`The Graduate' graduates Hoffman from amateur actor to a great professional.

Rating: 10/10 (17 June 2003)

The Graduate, a 1967 film directed by Mike Nichols is a wonderful film starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft.
Ben Braddock (Dustin Hoffman), a graduate from Berkley college has just arrived back home to find that there is a graduation party for him. He feels a little down throughout the entirety of the party and then he meets up with Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft). She asks if he could take her home in his new car, as she cannot drive. When they get to her house, we learn that she has known Ben for his entire life and that her husband is Mr. Braddock's boss. They have a few drinks and then go up to her room, where she gets undress. (`Can you get that zipper for me Benjamin?') Ben thinks he is trying to be seduced and is frightened out of his wits. What would happen if Mr. Robinson came home? Mrs. Robinson goes to the bathroom and she undresses, then comes into her bedroom, naked. Ben is there, and is scared out of his wits. A car is heard. Mr. Robinson is home! Mrs. Robinson presses herself onto the door while telling him that it is perfectly okay and Ben grabs the doorknob trying to get out. He does without Mr. Robinson knowing that he saw his wife naked, but he does see Mr. Robinson. And they have a long conversation

Trying to win back' Mrs. Robinson, Ben asks her to go to a hotel to get a drink at night. She accepts and unbeknownst to her, he rents a room. They sleep together for the first time, and they talk in the darkness of a hotel room. After several times of this adultery, we learn that Elaine Robinson (Katharine Ross) is coming home. Mrs. Robinson forbids him to date her. We learn that the Robinson had to marry because Elaine was born.

So Elaine and Ben go out because Ben's parents literally force him to. Mrs. Robinson tells him that he must make sure that she doesn't like him. After a horrible date, they do fall in love with each other, until he realizes that she's getting married to a jerk.
What a movie to think about! This movie has a profound storyline and the effect it has when it leaves you is something you will always remember.
MPAA Rating: PG
My Rating: 14 and up for partial nudity, adult themes and mild language
My * rating: 8.99