This film is perverse

Rating: 4/10 (31 August 2010)

This film is perverse and the reasons are not what you think they are. The film was made in 1967 and the belief is widespread, that it portrays the atmosphere of the roaring sixties. I must admit that for some time this has been also my superficial impression. Indeed it can not be denied that the sweet music of Simon and Garfunkel is a hallmark of those days. And yes, the film advocates a liberal sexual behavior and clearing of taboos. Nevertheless, after a closer examination I must strongly disagree. It is true that the main character Ben says: "I wanted to be different". And he actually succeeds. But his devotion is definitely not directed towards the realization of civil rights, the abandonment of war, or even moral liberation and the mitigation of authority. In fact he and the other main juvenile character Elaine derail in a way, that makes the dysfunctionalities of their parents look insignificant. They develop morals, that are perverse by every reasonable standard. Although the film tries to trick you into believing in a happy end, as sure as eggs is eggs the social misfits Ben and Elaine will continue to wreak havoc. The elaboration on the character of Elaine can be short: she succeeds in convincing two men at the same time, that she will marry them. She actually marries one (the good Carl Smith), and immediately runs off with the other (Ben)! However, the really villainous character is Ben. Although only twenty-one years of age, he gets involved in sexual affairs with two married women. He has the brutality to say to the first (the illustrious mrs. Robinson): "I enjoy it. I look forward to it. It's the one thing I look forward to" and to the second (Elaine): "You're the first thing for so long that I like". The unfolding tragedy gets apparent, when the first woman discloses that her marriage is hopeless, and she herself has since long become an alcoholic. Indeed her attitude is unsound, but she remains within conceivable boundaries. Her distress (aptly played by Anne Bancroft, and the best scenes in the film) does not stop Ben from eventually dropping her like a hot potato, without any signs of remorse. A long-lasting affair becomes less than a one-night stand. He even explains to her husband, that the affair was comparable to a handshake. In a fit of brilliance mr. Robinson replies "You pardon me if I don't shake hands with you". He makes the only sane remark in the film, when he accuses Ben of having a filthy mind. However the film-makers take sides by presenting mr. Robinson as a stumbling idiot. Ben's apparent childish drivel (played in an outstanding way by Dustin Hoffman) degenerates into a diabolic manipulation. The dialogs are rude, pieces of bad taste, and one might say violent. They make "Deep throat" look bleak. For instance, Ben knows that in their youth the parents of Elaine had sexual intercourse in their car ("My God! In a Ford?"). One day Elaine tells him, that Carl Smith has proposed marriage: "He said he thought we'd make a pretty good team". Ben replies: "Where did he do it? It wasn't in his car, was it?". And I repeat: when he and Elaine elope, their relation is obviously doomed from the start. Still it could have been a quality film, if the makers had contented themselves with a reality approach. Instead they tried to deform the events into the shape of a romantic love affair. If this was an attempt to be cynical, then in my opinion it has failed dramatically, since even cynicism has its limits. In spite of excellent play by the actors, what remains is a perverse message, lacking any reasonable moral. It is an overt plea for impulsive and instrumental relationships, preying upon human weakness. My advice: spare yourself the disgust of this degenerate produce.