cast

  (Credited cast)
Paul Brennan ... Himself - 'The Badger'
Charles McDevitt ... Himself - 'The Gipper'
James Baker ... Himself - 'The Rabbit'
Raymond Martos ... Himself - 'The Bull'
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Melbourne I. Feltman
Margaret McCarron
Kennie Turner
more

Additional Details

Runtime:
85 min | Argentina:85 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Australia:M | Argentina:Atp
Filming Locations:
Boston, Massachusetts, USA more
Company:
Maysles Films more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
This film was selected to the National Film Registry, Library of Congress, in 1992. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Strongbad_email.exe: Disc Four (2005) (V) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
19 out of 21 people found the following comment useful:-
Searing and unforgettable, 8 February 1999
Author: Kevin Rayburn from Louisville, KY USA

As with Frederick Wiseman's "Titicut Follies," the Maysles brothers' "Salesman" is truly a landmark for the "cinema verite" documentary movement of the 1960s. Although the former is shockingly realistic in a sensational way, "Salesman" is actually the more disturbing for showing the Hell-on-earth that marks the workaday world for most of humanity. If ever a film shows that most people "lead lives of quiet desperation," this is it. In my lifetime of viewing films, I've never seen a non-fiction film more affecting and poignant. That this film didn't make the AFI Top 100 is practically scandalous. Be forewarned, this is an oppressively sad, yet slyly funny, film that is not easy to watch. It speaks volumes about American business practices, the ties between business and organized religion, the exploitation of religious belief (and its perversion via materialism), the dehumanization of workers, the crushing wisdom that can come with aging, the scary mindset of suburban denizens, and a lot more. If ever anyone had the right to ask the question, "Is that all there is?" it would be Paul, an aging Bible salesman having trouble meeting his sales quota, who serves as the film's central character. The film is brutally honest, yet powerfully manipulative. It does beg the question: how much is real and how much is affected by the presence of the cameras? One does feel, after seeing this, that reality is just as bad as Dorothy Parker said it was. For those who fail, the American Dream is a nightmare. In short, a film you'll never forget.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Salesman (1968)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
When is this fil getting a region free release ? chasswaffield
denis leary was great as 'the badger'!!! sir_knightrider_III
Where can i watch this film? chasingtimmy
Who performs the song in the trailer for the movie? jeffwray
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Road Movie Paper Moon Wanda Riding the Rails Marjoe
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Documentary section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.