"Shaking the World"

Rating: Null/10 (22 October 2005)

AMC preceded a showing of "The Graduate" with its series, "Films That Shook the World." "The Graduate" followed "The Birth of a Nation" on this series. . . an indication of the social impact of these films.
While many feel art doesn't have much influence on actual life, the record speaks for itself. It's documented that riots broke out in the streets when "TBOAN" was first screened in 1915.
In the case of "TG," it caused an uproar among "moralists," and was denounced from pulpits around the country. In fact, "TG" ushered in a whole new crop of films dealing in "sexual sensitive" and formerly "taboo" subjects.
All this can be attributed to Charles Webb, who penned the original novel. In an AMC interview, Webb admitted to having a dysfunctional family home life and an real postgrad affair that provided the basis for the fictional "Mrs. Robinson."
Where did all this social/sexual upheaval lead? To a couple decades of grossly excessive sexual activity, only to be followed by its opposite (which we're experiencing today).
The era of '60s-'70s' x-rated films, spouse swapping, groupies, undergrad affairs and the like gave way to startling 2005 STD stats, such as the incidence of herpes and related STDs.
As for "TG," one thing that may be forgotten is how physically huge the Panavision screens were in '67. The images of "TG" were so overwhelming (especially with Mike Nichols use of closeups and medium shots) that the viewer was thrust "into" the action. The closest one finds now to that screen size may be in the largest of the malls--and even they may not compare.
"The Graduate" hurled American cinema into a new adult dimension--and (to be honest) not all that healthy, either--for we have the societal results of that "movement" today with STDs running rampant.
One thing, though: Novelist Webb proved a genuine "non-mainstreamer," refusing or giving away his portion of the gross film receipts, and declining offers of fine houses and the like. You can't say anything about the man's integrity; his actions speak louder than words.