Salesman is a 1969 documentary film directed by Albert Maysles, David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin.
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 moneynote —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.
This film contains examples of:
- Affectionate Nickname: The four main characters all have one, as explained by Paul—James 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 The Determinator).
- "Arabian Nights" Days: The bizarre town of Opa-locka, Florida, which has a city hall designed to look like a stereotypical Arabian Nights castle, and has street names like Shaharazad Street, Ali Baba Street, and of course, Sesame Street.
- Butt-Monkey: 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 Willy Loman.
- Captain Oblivious: 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 friendly 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.
- Deliberately Monochrome: Well, the main reason that it's monochrome is that the Maysles had
No Budget and were making the film with $10,000 out of their own pocket. But the gray tones of the film certainly go well with the mood of bleak despair. - The Determinator: Paul keeps trying to score a sale even as he's obviously becoming more and more frustrated.
- Did I Mention It's Christmas?: The first part of the film takes place during the holidays, which provides a nice ironic counterpoint to the story, particularly the scene where the salesmen eat lunch in a diner full of decorations.
- Everybody Smokes: It's The '60s, so yeah.
- Four-Temperament Ensemble: Paul is Sanguine, James is Choleric, Raymond is Phlegmatic and Charles is Melancholic.
- Housewife: They make up a good percentage of the sales prospects, and the salesmen often talk to them while they're tending their children.
- I Just Want to Have Friends: The other salesmen are all good at developing the superficial rapport with their prospects that helps them close the sale. Paul seems like he wants to make a sincere connection with people, and he just comes off awkward.
- Isn't It Ironic?: The music is all diagetic and often provides a humorous subtext to the action. Highlights include Paul singing "If I Were a Rich Man", an instrumental version of "This Land is Your Land" playing on the radio as Paul navigates his way through Opa-locka, and a lush Easy Listening take on "Yesterday" that a customer plays on his stereo.
- Mean Boss: Their supervisor Kennie doesn't antagonize the salesmen directly too much (he even plays poker with them), but he makes it clear that he expects them to make a lot of sales without any excuses. In his speech at the sales conference he talks about firing some salesmen and warns the others that he won't think twice about doing the same to them if he thinks they're slacking off.
- No Sense of Direction: Paul, who gets lost looking for a house in Opa-locka, Florida (with its Arabian Nights-themed street names).
- Poker: One way the guys pass the time on the road.
- Slice of Life: There's no grand narrative. It just follows the guys as they go through their day-to-day lives.
- Traveling Salesman: One of the most thorough examinations of this trope. It should be noted that the salesmen are not straight-up cold-calling people in the traditional door-to-door manner. The people they are visiting are folks who indicated by filling out cards at church that they would be interested in the Bibles. At one point a frustrated Paul leaves a home muttering angrily about the woman's lack of interest after she filled out a card.
