Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman), a young man fresh out of graduate school returns to his posh California home considerably disturbed about “his future.” What adult can he see around him represents anything that is possibly worth emulating? He excelled easily in college—both academically and as a track star, but that does not matter now. Where does he go from here?

When Mrs. Robinson seduces Ben one night after having him take her home from a party, he falls into an affair that lasts all summer…until he meets her daughter, Elaine (Katharine Ross). Mrs. Robinson had objected to his even taking Elaine out to protect her, and to keep Ben, but now Ben—for the first time in his life—knows what he truly wants.

The remainder of the Mike Nichols directed film The Graduate details the tender, awful, and very bumpy solution of this situation. It is often hilarious, often painful, but always incisive and engrossing. The Graduate was Mike Nichols’s second film, an adaptation of the novel by Charles Webb, which earned critical acclaim, along with the recognition of the Academy with the Oscar for Best Director. Simon & Garfunkel composed the film’s exceptional music, with some additional music by Dave Grusin.

The film is available in a recommended widescreen format, on video, laserdisc, and DVD. The laserdisc and DVD versions feature the original movie trailer and interviews with the cast and crew.

Related Links:

The Graduate(1967)
Northern California Movies: The Graduate
Aspects of The Graduate essay
The Graduate - A Film of Dreams
The script
Mrs. Robinson MIDI
Dan's Movie Shrine
Movie poster

Trivia about The Graduate:

Robert Redford turned down the part of Benjamin because he thought he could not act as naive as was required for the part.
Charles Grodin was cast as Benjamin, but the deal fell apart following a disagreement over salary.
In Hoffman and Bancroft's first encounter in the hotel room, Bancroft did not know that Hoffman was going to grab her breast. Hoffman decided off screen to do it, because it reminded him of schoolboys trying to nonchalantly grab girls' breasts in the hall by pretending to put their jackets on. When Hoffman did it onscreen, director Nichols began laughing loudly off screen. Hoffman began to laugh as well, so rather than stop the scene; he turned away from the camera and walked to the wall. Hoffman banged his head on the wall, trying to stop laughing, and Nichols thought it was so funny, he left it in.
Although Mrs. Robinson is supposed to be much older than Benjamin, Bancroft and Hoffman are only 5-6 years apart in age.
The film is full of womb imagery. From Benjamin's constant desire to stay immersed in his parent's swimming pool, to the slow close-up shot of the hips of Katherine's roommate as she brings the “Dear John” letter to Benjamin, to returning to the actual womb of the elder and maternal Mrs. Robinson.
Errors in geography: Ben drives on the upper span of the Bay Bridge, which should take him away from Berkeley.
Errors in geography: Ben drives south from San Francisco to Santa Barbara through a tunnel that only carries northbound traffic.

Quotes from The Graduate:

Mrs. Robinson: Oh, yes I forgot - the track star doesn't smoke.

Benjamin Braddock: Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me.

[Offering Mr. Robinson a coat hanger]

Benjamin Braddock: Wood?

Mrs. Robinson: I beg your pardon.

Benjamin Braddock: Wood or wire. They have both.

Room Clerk: Are you here for an affair?

Benjamin Braddock: What?

Room Clerk: The Singleman party?

Benjamin Braddock: Ah, yes, the Singleman party.

Mr. McGuire: Ben?

Benjamin Braddock: Mr. McGuire?

Mr. McGuire: Ben.

Benjamin Braddock: Mr. McGuire.

Mrs. Robinson: Benjamin, isn't there something you'd like to tell me?

Benjamin: Yes, I want to thank you for this.

Mrs. Robinson: No, the room number. Wouldn't you like to tell me the room number?

Mr. Braddock: Would you mind telling me then what those four years of college were for - what was the point of all that hard work?

Benjamin Braddock: You got me.

Mr. Braddock: What's the matter? The guests are all downstairs, Ben, waiting to see you.

Benjamin Braddock: Dad, can you explain to them that I have to be alone for a while?

Mr. Braddock: These are all our good friends, Ben. Most of them have known you since, well, practically since you were born. What is it, Ben?

Benjamin Braddock: I'm just...

Mr. Braddock: Worried?

Benjamin Braddock: Well...

Mr. Braddock: About what?

Benjamin Braddock: I guess about my future.

Mr. Braddock: What about it?

Benjamin Braddock: I don't know...I want it to be...

Mr. Braddock: To be what?

Benjamin Braddock: ...Different.

Mr. McGuire: I just want to say one word to you...just one word.

Benjamin Braddock: Yes, sir.

Mr. McGuire: Are you listening?

Benjamin Braddock: Yes, sir I am.

Mr. McGuire: ...Plastics.

Mr. Braddock: Don't you think that idea is a little half-baked?

Benjamin Braddock: Oh no, Dad, it's completely baked.

Benjamin Braddock: We could do something else Mrs. Robinson. We could go to a movie.

Benjamim Braddock: Mrs. Robinson, I can't do this. It's all terribly wrong.

Mrs. Robinson: Do you find me undesirable?

Benjamin Braddock: Oh no, Mrs. Robinson, I think you're the most attractive of all my parent's friends, I mean that.

Elaine Robinson: Good night.

Benjamin Braddock: Are we getting married tomorrow?

Elaine Robinson: No...

Benjamin Braddock: Day after tomorrow?

Complete credited cast:

Anne Bancroft .... Mrs. Robinson

Dustin Hoffman .... Benjamin Braddock

Katharine Ross .... Elaine Robinson

William Daniels .... Mr. Braddock

Murray Hamilton .... Mr. Robinson

Elizabeth Wilson .... Mrs. Braddock

Brian Avery .... Carl Smith

Walter Brooke .... Mr. McGuire

Norman Fell .... Mr. McCleery

Alice Ghostley .... Mrs. Singleman

Buck Henry .... Room Clerk

Marion Lorne .... Miss De Witt

Eddra Gale .... Woman on Bus

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