The Graduate (1967) - IMDb IMDb 29 December 2016 2:33 AM, UTC NEWS There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC A disillusioned college graduate finds himself torn between his older lover and her daughter. Director: a list of 42 titles created 15 Nov 2011 a list of 30 titles created 08 Jul 2014 a list of 32 titles created 29 Mar 2015 a list of 25 titles created 09 Dec 2015 a list of 32 titles created 5 months ago Search for " The Graduate " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Won 1 Oscar. Another 20 wins & 16 nominations.

See more awards » Videos Bonnie Parker, a bored waitress falls in love with an ex-con named Clyde Barrow and together they start a violent crime spree through the country, robbing cars and banks. Director: Arthur Penn Michael Dorsey, an unsuccessful actor, disguises himself as a woman in order to get a role on a trashy hospital soap. Director: Sydney Pollack A naive hustler travels from Texas to New York to seek personal fortune but, in the process, finds himself a new friend. Director: John Schlesinger Ted Kramer's wife leaves her husband, allowing for a lost bond to be rediscovered between Ted and his son, Billy. But a heated custody battle ensues over the divorced couple's son, deepening the wounds left by the separation. Director: Robert Benton Two Western bank/train robbers flee to Bolivia when the law gets too close. Director: George Roy Hill Selfish yuppie Charlie Babbitt's father left a fortune to his savant brother Raymond and a pittance to Charlie; they travel cross-country. Director: Barry Levinson A man befriends a fellow criminal as the two of them begin serving their sentence on a dreadful prison island, which inspires the man to plot his escape. Director: Franklin J.

Schaffner Following the death of a publishing tycoon, news reporters scramble to discover the meaning of his final utterance. Director: Orson Welles A pair of NYC cops in the Narcotics Bureau stumble onto a drug smuggling job with a French connection. Director: William Friedkin A hack screenwriter writes a screenplay for a former silent-film star who has faded into Hollywood obscurity. Director: Billy Wilder A bitter, aging couple, with the help of alcohol, use a young couple to fuel anguish and emotional pain towards each other. Director: Mike Nichols Edit Storyline Ben has recently graduated from college, with his parents now expecting great things from him. At his "Homecoming" party, Mrs. Robinson, the wife of his father's business partner, has Ben drive her home, which leads to an affair between the two. The affair eventually ends, but comes back to haunt him when he finds himself falling for Elaine, Mrs. Robinson's daughter. Written by Zac Abrams This is Benjamin. He's a little worried about his future.

See more » Genres: 22 December 1967 (USA) See more » Also Known As: $873 (USA) (18 May 2012) Gross: 4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)| Mono (35 mm optical prints) Color: Did You Know? Trivia Dustin Hoffman was told before his test that all the other actors who tested had agreed to a six-picture contract, but he refused, telling his agent he would rather do it for free and not be obligated to appear in pictures he didn't like. He ended up getting paid $17,000 without further contracted films. See more » Goofs In the first scene at the airport, Ben walks close towards the automatic door, past a pillar. In the next shot, he hasn't reached the pillar, and walks for a few second to reach where he was where the cut occurred. See more » Quotes [first lines] Pilot: Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to begin our descent into Los Angeles. The sound you just heard is the landing gear locking into place. Los Angeles weather is clear; temperature is 72. We expect to make our 4 hour and 18 minute flight on schedule.

We have enjoyed having you on board, and look forward to seeing you again in the near future. The Graduate (1967) Pages: ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) Background The Graduate (1967) is one of the key, ground-breaking films of the late 1960s, and helped to set in motion a new era of film-making. The influential film is a biting satire/comedy about a recent nebbish, East Coast college graduate who finds himself alienated and adrift in the shifting, social and sexual mores of the 1960s, and questioning the values of society (with its keyword "plastics"). The themes of the film also mirrored the changes occurring in Hollywood, as a new vanguard of younger directors were coming to the forefront. Avant-garde director Mike Nichols, following his debut success of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) with this second film, instantly became a major new talent in American film after winning an Academy Award for his directorship.

The theme of an innocent and confused youth who is exploited, mis-directed, seduced (literally and figuratively) and betrayed by a corrupt, decadent, and discredited older generation (that finds its stability in "plastics") was well understood by film audiences and captured the spirit of the times. One of the film's posters proclaimed the difficult coming-of-age for the recent, aimless college graduate: This is Benjamin. He's a little worried about his future. The two different generations are also reflected in other dualities: the two rival women (young innocent doe-eyed daughter Elaine and the older seductress Mrs. Robinson), the two California settings (Los Angeles and Berkeley) and S. and N. California cultures (materialistic vs. intellectual), and the division in Benjamin's character (morally drifting and indecisive vs. committed). There was already a growing dissatisfaction with the status quo and middle-class values, and the breakthrough film mirrored that anarchic mood perfectly for America's youth of the 60s during the escalation of the Vietnam War.

However, in the final analysis, director Nichols actually subversively portrayed how aimless and unalive the disaffected young generation was (in the character of Benjamin) - and would become as they approached middle-age and worked in sterile corporate settings. [In the same year, it joined Bonnie and Clyde (1967) as one of the most popular films for the college-aged generation.] It was complemented by the music of the popular singing duo Simon and Garfunkel from their Grammy-winning The Sounds of Silence album (with songs composed earlier and previously-released except for "Mrs. Robinson"), with meaningful, haunting lyrics amidst koo-koo-kachoo sounds to enhance the film's moods and themes. The film was adapted first for the stage (at London's Gielgud Theatre), and then premiered on Broadway in early April of 2002, with Kathleen Turner reprising her role as Mrs. Robinson, along with Jason Biggs and Alicia Silverstone in the other major roles.

Many viewers of this mid-60's film were unaware that Harold Lloyd's race to the rescue to prevent the wedding of a girl he loves earlier appeared in the silent-era film comedian's influential film Girl Shy (1924). The film was nominated for a total of seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Best Actress (Anne Bancroft), Best Supporting Actress (Katharine Ross), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. The film won only one award - Best Director. The Oscar-nominated screen adaptation by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry (who appears as the hotel's desk clerk) was based on the novel of the same name by Charles Webb (a recent graduate of the East Coast's Williams College when he wrote his first novel). Warren Beatty, Charles Grodin, Robert Redford, and Burt Ward (the 'Robin' character of the TV series Batman) were all considered for the role of Benjamin, and Patricia Neal and Doris Day were considered for the part of Mrs. Robinson.

Short-statured (5'6") Jewish actor Dustin Hoffman had already been cast as Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind in The Producers (1968) when he bowed out and took the role of bumbling graduate Benjamin Braddock. His defection forced Mel Brooks to quickly recast the trademark role with Kenneth Mars. The Story The film opens with a close-up, disembodied image of Benjamin Braddock's face (Dustin Hoffman) [a 29 year-old convincingly playing a 21 year-old - Hoffman's second feature film appearance, and his first major film role]. It appears that he is alone and isolated - he is - but as the camera pulls back, it reveals that he is on a plane filled with passengers of various ages. He is returning home to Los Angeles from college in the East. Appearing slightly shy and unprepossessing, his face has a blank, expressionless, enervated, zombie-like look.

