Great to see it again

Rating: 10/10 (10 January 2005)

Two thirds of a lifetime ago I saw this movie on its first run in Scotland. I so associated with the character of Ben Braddock that I wanted to hide under the seat (in the movie theatre) every time he got a laugh.
I have been afraid to watch it again ever since, not knowing how I would react with the hindsight of maturity. Fortunately, I never saw it listed in a TV guide all these years, so was not tempted.
I was given the video for Christmas. Tonight I ran it! No, I was not embarrassed by the story or the title character. I was embarrassed by my naivetÃ©. This time around I found the movie hilarious, and Katharine Ross the idealised woman of my adolescent expectations in the 60s. Mrs. Robinson is despicable! (but not much more so than the other 'adult' characters of decadent Southern California portrayed so brilliantly).
I'd forgotten the movie had a so-called 'happy ending'.
Oh, and one other thing. Ten years after I squirmed in the cinema, I too married Mrs. Robinson's daughter. Yes, really! Creepy, eh? And we're still together.