History Film / Salesman

* ButtMonkey: Poor Paul. He seems like a decent guy but he just can't catch a break. Analysis of this film often characterizes Paul as a real-life [[Theatre/DeathOfASalesman Willy Loman]]. [[https://artsfuse.org/210264/film-remembrance-death-of-a-bible-salesman/ Brennan stayed a hard-luck figure for the rest of his life]], drifting from job to job and dealing with divorce and alcoholism, before his death at age 77 in 1990.

''Salesman'' is a 1969 documentary film directed by Creator/AlbertMaysles, Creator/DavidMaysles and Creator/CharlotteZwerin.

* ButtMonkey: Poor Paul. He seems like a decent guy but he just can't catch a break. Analysis of this film often characterizes Paul as a real-life [[Theatre/DeathOfASalesman Willy Loman]].

* AwesomeMcCoolname: Dr. Melbourne I. Feltman, the "designer and theological consultant" for the Bible company.

''Salesman'' is a 1969 documentary film directed by Albert Maysles, David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin, the team that went on to make ''Film/GimmeShelter'' and ''Film/GreyGardens''.

* IsntItIronic: The music is all [[SourceMusic diagetic]] and often provides a humorous subtext to the action. Highlights include Paul singing [[Theatre/FiddlerOnTheRoof "If I Were a Rich Man"]], an instrumental version of [[Music/WoodyGuthrie "This Land is Your Land"]] playing on the radio as Paul navigates his way through Opa-locka, and a lush EasyListening take on [[Music/TheBeatles "Yesterday"]] that a customer plays on his stereo.

The film chronicles the experiences of four salesmen for the Mid-American Bible Company: Paul Brennan (who gradually becomes the film's protagonist), James Baker, Raymond Martos and Charles [=McDevitt=]. In the winter of 1966-1967 they go door-to-door in the Boston area, attend a sales conference in Chicago, then travel on a sales trip to South Florida. They meet a wide array of working class families and try to interest them in elaborate family Bibles--very elaborate, $49.95 in 1966 money--and other assorted religious books, including a set of Catholic encyclopedias. In-between they hang out in motel rooms and discuss the difficulties of their jobs: long hours, separation from their homes and families, and the often daunting odds for success. While the others do well enough, Paul cannot seem to close a sale, even though he tries hard. He unwittingly becomes the symbol of a profession and way of life that seem like they're fast becoming a thing of the past.

* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Paul is Choleric, James is Sanguine, Raymond is Phlegmatic and Charles is Melancholic.

* IsntItIronic: The music is all diegetic and often provides a humorous subtext to the action. Highlights include Paul singing [[Theatre/FiddlerOnTheRoof "If I Were a Rich Man"]], an instrumental version of [[Music/WoodyGuthrie "This Land is Your Land"]] playing on the radio as Paul navigates his way through Opa-locka, and a lush EasyListening take on [[Music/TheBeatles "Yesterday"]] that a customer plays on his stereo.

The film chronicles the experiences of four salesmen for the Mid-American Bible Company: Paul Brennan (who gradually becomes the film's protagonist), James Baker, Raymond Martos and Charles [=McDevitt=]. In the winter of 1966-1967 they go door-to-door in the Boston area, attend a sales conference in Chicago, then travel on a sales trip to South Florida. They meet a wide array of working class families and try to interest them in elaborate family Bibles and other assorted religious books (including a set of Catholic encyclopedias). In-between they hang out in motel rooms and discuss the difficulties of their jobs: long hours, separation from their homes and families, and the often daunting odds for success. While the others do well enough, Paul cannot seem to close a sale, even though he tries hard. He unwittingly becomes the symbol of a profession and way of life that seem like they're fast becoming a thing of the past.

* ButtMonkey: Poor Paul. He seems like a decent guy but he just can't catch a break.

* TravelingSalesman: One of the most thorough examinations of this trope.

'''''Salesman''''' is a 1969 documentary film directed by Albert Maysles, David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin, the team that went on to make ''Film/GimmeShelter'' and ''Film/GreyGardens''.

* CaptainOblivious: Paul's major issue seems to be that he doesn't realize how he comes across to people. The other salesmen are more relaxed and more willing to take the time to persuade their clients. Paul lays on his sales pitch pretty hard and turns people off in the process.

The film chronicles the experiences of four salesmen for the Mid-American Bible Company: Paul Brennan (who gradually becomes the film's protagonist), Jamie Baker, Raymond Martos and Charles [=McDevitt=]. In the winter of 1966-1967 they go door-to-door in the Boston area, attend a sales conference in Chicago, then travel on a sales trip to South Florida. They meet a wide array of working class families and try to interest them in elaborate family Bibles and other assorted religious books (including a set of Catholic encyclopedias). In-between they hang out in motel rooms and discuss the difficulties of their jobs: long hours, separation from their homes and families, and the often daunting odds for success. While the others do well enough, Paul cannot seem to close a sale, even though he tries hard. He unwittingly becomes the symbol of a profession and way of life that seem like they're fast becoming a thing of the past.

* AffectionateNickname: The four main characters all have one, as explained by Paul--Jamie is The Rabbit (he's energetic and enthusiastic), Raymond is The Bull (big, forceful and not very delicate), Charles is The Gipper (very focused and disciplined, like a football player), and Paul is The Badger (which he doesn't elaborate on, but is obviously due to his being TheDeterminator).

* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Paul is Choleric, Jamie is Sanguine, Raymond is Phlegmatic and Charles is Melancholic.

''Salesman'' is a 1969 documentary film directed by Albert Maysles, David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin, the team that went on to make ''Film/GimmeShelter'' and ''Film/GreyGardens''.

The film chronicles the experiences of four salesmen for the Mid-American Bible Company: Paul Brennan (who gradually becomes the film's protagonist), Jamie Baker, Raymond Martos and Charles [=McDevitt=]. In the winter of 1966-1967 they go door-to-door in the Boston area, attend a sales conference in Chicago, then travel on a sales trip to South Florida. They meet a wide array of working class families and try to interest them in elaborate family Bibles and other assorted religious books (including a set of Catholic encyclopedias). In-between they hang out in motel rooms and discuss the difficulties of their jobs: long hours, separation from their homes and families, and the often daunting odds for success. While the others do well enough, Paul cannot seem to close a sale, even though he tries hard. He unwittingly becomes the symbol of a profession and way of life that seem like they're fast becoming a thing of the past.