[The beginning and ending scenes of the film are symmetrically patterned after each other - the young couple are also surrounded by a busload of passengers, but remain isolated and impassive.] While standing mute by himself on the automated, moving walkway (with a monotonous recording: "Please hold the handrail, and stand to the right. If you wish to pass, please do so on the left") at the busy LAX airport, the credits play as The Sounds of Silence is heard on the soundtrack, reinforcing the theme of his emptiness and alienation from his surroundings: ...And in the naked light I saw, ten thousand people, maybe more. People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening. People writing songs that voices never shared, no one dared disturb the sound of silence... The scene of the retrieval of his luggage from a mechanized conveyor belt, and his disappearance into the terminal's crowd and to the outer doors dissolves into the next scene. Benjamin is in his upstairs bedroom in his upper-middle-class parents' home. He sits staring blankly ahead, positioned in his room in front of his aquarium tank (while observing its occupants) and wanting to be alone with his thoughts.

At the bottom of the aquarium tank is a model of a diver - symbolizing Ben's "drowning" and foreshadowing the scene in which he shows off scuba gear and hides from everyone by sinking to the bottom of the swimming pool. Ben is the pride of his wealthy Southern California suburbanite parents who have prepared a welcome, home-coming cocktail party for their recent graduate and invited all of their friends, rather than his, to the party. His father (William Daniels) finds his son upstairs and wonders if anything is wrong. Inarticulately, Ben tells his father that he is rudderless - he has no plans or direction to his life and is worried about his future: Ben: I'm just... View All Critic Reviews (66) Audience Reviews for The Graduate Dustin Hoffman's charming performance propels this film into one of the best coming-of-age films of all time. The Graduate is highlighted with an artful direction, innocent humor, spellbinding music (soundtrack by Simon & Garfunkel) and an accurate strike on reality. 4/5 Eugene Bernabe Super Reviewer You can't get more iconic than this.

The Graduate is flawlessly written, deftly acted, and superbly touches us with its unconventionality and ultimate power. It captures the era of the 60s, yet is also profoundly timely. Hoffman's angst is relatable for every young adult watching the film, and the nostalgia and shallowness of American suburbia is also quite relatable to anyone who has spent at least a year living in the suburbs. Anne Bancroft is exceptional and ruthless as Mrs. Robinson, making for an unforgettable performance. The film's aura--the iconic soundtrack and iconic cinematographic choices--is captivating. Ultimately The Graduate is more than a funny, nostalgic movie: it is triumphant. It is a triumph of the human mind and the human spirit. Matthew Samuel Mirliani Super Reviewer Could "The Graduate" be the first art-house movie of all time? Ehh, I don't think so, but it's definitely a game-changer. At its time, Hollywood dished out grand epics after grand epics with "perfect" and steady camerawork, larger than life characters, and narratives that stretch at an epic scale. But "The Graduate" does a U-turn on the traditional ways of filmmaking.

Unconventional mechanics like quick zooms, strangely edited shots, and lingering close-ups are riddled about in "The Graduate". It does enough difference for it to stand out among other films alike it. But to say that the narrative is different from the rest is an understatement -- its daring, bold, and darkly challenging. Especially after the time the Production Code came to a close, "The Graduate" dives head-first into dark waters. This is a psychologically driven character-study of a young innocent boy finding his place in the world to be a "different" man. "The Graduate" is absolutely effective in what it intends to do. Everything is cohesively crafted: strong thematic foundation, solid character development, sharp writing, and thought-provoking symbolism. Entertaining, provocative, and strangely disturbing, "The Graduate" immerses audiences into a young boy's world that's trying to make the best out of his life. Albert Kim Super Reviewer With the soundtrack, screenplay, direction and performances The Graduate become one of the most tense and remarkable love stories in cinema.

Lucas Martins The Graduate Cast List: Actors and Actresses from The Graduate Full Cast of The Graduate Actors/Actresses 10k views 15 items tags f t p @ The Graduate cast list, listed alphabetically with photos when available. This list of The Graduate actors includes any The Graduate actresses and all other actors from the film. You can view additional information about each The Graduate actor on this list, such as when and where they were born. To find out more about a particular actor or actress, click on their name and you'll be taken to page with even more details about their acting career. The cast members of The Graduate have been in many other movies, so use this list as a starting point to find actors or actresses that you may not be familiar with. The list you're viewing is made up of actors like Dustin Hoffman and Richard Dreyfuss. If you want to answer the questions, "Who starred in the movie The Graduate?" and "What is the full cast list of The Graduate?" then this page has got you covered. This cast list of who was in The Graduate includes both lead and minor roles.

(15 items) The Graduate - Analysis - Dramatica The Graduate Comprehensive Storyform The following analysis reveals a comprehensive look at the Storyform for The Graduate. Unlike most of the analysis found here—which simply lists the unique individual story appreciations—this in-depth study details the actual encoding for each structural item. This also means it has been incorporated into the Dramatica Story Expert application itself as an easily referenced contextual example. 8 of the 12 essential questions Change Main Character Resolve Everyone thinks that Ben is absolutely on the right track and if he continues as such, he’ll be assured success. But Ben changes. His change is not a leap of faith, but one that is gradual and inexorable—resulting in him getting the girl, but also disappointing everyone he knows. Start Main Character Growth Ben has a hole in his heart. A huge sucking chest wound (metaphorically speaking) of a hole that needs to be filled by starting on a path of his own choosing. However, it could be said that Ben is wasting his time and should stuff aside all of his feelings, lie about the affair, pretend to be interested in plastics, and move onto the business of aggressively pursuing his future.

That’s probably what he should start doing if he wants to achieve the objective story goal. But would that make him happy? Be-er Main Character Approach Ben is most definitely a ponderer. From the first frame of the film, his preference is clearly to think out situations before taking action. Linear Main Character Mental Sex Ben tends to solve problems from a very linear, cause and effect perspective, without paying much attention to the big picture. Decision Story Driver Mrs. Robinson decides to seduce Ben; Ben later decides to take her up on her offer; Ben decides to acquiesce to a date with Elaine; Ben decides he’s going to marry Elaine; Elaine decides, at the altar, to leave her groom and run off with Ben. Optionlock Story Limit Ben’s future is completely open. There is no particular time limit imposed on his decision to step into his future (although his parents do get a bit anxious at the length of time it seems to take him). In fact most of the story revolves around Ben’s weighing of options. The story comes to a climax when Ben decides not to take advantage of any of the options presented to him by the adult world.

Failure Story Outcome Although everyone in the story sees great things for Ben’s future, he ultimately fails them all (evidenced by the horrified faces at the church), by throwing away the future they had in mind for him and running away with Elaine. Good Story Judgment As Elaine and Ben are on the bus riding away from the church, they are very happy (this a matter of degree, of course, because there is a moment when their smiles fade slightly and become looks of “Oh my God, what have we done?”), but for the moment at least, Ben clearly thinks he has done the right thing. Overall Story Throughline Universe Overall Story Throughline Ben Braddock has arrived home from college, as a hero. Everyone has high hopes for his future and seem very concerned that Ben appears to be putting off his future—wasting his time “floating around.” Future Overall Story Concern The future can be summed up in one word. Plastics. Everyone has high hopes for Ben’s future. He clearly has a great future ahead of him, possibly as a partner in Dad’s firm, maybe even marrying Elaine. The future looks so bright. . .

