The Graduate

Released: December 22, 1967

Studio: AVCO Embassy

Genre: comedy/romance

Box Office (numbers in millions):

Domestic: 104.40 Worldwide: ?

Adjusted for Inflation:

Domestic: 839.59 Worldwide: 1434.30

Directing: Mike Nichols

Screenwriting: Calder Willingham, Buck Henry

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katharine Ross

Review:

The Graduate is an “acclaimed, satirical coming-of-age romantic drama/comedy” ^FS of “sixties youth.” ^RS It is based on the novel by Charles Webb. Buck Henry, who appears in the film as a hotel clerk, co-wrote the screenplay. The film established Mike Nichols as a major director, thanks to a Best Director Oscar win. “The influential and popular film…became an emotional touchstone for an entire generation.” ^FS

In his first major role, Dustin Hoffman is Benjamin Braddock, a recent, “shy, naive college graduate confronting the real world.” ^FS As he says, “The rules don’t make any sense to me…They’re being made up by all the wrong people.” ^TV Confused and vulnerable, he “is uncertain about his future, reacting with passive rebellion” ^FS as he “spends his summer trying to find out what to do next.” ^A98

The wife of his father’s business partner, Mrs. Robinson (Bancroft), seduces him, but he ends up falling for her engaged daughter Elaine (Ross). “The gap of ages is hilariously and poignantly evoked in the soulless affair between Ben and…Mrs. Robinson, the embodiment of middle-aged resignation.” ^TV “His rescue of the daughter from her wedding is a classic scene.” ^VD “If only he had followed the advice of his father’s friend, and gone into ‘Plastics.’” ^A07

“The Simon and Garfunkel score is as much a character in the movie” ^A98 as the actors; their “songs spoke to a whole new generation of filmgoers.” ^A07

Sources:

^A98 American Film Institute (1998). “AFI’s 100 Years, 100 Movies”
^A07 American Film Institute (2007). “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition”
^FS Filmsite.org “100 Greatest Films”
^RS Rolling Stone (12/30/1999). “100 Maverick Movies of the Last 100 Years”
^TV TV Guide (August 8-14, 1998 issue). “50 Greatest Movies on TV and Video”
^VD Video Detective (1997). “Top 100 Films of All Time”

Awards/Honors/Lists:

Dave’s Movie Database Lists:

Box Office:

Awards:

Oscars:

Wins: 1 – Best Director

Nominations: 7 – Best Picture, Best Actor (Hoffman), Best Actress (Bancroft), Best Supporting Actress (Ross), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography