The Graduate (1967)

A disillusioned college graduate finds himself torn between his older lover and her daughter.

Director:

Mike Nichols

Writers:

Calder Willingham (screenplay), Buck Henry (screenplay)

Stars:

Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katharine Ross

Won 1 Oscar. Another 20 wins & 20 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Anne Bancroft	...	Mrs. Robinson
Dustin Hoffman	...	Ben Braddock
Katharine Ross	...	Elaine Robinson
William Daniels	...	Mr. Braddock
Murray Hamilton	...	Mr. Robinson
Elizabeth Wilson	...	Mrs. Braddock
Buck Henry	...	Room Clerk
Brian Avery	...	Carl Smith
Walter Brooke	...	Mr. McGuire
Norman Fell	...	Mr. McCleery
Alice Ghostley	...	Mrs. Singleman
Marion Lorne	...	Miss DeWitte
Eddra Gale	...	Woman on Bus

Storyline

Ben has recently graduated from college, with his parents now expecting great things from him. At his "Homecoming" party, Mrs. Robinson, the wife of his father's business partner, has Ben drive her home, which leads to an affair between the two. The affair eventually ends, but comes back to haunt him when he finds himself falling for Elaine, Mrs. Robinson's daughter.

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Plot Keywords:

older woman younger man relationship | college graduate | adultery | famous score | one man two women | 

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Taglines:

What'll you do after you graduate?

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

14A

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the sequence where Benjamin is running to stop Elaine's wedding at the church, Dustin Hoffman said he did "about twenty takes" of the sequence, on a hot day, and at the end, he fainted and was given oxygen.

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Goofs

At the backyard birthday party for Benjamin, his father keeps whispering to him at the kitchen door, and Ben replies, hidden just a few inches away. Yet, in the next moment, when Mr. Braddock opens the door for him, he is 20 feet away, fully encased in a scuba mask and cowl, with the regulator in his mouth, and all sound cut off from the outside world.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Pilot: Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to begin our descent into Los Angeles. The sound you just heard is the landing gear locking into place. Los Angeles weather is clear; temperature is 72. We expect to make our 4 hour and 18 minute flight on schedule. We have enjoyed having you on board, and look forward to seeing you again in the near future.

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Alternate Versions

A change from the theatrical re-release for the 25th anniversary and the video release. In the first Taft Hotel bedroom scene, a nervous Ben asks Mrs. Robinson if she would like "Wood or wire [hanger]?" In the theater, her response was, "wood." Which led to the wonderful pratfall of Ben trying to take the wood one, which wouldn't come off. But it was changed in the 25th anniversary video release and her response was, "Either one would be fine."

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Connections

Referenced in Playing by Heart (1998)

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Soundtracks

Mercy Mercy
(uncredited)
Written by Don Covay and Ronnie Miller
Performed by Don Covay

User Reviews

Unforgettable Movie for People of My Generation

After graduating in college, the twenty-year old Benjamin "Ben" Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) returns home and his parents give a party for him. The uptight and clumsy Ben feels uncomfortable and the wife of his father's business partner Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) asks a ride home to him. Soon she seduces the unexperienced Ben and they have a love affair. When Mrs. Robinson's daughter Elaine Robinson (Katharine Ross) returns home, Mrs. Robinson makes Ben to promise that will never date her. But soon Ben and Elaine fall in love with each other affecting the Robinson family.

"The Graduate" is an unforgettable movie for people of my generation. The story is dramatic and funny and Anne Bancroft is perfect in the role of the unbalanced Mrs. Robinson. Despite his actual age (30), Dustin Hoffman is hilarious and convinces in the role of an unexperienced young man seduced by the alcoholic wife of his father's partner. And Katharine Ross is extremely beautiful in the role of Elaine. The wonderful soundtrack by Simon and Garfunkel fits perfectly to this great movie. The rushed conclusion is silly but adequate for those years, with the couple in a bus without knowing their destination in the bus and in life. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "A Primeira Noite de um Homem" ("The First Night of a Man")

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 December 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le lauréat

Filming Locations:

The Galaxy - 8917 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$37,948, 17 February 1997

Gross USA:

$104,945,305

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$105,015,008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lawrence Truman Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System) Mono (35 mm optical prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1