Which is why everyone is concerned that Ben appears to be wasting all of his time doing “God knows what,” instead of taking the bull by the horns and setting goals. Elaine is also concerned with her future, graduating from college, marriage (to Ben or Carl), her relationship with her parents if she continues to see Ben, etc. Delay Overall Story Issue Ben’s father is very concerned that Ben isn’t “taking stock in himself and getting off his ass.” Mr. Robinson suggests that Ben give Elaine a call when she gets into town, but Ben puts that off for as long as possible. Even when Ben calls Mrs. Robinson to meet her at the hotel, he puts off the actual act of getting a room (and consummating the affair), for as long as he can. Choice Overall Story Counterpoint Most of the characters in the story are inclined to push Ben into make choices: to have an affair or not, to choose whether or not he’s going to grad school, to decide conclusively whether or not he’ll be taking out Elaine, etc. But the choices that are made don’t seem to be particularly well thought out, or at the very least, not the wisest of moves. (When Mr.

Braddock learns of Ben’s decision to marry Elaine, he tells Ben that “This whole idea sounds pretty half-baked.” To which Ben replies, “Oh no, it’s not. It’s completely baked. It’s a decision I’ve made.”) Overall Story Thematic Conflict Delay vs.Choice Perhaps the best thing for all concerned would have been to let Ben take his time in deciding what to do with his future. Unfortunately, Ben is forced into making decisions that (from the perspective of the objective characters) adversely affect his future. Avoid Overall Story Problem What’s at the root of all the conflict in the story is no one is willing to deal with actual problems. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson’s marriage is a sham. They don’t love each other at all. Yet rather than do something to remedy that problem, Mrs. Robinson avoids it completely, choosing instead to have an affair with Ben. Ben is avoiding the future that has been laid out for him, to the consternation and dismay of his parents. Ben’s avoidance of Elaine causes problems between the Robinsons and the Braddocks. When Mr.

Robinson finds out about Ben’s affair with his wife and his feelings for his daughter, Elaine is pulled out of school and spirited away to Santa Barbara to be married. Pursuit Overall Story Solution The general consensus is that if Ben would only pursue the future that seems to be so obviously before him, everyone would be happy. In fact everyone is thrilled (temporarily, anyway) when Ben announces he is going to Berkeley to marry Elaine. It looks, for the moment, as though he’s got a definite plan, and is making a concerted effort to achieve his future (it turns out to be a rather “half-baked” plan, however). Once Mr. Robinson discovers his wife’s affair, he seeks a divorce. Support Overall Story Symptom The characters in The Graduate don’t see “avoidance” as problematic, they instead focus on “support.” Everyone has terrific, supportive things to say about Ben. He’s referred to as the “editor of the school paper,” a “track star,” a “ladies’ man,” a “Frank Helpingham Award Scholar.” However it seems like he’s doing very little to live up to the praise.

In fact, in the words of his father (when Ben is reluctant to show off his new birthday present), “You’re disappointing them, Ben.” Oppose Overall Story Response Under the assumption that their problems stem from issues dealing with “support,” the characters generally react with opposition and protest. At the drive-in, Ben explains to Elaine that ever since graduating he’s had “this kind of compulsion to be rude all the time.” Elaine says she knows what he means. When Mr. Robinson finds out about the affair, he asks Ben if he harbors a “particularly strong resentment” towards him. Mr. McCleery, the landlord, doesn’t trust Ben and keeps telling him that he wants him out of his building. Openness Overall Story Catalyst Ben’s willingness to reevaluate Mrs. Robinson’s offer leads to their affair. Although Ben at first refuses to see Elaine (taking Mrs. Robinson’s advice), he is willing to reevaluate that stand when his parents pressure him. When Ben apologizes to Elaine (and kisses her) after the strip club incident, she is open minded enough to go with him for a meal, and accept another date for the next day.

Even after finding out that Ben “raped” her mother, Elaine is open minded enough to consider Ben’s version of the story and agree to the possibility of their getting married. Denial Overall Story Inhibitor Ben refuses to see Elaine, much to the consternation of his parents and Mr. Robinson. Mrs. Robinson shows up in Ben’s car in the rain and refuses to back down on her ultimatum. Were Ben to acquiesce to her demands, the progress in the story would screech to a halt. Past Overall Story Benchmark The “past” is the standard by which progress is measured in the objective story. When he and Elaine are on the second half of their date, he admits that he was having an affair with a married woman, but that it’s over now. When Elaine shows up at his apartment, she asks Ben how he could have raped her mother. Ben sets her straight on what really happened. When Ben shows up at the wedding, even though the wedding is a done deal, and despite all that she knows about his past, Elaine calls out his name, and in that one moment it is clear that the past no longer matters.

Additional Overall Story Information → Overall Story Throughline Synopsis Ben arrives home from college to a hero’s welcome. All of the family and friends have high hopes for the track star and editor of the school paper. They don’t understand why Ben seems to be growing so distant, and wastes his summer doing “God knows what” at night and floating around in the pool during the day. They encourage him to take out Elaine Robinson (obviously having no idea that Ben has been spending his nights having an affair with Elaine’s mother), who is visiting from Berkeley. Ben resists, but finally gives in and takes her out, just to get the parents off his back. He treats Elaine horribly on that date, forcing her to tears. When Elaine asks if Ben hates her, Ben realizes that, no, the truth is he loves her. He agrees to meet her the next day, but Mrs. Robinson, who forbade Ben from seeing Elaine at all, intercedes. Ben runs to Elaine to confess his affair, and she angrily tells him to leave. She returns to Berkeley, but Ben decides that he is going to marry her and goes to Berkeley to win her back.

He almost succeeds, but Elaine’s father turns up, having learned about the affair and Ben’s advances toward Elaine, and takes her out of school. Ben searches for Elaine, and finds out that she is getting married (a very quick decision) to Carl, an old boyfriend. Ben tracks her down to a church in Santa Barbara, but is too late. She’s just said “I do.” The wedding is over. No matter. Ben starts banging on the glass of the church’s balcony and yelling Elaine’s name. The entire congregation watches in awe until Elaine yells out Ben’s name. Ben runs to her fighting off family members with a large wooden crucifix, and the two of them hop a city bus and leave their lives and commitments behind. Overall Story Backstory The Braddock and Robinson families have known each other for years. Mr. Robinson and Mr. Braddock are business partners. Ben and Elaine knew each other as children, though not romantically in any way. The parents have always had high hopes for the respective futures of their children. This is why it seems so logical for Mr. Robinson to suggest that Ben give a call to Elaine when she comes into town.

Unfortunately, with so much emphasis on the future, no one seems to pay any attention to what has been going on right in front of their eyes, in the present. Main Character Throughline Psychology Main Character Throughline Because most of the film focuses on Ben’s perspective, the way he thinks is explored in depth. From the opening shot, Ben is deep in thought. He spends most of his time thinking over his situation. Whether he’s floating in his pool, or trying to figure out exactly how to get past the suspicious hotel clerk, Ben puts a lot of thought into everything he does. Becoming Main Character Concern Ben is very aware of the fact his life is changing. At the beginning, when Ben is hiding in his room, his father asks what he is worried about. Ben tells him he wants his future to be “different.” The implication is he does not want to become his father. Later, he is very concerned that he is turning into a sick twisted pervert, which seems to be confirmed by Mrs. Robinson, Mr. McCleery (the landlord), and finally Mr. Robinson.

Commitment Main Character Issue It may take Ben a while to figure out the right course of action, but once he does, he sticks with it regardless of the consequences. For example, once Ben decides that he is going to marry Elaine, he sticks by that decision until the end, regardless of what anyone thinks. Responsibility Main Character Counterpoint Ben is given to understand he has a responsibility to his parents to attend graduate school and become a success. However, Ben tends to take issue with the fact that everyone else thinks they know what is best for him. What he discovers over the course of this story is his rebel nature. He comes to the realization that he alone is responsible for the course of his future, for better or for worse. Main Character Thematic Conflict Commitment vs.Responsibility Ben’s inner conflict is, to be responsible for his own life he must have something that means enough to him to make a total commitment, regardless of what anyone else says or thinks. Avoid Main Character Problem When Ben arrives home from college, he doesn’t know what he wants to do with his future, and rather than face the inevitable questions, he chooses to hide in his room. When Mrs.

Robinson asks him to drive her home, Ben does everything he can to avoid it. He runs from Mrs. Robinson when she offers herself to him, and spends most of his summer avoiding having to deal with his life. He tries desperately to avoid having to go on a date with Elaine, until he decides that he has no choice. Pursuit Main Character Solution The date with Elaine is the start of a major shift for Ben. He has finally found a future worthy of commitment. When he tells his parents that he will be marrying Elaine, they immediately see the change in him (whether or not they think it’s a particularly wise decision). Ben pursues her all the way to Santa Barbara, where he rescues Elaine from her family and her new husband. Faith Main Character Symptom The effects of Ben’s problem of “avoidance” are felt in the area of “faith.” Ben is expected to accept a lot on faith alone. Plastics, for one. The idea that his future is assured. Mrs. Robinson’s implicit threats about Elaine. Everyone seems to have so much faith in him, but Ben himself has to wonder if it is warranted.

He has to convince Elaine of his story rather than her mother’s, though there really is no proof either way. Disbelief Main Character Response Ben attempts to approach his difficulties using “disbelief.” When Mrs. Robinson threatens to tell Elaine everything if Ben sees her again, he refuses to accept that threat and runs to tell her himself. Even though he has a pretty fair idea that Elaine doesn’t like him after she learns about his affair with her mother, Ben cannot be persuaded that she doesn’t (or won’t) love him. That’s why he pursues her. Even when he sees that Elaine is already married, he doesn’t believe it’s over. Rationalization Main Character Unique Ability Ben is very good at rationalizing his actions and feelings. When Mrs. Braddock asks what Ben does at night, Ben tells her he just drives around. He comes up with an elaborate ruse to prevent the hotel clerk from discovering his actual situation. If he would just keep fabricating excuses for his behavior (like everyone else seems to do), he would probably achieve the goal that has been set out for him. Attitude Main Character Critical Flaw Unfortunately for Ben, his demeanor undermines his unique ability to achieve the goal.

Virtually everyone in the story misinterprets Ben’s attitude. In an attempt to prevent another date with Elaine, Ben puts on a disinterested, downright rude air, which backfires. He realizes that his attitude has caused her pain, and she’s probably the only person in the world that he actually likes. Ben’s parents can’t see past his attitude—unconcernedly wasting his life floating around the pool all summer long. Conceptualizing Main Character Benchmark At first Ben has absolutely no idea what his future will bring, and he’s disturbed by this fact. When he comes up with the idea of marrying Elaine, his entire future becomes clear. Though he doesn’t know exactly how to implement his plan, he is certain that it will happen. And so he sets off to marry Elaine. Additional Main Character Information → Main Character Description At school Ben was the editor of the paper, a track star, winner of the Helpingham Scholarship. . . Yet while everything he has done has made his parents proud, Ben finds himself struggling with the fact that he has no idea what is his purpose in life. Played by Dustin Hoffman in the film.

Main Character Throughline Synopsis Ben has spent his entire life playing the role of the ideal son—doing what is expected of him. When he arrives home from college, however, he is concerned about his future. He wants it to be different, but doesn’t know in what way. When Mrs. Robinson propositions him, Ben is at first appalled, but is soon drawn to the idea of an affair with her. Although it doesn’t necessarily make him happy or proud, he carries on the affair by night and floats around in the pool by day, still unsure of what he is to do with his future. And though he resists for as long as he can, he is finally pressured into going on a date with Elaine, the Robinson’s daughter. He tries to make it as painful for her as possible, in the hopes that she will never want to see him again. When he sees how he has hurt Elaine through his insensitivity, he apologizes, and realizes that he is in love with her. When Mrs. Robinson flatly refuses to allow him to see Elaine again, Ben tells her everything. Elaine makes him leave, but Ben discovers that he finally has a purpose—something he can commit himself to. He intends to marry Elaine.

Knowing that she doesn’t like him very much because of what he has done, Ben sets out to change her mind. He follows her to Berkeley, and ultimately, through his persistence and his refusal to believe that she doesn’t love him, he snatches her away from the jaws of marriage (to another) and together they hop a city bus to their future. Main Character Backstory Ben comes from a wealthy background—an ideal student and son. Somewhere along the way, however, Ben grew disillusioned, and started to find that everything he had worked for in his life was completely without purpose or meaning. At the start of the film, Ben has just graduated from college and now has “his whole life ahead of him.” Influence Character Throughline Physics Influence Character Throughline Mrs. Robinson is interested in little more than getting Ben into bed. She doesn’t want to discuss it; she doesn’t want to explain it. She just wants to shut up and do it. That is until Ben makes the mistake of dating Mrs. Robinson’s daughter. She then puts her entire being into preventing them from getting together, by any means necessary. Obtaining Influence Character Concern At first Mrs. Robinson seems only interested in getting Ben into bed.

In fact the way she manipulates Ben is through obtaining (“Ben, would you please get my purse?” “Did you get a room?”) She is very interested in controlling Ben (and Elaine) for herself. When Ben suggests seeing Elaine, Mrs. Robinson makes it very clear that Ben may not have Elaine, ever. When he challenges her, Mrs. Robinson takes Elaine from school, to ensure that he never sees her again. Self-Interest Influence Character Issue For the most part, Mrs. Robinson seems to do what she does for purely selfish reasons. She doesn’t seem to really care about Ben, or the issues that he is dealing with (as long as they don’t get directly in her way). There’s a moment that describes this, when Ben has just registered for the room and is calling Mrs. Robinson in the bar from the phone booth outside. Mrs. Robinson asks Ben if there’s something else he wants to tell her. For a moment, Ben thinking that she is doing this for him, begins to tell her how much he appreciates what she’s doing, etc., but Mrs. Robinson cuts him off and says he should tell her the room number. It’s clear that it has nothing to do with him.

She’s doing this for herself. Morality Influence Character Counterpoint When Ben suggests that he should date Elaine to find out more about Mrs. Robinson, she impresses upon him that he must never ever see Elaine. Ben interprets this behavior as Mrs. Robinson trying to protect Elaine. It may even be what she thinks she’s doing—looking out for her daughter’s interests. But is she? Influence Character Thematic Conflict Self-Interest vs.Morality Mrs. Robinson struggles between doing what is best for herself and doing what is best for others. While she claims to do what she does for the sake of her daughter, it’s more than likely that she really does everything (even “protecting” Elaine) for her own selfish purposes. Hinder Influence Character Problem Though Ben tries to avoid dealing with people at his coming home party, Mrs. Robinson directly detracts from his efforts for her own purposes. When Ben suggests that he see Elaine (and in fact does), Mrs. Robinson is driven to stand directly in his way, determined to thwart him by any means necessary. It is implied that Mrs. Robinson’s out-of-wedlock pregnancy was an obstruction to her own future. Help Influence Character Solution When Mrs.

Robinson shows up in Ben’s room the night of the party, she is ostensibly there to enlist his help. She needs a ride home. She needs him to stay until Mr. Robinson gets home. She needs him to unzip her dress, get her purse, get the hotel room, get a coat hanger, etc. As long as he complies, and helps to satisfy her needs, she’s perfectly content. Support Influence Character Symptom When Ben suggests enlisting Elaine’s support in order to find out more about the Robinsons, Mrs. Robinson takes this as a direct threat. She insists that Ben not talk about or see Elaine under any circumstances. Oppose Influence Character Response Mrs. Robinson strenuously opposes Ben’s dating Elaine. She informs Ben that she will tell Elaine everything if he continues pursuing her. Approach Influence Character Unique Ability It’s Mrs. Robinson’s style that has the most impact on Ben. Standing in front of the door naked, impressing the image of her body on his brain goes a long way toward compelling Ben to set aside all thoughts of his future. Obligation Influence Character Critical Flaw Mrs. Robinson attempts to make Ben swear that he will not see Elaine ever again.

In fact she insists on his accepting this rather one-sided agreement. Unfortunately for her, Ben is in a stage of personal development where his knee-jerk reaction is to rebel against any edict. Thus if Mrs. Robinson had perhaps asked Ben to stop seeing Elaine, for all the obvious reasons, she might well have been successful. But because she demands it without explanation, he refuses to agree. Understanding Influence Character Benchmark The degree of Mrs. Robinson’s personal concern of “obtaining” can be measured in terms of “understanding.” Mrs. Robinson understands perfectly well what would happen if Ben and Elaine got together (even though Ben doesn’t). When Mrs. Robinson first tells Ben that she doesn’t want him to talk about Elaine, Ben wants to understand why, but Mrs. Robinson doesn’t want to discuss it, allowing him to make whatever of it that he will. But as it becomes clearer to her that he doesn’t understand the ramifications of his actions, she becomes more driven to set him straight. When he shows up at the Robinson house to take Elaine out on a second date, Mrs. Robinson makes absolutely sure that Ben understand exactly how strongly she feels about his dating Elaine. More Influence Character Information → Influence Character Description Mrs.

Robinson is described as Ben’s father’s business partner’s wife, Elaine’s mother, a family friend, and a broken down alcoholic. Played by Anne Bancroft in the film. Influence Character Throughline Synopsis When Ben arrives home from college, Mrs. Robinson propositions him, informing him that she is available to him at anytime. Though at first he is appalled at the idea, he eventually comes around. Mrs. Robinson has no interest in chit chat, she merely sees the relationship as a form of physical release. When Ben pries into her past, she resists, and though the memories were perhaps painful once, she is now merely numb to them. It is only when Ben brings up the subject of Elaine that Mrs. Robinson kicks into gear. She doesn’t want Ben to talk about her daughter, much less see her socially. When Ben disregards her edict, she vows to prevent him from seeing Elaine ever again. When Ben accepts the challenge, Mrs. Robinson is true to her word, and does everything she can to destroy him. Influence Character Backstory Mrs. Robinson married Mr.

Robinson while she was still in college (an art major), because a one night fling in the back of a Ford resulted in the birth of Elaine. She put aside whatever aspirations and dreams she may have had and dealt with her life in the best way she knew how, through alcohol and extramarital affairs. Relationship Story Throughline ""Here's To You, Mrs. Robinson"" Mind Relationship Story Throughline The arena for the relationship (and conflict) between Ben and Mrs. Robinson is in their fixed attitudes. Both Ben and Mrs. Robinson are extremely stubborn individuals, and when they are not agreeing to disagree, they are involved in a battle of wills. For example, while Ben is determined to be left alone at his welcome home party, Mrs. Robinson is just as determined to get him home with her; when Ben wants to talk for a change, Mrs. Robinson is just as determined not to talk; while Mrs. Robinson insists that Ben not see Elaine, Ben is even more determined to disregard her edict and pursue Elaine. Subconscious Relationship Story Concern Both Mrs. Robinson and Ben are deeply driven people. What they disagree about are not surface issues, but deeply rooted drives and desires.

Their relationship is certainly sexual, but goes to the much deeper issues of feeling unloved and having (or not having) a purpose in life. Hope Relationship Story Issue The relationship between Ben and Mrs. Robinson is judged by their aspirations and levels of optimism. For the most part, Mrs. Robinson is very confident that she will get her way in all things regarding Ben. It is clear from the moment she arrives in his bedroom, that she fully intends and expects to have an affair with Ben. She fully expects him to heed her decree that Ben not ever see Elaine. Even when Ben arrives at their house after Elaine has been pulled from school to marry Carl, Mrs. Robinson is absolutely confident that there is nothing Ben can do about it. Dream Relationship Story Counterpoint The other side of the subjective story’s thematic coin deals with shattered dreams. When Ben talks to Mrs. Robinson, he learns that she was an art major, but became pregnant with Elaine and left her dreams behind. Ben at first has no particular aspirations, but when he goes on his date with Elaine, he realizes that he is in love with her. His relationship with Mrs. Robinson, however, makes any hope for a long term relationship with Elaine little more than a pipe dream.

Relationship Story Thematic Conflict Hope vs.Dream Is it better to only aspire to that which you actually have a hope of achieving, or should one hold on to one’s dreams at all costs? That’s the passionate thematic question that gets played out in The Graduate. Mrs. Robinson left her dreams in the dust many years ago and ultimately became “a broken down alcoholic,” while Ben goes after his impossible dream (Elaine), and ends up happily running away with her. The final judgment seems to encourage holding onto dreams. Avoid Relationship Story Problem Ben tries everything he can think of to get out of driving Mrs. Robinson home from his party. When she has him trapped in Elaine’s room, Ben tries desperately to escape, especially when he hears Mr. Robinson’s car pulling up the drive. When Ben tries to elicit a conversation from Mrs. Robinson, she avoids answering any of his questions, which frustrates him. Mrs. Robinson tries to prevent Ben from seeing Elaine, and even tries to make him steer clear of talking about her. When Ben doesn’t heed her advice, there is great friction between them. Pursuit Relationship Story Solution When Ben stops avoiding Mrs.

Robinson and takes active steps to pursue her (calling her from the hotel), they are in accord. There is no conflict between them. And yet it’s actually the lack of pursuit that would allow Ben and Mrs. Robinson’s relationship to continue to flourish (to the extent that that’s possible). All that is specifically required is that Ben not pursue Elaine. If he would simply not go after her, as Mrs. Robinson decrees, the relationship between them would continue along just as it has been (at least until the day that Ben ultimately decides to go on to graduate school or into business). Consider Relationship Story Symptom The difficulties between Ben and Mrs. Robinson seem to center on Ben’s tendency to overthink their relationship. Mrs. Robinson is just in it for the sex. Ben is prone to giving much consideration to the whys and wherefores of their relationship, wanting to know for instance, how she gets out of the house every night and what she says to Mr. Robinson. When Mrs. Robinson tells Ben not to talk about Elaine, he questions her motivations and wants to understand why she insists upon decree. By the time their conversation is over, they both realize that some issues are better left alone.

Reconsider Relationship Story Response Ben and Mrs. Robinson’s efforts are directed toward each making the other reconsider their respective positions. Although at first Ben seems shocked by the idea of an affair with Mrs. Robinson, he later reconsiders and agrees to meet her at the Taft Hotel. When Ben half-jokingly suggests asking Elaine out, Mrs. Robinson makes him immediately reconsider that thought. When Ben actually takes Elaine on a date and makes plans for another, Mrs. Robinson shows up in the rain to demand that Ben reconsider his actions. Closure Relationship Story Catalyst Acts of resolution are what acts to move the subjective story forward. When Mrs. Robinson announces to Ben she is available, he runs off, due in part to the arrival of Mr. Robinson. But the question is left hanging—until he addresses it, there will be no rest between them. He calls her from the Taft Hotel, and takes her up on her offer. When he tries to get personal information from Mrs. Robinson, she gives none. When he suggests asking Elaine out in order to put the issue to rest, Mrs. Robinson immediately demands that he not discuss Elaine, let alone see her. Preconception Relationship Story Inhibitor Ben and Mrs.

Robinson are two extremely narrow-minded people. It is only when one or the other backs down, even slightly, that any progress is made in their relationship. At the start, Ben refuses Mrs. Robinson’s advances because of his own preconceptions about her. She is after all Elaine’s mother, and his father’s partner’s wife. Initially Ben has a great deal of trouble dealing with her as an object of sexual desire. They both have very different opinions on the Ben/Elaine relationship. And when the subject is brought up, there is nowhere for their conversation to go. Consequently, in these moments they are either driven to silence, or completely away from each other. Memory Relationship Story Benchmark The growth of Ben and Mrs. Robinson’s relationship is minimal, however one instance of closeness is illustrated using “memory.” There’s a wonderful moment in the scene where Ben is trying desperately to have a conversation with Mrs. Robinson. Having been asked what she might want to talk about, Mrs. Robinson grudgingly suggests art, but then says that she knows nothing about it. Ben continues to push, trying to elicit stories of her circumstances, past and present. Throughout the entire scene, although Ben doesn’t see it, Mrs.

Robinson’s face has a slightly pained expression, as she is forced to recall her life since meeting Mr. Robinson. Finally, Ben discovers that Mrs. Robinson was in fact an art major. He supposes that she probably just lost interest in the subject over the years, but it is clear in that moment her dreams have just been too painful to hold onto. Additional Relationship Story Information → Relationship Story Throughline Synopsis When Ben arrives home from college, he doesn’t want to talk with anyone at all. He tries to hide in his room, but Mrs. Robinson shows up and asks for a ride home. As reluctant as Ben is, Mrs. Robinson is even more persistent. He drives her home. She asks if Ben will walk her to the door and come inside. He doesn’t want to, but she insists. He goes inside with her, and tries to leave, but she stalls him with drinks, puts on some music, and tells him that her husband won’t be home for hours. Ben finally gets it. “Mrs. Robinson,” he says, “You’re trying to seduce me.” Mrs. Robinson laughs and Ben apologizes profusely. She offers to show Ben a painting of Elaine.

Thankful for the distraction, Ben agrees, and they head for Elaine’s bedroom. Ben starts to leave, but the next thing he knows, Mrs. Robinson has locked the door and is standing before him, stark naked. Ben asks her to move, but Mrs. Robinson tells him that she is available to him at any time. Only when they hear Mr. Robinson pull up, does Ben escape. A few days later, Ben calls Mrs. Robinson from the Taft Hotel, and indicates that he’d like to take her up on her offer. After a few terribly awkward moments, they get a room and begin their affair. The affair continues for some time. One night, Ben wants to talk for a change, instead of just hopping into bed. Mrs. Robinson doesn’t want to talk. He eventually finds out a bit about Mrs. Robinson, her marriage to Mr. Robinson, and the circumstances surrounding Elaine’s conception. When Mrs. Robinson tells Ben she doesn’t want him talking about Elaine, Ben jokingly suggests that he should ask her out to find out why. Mrs. Robinson nearly hits the roof. She makes Ben swear that he will never, ever ask Elaine out. Ben is offended, assuming that Mrs.

Robinson doesn’t think he’s good enough for Elaine. When she confirms his suspicion, Ben calls her a broken down alcoholic and says that their relationship sickens and disgusts him. After an awkward moment, they decide to put the whole conversation behind them. After being pressured by his parents and Mr. Robinson, Ben takes Elaine out for a date. Mrs. Robinson is furious. When Ben asks Elaine out for a second date, Mrs. Robinson threatens to tell Elaine everything. Ben goes directly to Elaine to beat Mrs. Robinson to the punch. Elaine tells him to leave. The affair with Mrs. Robinson is over. From this point on, the actual contact between Mrs. Robinson and Ben is minimal, but is still addressed in Ben’s conversations with Elaine and Mr. Robinson. When Ben arrives at the Robinson’s home searching for Elaine, Mrs. Robinson is extremely nonchalant. She calmly calls the police, and informs Ben that Elaine is getting married. Relationship Story Backstory Mrs. Robinson is “the partner’s wife.” She is a long time family friend, and probably the last person in the world with whom Ben ever thought he’d have an affair. Mrs. Robinson’s marriage to Mr.

Robinson has been something of a sham. They married for the sake of Elaine (this would have happened in the 1940’s), and the timing and the circumstances just happened to be ripe for their affair. Additional Story Points Future Overall Story Goal “There’s a great future in plastics,” Mr. McQuire tells Ben. A particular future is the goal that all of the adults in the story (especially Ben’s parents) have imposed upon Ben. It’s not actually his own goal, and isn’t even one which Ben actively pursues for himself. Subconscious Overall Story Consequence The story goal in The Graduate is not actually met. Ben ultimately disappoints everyone by following his heart (his subconscious desires) and going after what really drives him, instead of his once promising future. Obtaining Overall Story Cost Ben has to suffer the humiliation of acquiring a hotel room; Ben (temporarily) loses Elaine; The affair with Mrs. Robinson ends; Ben doesn’t have change to call Elaine after talking to Mr. Robinson; The Robinsons’ marriage ends in divorce; Ben runs out of gas on the way to the church; Carl loses his bride.

