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Salesman is a 1969 documentary film directed by Albert and David Maysles. The film follows four door-to-door Bible salesmen from the Midwestern United States as they travel to Boston to sell what they describe as the "Bible of the working man". The main protagonists are Paul Brennan, Charles McDevitt, James Baker, and Raymond Martos.

The film begins by introducing the salesmen and their daily routine. They wake up early in the morning, have breakfast together, and then hit the road in their beat-up car. They travel from one town to another, knocking on doors, trying to sell their Bibles. The salesmen are depicted as hardworking and dedicated, but also struggling to make ends meet. They face rejection and ridicule at almost every turn, which takes a toll on both their wallets and their psyches.

The film then follows the salesmen to Boston, where they hope to make their biggest sales. In Boston, they are put up in a cheap hotel, where they share a room and try to motivate each other to sell more Bibles. They attend meetings and training sessions designed to help them improve their sales techniques, but they still struggle to make any headway.

In one of the film's most memorable scenes, the salesmen visit a potential customer named Wilbur, who is a retired engineer. Wilbur is initially receptive to their pitch, but begins to ask tough questions about the Bible's content and the salesmen's motivations. He eventually gets frustrated with their evasiveness and tells them to leave. This scene underscores the film's themes of desperation, disillusionment, and the futility of trying to sell something that people don't want or don't believe in.

The film's climax comes when Paul, the most experienced of the salesmen, makes a big sale to a man named James Baker. Paul invites James to a restaurant to celebrate, and they chat over dinner. James is initially friendly and talkative, but as the night wears on, he becomes increasingly uncomfortable with Paul's presence. He finally tells Paul to leave him alone, and the film ends with a shot of Paul walking back to his hotel room alone.

Overall, Salesman is a poignant portrayal of the American dream gone awry. The film captures the struggles of four ordinary men who are trying to make a living against all odds. It is a window into a world of economic hardship, social isolation, and psychological distress that is all too relevant today. The film's brilliant editing, understated soundtrack, and naturalistic cinematography all contribute to its powerful impact. Salesman is a classic of documentary filmmaking, and a must-see for anyone interested in American history, sociology, or psychology.

Salesman is a 1969 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.7 and a MetaScore of 80.