Becoming Overall Story Dividend On his birthday, Ben’s father refers to him as no longer a boy, but a “young man.” In the montage that occurs after the affair has begun, Ben has clearly changed (for better or worse) from the brooding kid that he was in the opening scenes to a brooding adult, dealing with adult problems. Past Overall Story Requirements If the goal is to be met (and in this case it isn’t) the past must remain where it is. People must leave behind what has already occurred. If Mr. Robinson would just let bygones be bygones, as Ben suggests, everything might have worked itself out. If Ben would simply accept the fact that Elaine is already married by the time he arrives at the church, and leave quietly, there might still be a chance that the original goal can be met. But he doesn’t. Memory Overall Story Prerequisites Ben forces Mrs. Robinson to recall how she met Mr. Robinson, how Elaine was conceived, etc., so that Ben might have a better understanding of the past. Understanding Overall Story Preconditions Mrs. Braddock wants to understand what Ben does with his nights. Mr.

Braddock wants to understand why Ben spends his days drifting in the pool, and why he refuses to ask Elaine out on a date. Although the clerk doesn’t require it, Ben feels he must explain his every action to prevent him from coming to the wrong conclusion. Conceptualizing Overall Story Forewarnings After Elaine has returned to Berkeley, Ben announces to his parents that he will be marrying her. When they discover that Ben hasn’t even discussed this with Elaine, they question his decision. But Ben has been thinking about it for some time and has clearly visualized its realization. It’s a definite sign that Ben is not thinking rationally about his future. Later, when Ben and Elaine are in Berkeley, and Ben is pressing Elaine for a wedding date, she wonders why Ben doesn’t just drag her away. Ben likes the idea, and says he will. Plot Progression Obtaining Influence Character Signpost 1 From the first time we see her, Mrs. Robinson is on the prowl. She is clearly after Ben. Though she tells Ben that she needs a ride home, and that she is afraid of being in her own house by herself, it’s simply a ruse.

She is in fact trying to seduce Ben, and she doesn’t really even deny it. influence Character Journey 1 from Obtaining to Doing Now that Mrs. Robinson has Ben’s attention, she engages in sexual relations with him almost nightly. Doing Influence Character Signpost 2 Mrs. Robinson isn’t interested in talking or discussing anything. She simply wants to engage in the physical activity of sex. Influence Character Journey 2 from Doing to Learning Mrs. Robinson’s affair with Ben comes to a halt when she learns he wishes to pursue a relationship with her daughter. To stop this from happening, she informs Elaine that Ben had taken advantage of her drunken state and raped her. The falsehood effectively compels Elaine to sever her ties to Benjamin. Learning Memory Relationship Story Signpost 1 Ben entreats Mrs. Robinson to forget that he suggested she may have tried to seduce him; When she appears naked in front of him, she makes certain Benjamin will not forget her offer to be available to him, anytime. Relationship Story Journey 1 from Memory to PreconsciousIt is clear that Ben does not forget Mrs. Robinson's advances when he telephones her for a date. Mrs.

Robinson's response to his call is immediate: Benjamin: I was thinking about that time after the party. . . Mrs. Robinson: Where are you? Benjamin: And I was wondering if I could by you a drink, or something. . . Mrs. Robinson: Where are you? Benjamin: Uh, the Taft Hotel. Mrs. Robinson: Did you get a room? Benjamin: No. Now I know it's pretty late, and if you'd rather. . . Mrs. Robinson: Give me an hour. As the affair progresses, Ben's recollections of any initial reticence fades as he and Mrs. Robinson give in to their sexual impulses. Preconscious Relationship Story Signpost 2 While he is shaving, Mrs. Braddock queries Benjamin about what he does with his nights, and if he sees someone. His reflex is to lie about his relationship with Mrs. Robinson. His physical reflex is to cut his neck. Mrs. Robinson’s kneejerk reaction to Ben’s joke about seeing Elaine is to make him promise never to do so. Relationship Story Journey 2 from Preconscious to Subconscious When Mrs.

Robinson threatens Benjamin with telling Elaine the truth, his immediate response is to beat her to the punch. Both Ben and Mrs. Robinson are driven to protect and love Elaine, but it is this drive that destroys the relationship between the two of them. Subconscious Relationship Story Signpost 3 Ben shifts his desire from fulfilling his physical lusts with Mrs. Robinson to romantic love with her daughter. Relationship Story Journey 3 from Subconscious to Conscious Ben is now flying in the face of logic. He races into Elaine’s bedroom, absolutely driven to rescue Elaine, but instead finds himself face to face with Mrs. Robinson. The tide turns quickly as Mrs. Robinson calmly announces that Elaine is getting married. She calls the police and tells them that Ben is a burglar. The stakes are high—if Ben continues to cross Mrs. Robinson, he will end up in jail. Conscious Relationship Story Signpost 4 Although dealt with rather sparsely in the film, in the fourth subjective story signpost, both Ben and Mrs. Robinson are completely aware of the consequences of what they are doing, and have both given great consideration to their actions. Although they don’t say a word to each other, this is their moment of greatest conflict.

Ben has decided, no matter what the consequences, to go completely against Mrs. Robinson’s suggestions and demands, and takes Elaine from the church. Plot Progression Visualizations The Unlikely Casting of Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate – AMC his better judgment, Hoffman flew out to Hollywood to screen test for The Graduate. “I was doing eight shows a week, and was pretty tired to start with,” Hoffman recalled. “When I got to the studio, after a quick jet from New York, I was so nervous and fatigued I couldn’t concentrate.” When Hoffman was introduced to Katharine Ross, he felt even worse. “The idea that the director was connecting me with someone as beautiful as her became an even uglier joke,” he revealed. “It was like a Jewish nightmare.” Hoffman was put into a makeup chair and subjected to a two-hour overhaul, after which Nichols told the makeup department to do something about his unibrow. Then Nichols asked, “What are we going to do about his nose?” Hoffman called it “one of the most demeaning experiences I’ve ever had.” For the screen test, Hoffman found himself sitting on a bed playing a love scene with Katharine Ross. “I’d never asked a girl in acting class to do a love scene,” he admitted.

“No girl asked me, either.” He said he was thinking, “A girl like that would never go for a guy like me in a million years.” Ross was also dubious at the time, thinking, “He looks about three feet tall, so dead serious, so humorless, so unkempt. This is going to be a disaster.” At one point in the screen test, Hoffman felt so hopeless and desperate that he resorted to grabbing Ross’s ass, at which point she told him to keep his hands to himself. “I blew lines repeatedly, and did a terrible job and knew I wouldn’t get the part,” said Hoffman. But the next day, when Mike Nichols viewed the test, he was surprised and elated. “We’re in business,” he told Hoffman. “You came up with just the kind of confused panic the character’s supposed to have.” Recalled Hoffman, “Nichols said that when he looked at the screen test, that I was so panicked — it was a long, hard day, because we had to do a 10 page scene without a cut and by the time we finished, we were rags.

The panic that I had doing the screen test is what he wanted.” Nichols said the screen test was better than he could ever have expected. “He was very good in making the test, but he was 25% better the next day on film. I had experienced that but once before, with Elizabeth Taylor. They always said that she had a deal with Technicolor — that she got 25% better in the processing bath overnight at Technicolor. And Dustin did, too. I said, ‘Oh look, he’s a movie actor.'” Screenwriter Buck Henry could see the magic, too. “In Dustin’s screen test, the soul was there,” he said. “You could see it. He just wiped everyone else out.” Nichols said, “I felt having Dustin in the part was organic and it was right. I didn’t think about the movie coming out, much less being a smash. I was just thinking, ‘How could I best serve this story?’ And I needed somebody unusual.” Nichols, who deeply identified with the character, felt that casting the right actor meant more than finding the right look.

“I kept looking and looking for an actor until I found Dustin, who’s a dark, Jewish, anomalous presence, which is how I experience myself. So I stuck this dark presence into Beverly Hills, and there he felt that he was drowning in things, which was very much my take on the story… I was a blond, green-eyed person, but I could never see myself that way. I identified with the dark outcasts.” Decades later, Dustin Hoffman acknowleged the leap of faith his director took in choosing him. “You have to tribute Nichols for casting me, because he was hearing an inner voice rather than just, you know, product,” he said. “I always felt that I had been miscast. I expected to be fired, so the discomfort I felt was not just being new to movies. The discomfort was feeling that they’d made a mistake casting me.” visited the set and cruelly validated Hoffman’s self-loathing. “If Dustin Hoffman’s face were his fortune, he’d be committed to a life of poverty,” Life said.

“With a schnoz that looks like a directional signal, skittish black-beady eyes and a raggedy hair-cap, he stands a slight 5′ 6″, weighs a mere 134 pounds and slouches like a puppet dangling from string. All in all, he resembles a swarthy Pinocchio.” Dustin Hoffman later revealed that he wasn’t the only person on the film who wondered why someone like him was playing the lead role in a major motion picture. “They felt ambivalent all the way through shooting, and even into the previews,” said Hoffman. “People would come up to the producer and say, ‘You’d have a hell of a movie if you hadn’t miscast the lead.'” To read more about The Real Life Parallels of The Graduate, click here .

Sources: David Zeitlin, “A Homely Non-Hero, Dustin Hoffman, Gets an Unlikely Role in Mike Nichols’ The Graduate,” Life, 11/24/67 The Graduate Press Release, Avco Embassy Pictures Corp., 1967 “Grudging Graduate,” People, 11/2/92 Jamie Diamond, “A Story His Father Might Have Told,” New York Times, 9/1/96 “Henry Worked on Many Hits,” NPR’s Fresh Air, 2/24/97 Gavin Smith, “Mike Nichols,” Film Comment, 5/1/99 “Dustin Hoffman Discusses His Acting Career,” NPR’s Talk of the Nation, 12/4/03 Mahnola Dargis, “Dustin Hoffman Stops Trying So Hard,” New York Times, 4/17/05 The real Mrs Robinson is no Anne Bancroft in The Graduate | Film | The Guardian Film blog The real Mrs Robinson is no Anne Bancroft in The Graduate Few have resisted drawing parallels between Iris Robinson and Anne Bancroft's predatory swinger.

They couldn't be more wrong Reel, not real, life … Anne Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate. Photograph: Cinetext/Allstar Share on Messenger Close No headline writer could resist it. Had I been writing headlines, I probably couldn't have resisted it either. Here's to you, Mrs Robinson! This was the jokey phrase almost every paper attached to the bizarre, melancholy and politically murky story from Belfast. Iris Robinson, the wife of DUP leader Peter Robinson, had an affair with one Kirk McCambley two years ago, when their ages were 59 and 19 respectively, and solicited £50,000 from two property developers to help him set up a cafe, keeping £5,000 for herself. These were property developers whose business interests she was incidentally in a position to advance. The affair has ended with Mrs Robinson's attempted suicide, Mr Robinson's anguish and political embarrassment as Northern Ireland's first minister, and the possible destablisation of power-sharing with Sinn Fein. What a grisly, painful story. But the "here's to you" gags keep coming.

Now Belfast radio stations are reportedly bombarded with requests to play the toe-tapping Simon and Garfunkel song. This was the soundtrack centrepiece to Mike Nichols's classic 1967 film The Graduate , in which Dustin Hoffman played a shiftless college graduate who tumbles into an affair with Mrs Robinson, the fatale-sexy wife of his dad's business partner, played by Anne Bancroft. For over 40 years, that iconic film has helped reinforce the perception that cradle-snatching sex is pretty hilarious so long as it's an older woman and a younger man. Only this week, in Nancy Meyers's romcom It's Complicated , Meryl Streep's ex-husband Alec Baldwin makes an attempt to play happy families with Meryl and their three grownup children by putting on a video the way he used to in the old days. And the film is … The Graduate, perfect innocent-yet-sophisticated fun. Iris Robinson from real life and Mrs Robinson from the film could not be more different. In Belfast, there were 40 years between the lovers.

On film, well – Hoffman's character Benjamin is young, certainly, but the very title emphasises that he has adult status: a college graduate. Hoffman was a young-looking 30-year-old when the movie came out, and Bancroft an adult 36. In the movie, Mrs Robinson is bored, unsatisfied, fond of a drink or three in the American suburban tradition, and obscurely nettled by the plan to pair off her daughter Elaine, played by Katharine Ross, with Ben. Some half-buried competitive instinct could be at work. The affair plays itself out over a long, hot summer, but Ben comes to conceive a more romantically and politically correct love for Elaine. Basically, what is going on in Mrs Robinson's head and heart is not of overwhelming interest: she is just a sexy, vampy older woman, a fascinating narrative phase, and her feelings are not important as such – at least not as important as Elaine's and Ben's. From the real world, the news is darker and stranger. Iris Robinson is no bored housewife but a real political player, a woman in a man's world. She is the "business partner" in this scenario.

Her affair and its desolate aftermath appear to have been mixed up messily with romantic feelings, protective and maternal feelings, feelings about money and self-esteem, feelings about the elaborate identity carapace that everyone in the public eye builds up over time. Iris Robinson, though more glam than her husband, had a reputation for being a conservative Christian. Notoriously, she had condemned homosexuality because it is forbidden in the Bible. (So is adultery, of course.) She appears genuinely never to have set out, like Anne Bancroft's comically predatory swinger, to seduce. Her feelings morphed from the maternal into something else. And that shady financial transaction – was its very shadiness Mrs Robinson's way of making the affair more palatable? After all, financial transgressions might well have seemed much less serious to her than having sex with a teenager, and money-related skulduggery might have been a way of proving to herself that she was in control, that she was indulging in some tough old-school politicking, weighing up the score, looking after No 1. Either way, the contrast between this grim and tragic story and the quaint romance of The Graduate couldn't be plainer.

Maybe it's time to take Simon and Garfunkel off the turntable.

Question: What was the name of the character played by Dustin Hoffman in 'The Graduate?
Answer: Benjamin Braddock