The graduate
The Graduate (original title: The Graduate) is a 1967 American film directed by Mike Nichols and based on the novel of the same name by Charles Webb. He won an Oscar and had six more nominations, including Anne Bancroft for Best Actress and Dustin Hoffman for Best Actor.
In 1996, the film was deemed "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
Plot
21-year-old Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) just graduated from a Northeastern college and is coming home for the holidays. The Robinson couple, friends of his parents for years, take an interest in him. The husband wants him to date his daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross), while his wife, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), wants to have sex with him. After running into Mrs. Robinson several times, who forbids him from seeing her daughter, Benjamin falls in love with Elaine. When everything comes to light, Benjamin finds himself alone and abandoned. Even so, he struggles to see Elaine and express his feelings to her.
After some time, Ben learns that Elaine is getting married to a fellow student from the university she attends in California, so he attends the wedding; However, after running out of gas, Ben runs the last few miles to the church, entering through the back door and turning up unseen, dirty and battered. Seeing that everything is already lost, Ben begins to shout Elaine's name in despair, drawing her attention and that of all the guests. Seeing Ben's gesture of going to California just for her, the girl realizes that it is Ben she loves and runs after him. Mrs. Robinson slaps her daughter to keep her from leaving; however, Ben pushes her with the church crucifix, and as everyone runs to her aid, Ben and Elaine exit the church. The guests, noticing their escape, go after them, but Ben locks the door with the crucifix.
The two run out and get on a bus that passes by the church. They both take the back seat of the vehicle and drive away laughing. The last sequence shows Elaine and Ben meditating on everything that happened, transforming their expression of triumph into melancholy and regret because of what they did in the church. The final scene shows the bus moving down the road until it fades into the distance, while The Sound of Silence plays in the background.
Themes
The plot hides a hidden story regarding Elaine and Benjamin, a story that Mrs. Robinson seems to know very well, and which seems to be the real reason for her opposition to their relationship. What this hidden history is is a mystery, since nothing is expressly said; Perhaps a fact is that of Elaine's conception in a Ford, a story that is told, and that apparently precipitated and forced Mrs. Robinson to a loveless wedding.
Cast
| Actor | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dustin Hoffman | Benjamin Braddock | |
| Katharine Ross | Elaine Robinson | |
| Murray Hamilton | Mr. Robinson | |
| Anne Bancroft | Mrs. Robinson | |
| William Daniels | Mr. Braddock | |
| Elizabeth Wilson | Mrs. Braddock | |
| Buck. | The receptionist | |
| Brian Avery | Carl Smith | |
| Richard Dreyfuss | Resident in a student house | Not accredited |
Soundtrack
The soundtrack for this film is composed of songs by the duo Simon and Garfunkel that were composed by Paul Simon. Most of the songs had already been released, except for the hit "Mrs. Robinson", written for the film; later, covered by multiple singers, such as Frank Sinatra. In addition to the songs of Simon & Garfunkel, the film features an instrumental part by Dave Grusin.[citation needed]
Reception
The film grossed over $100 million, far exceeding its $3 million budget.
Reviews upon its release were generally positive, and it was eventually hailed as a classic of American cinema. It has an 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film has also been called a triumph of cinema, qualifying it as a great influence within popular culture, since several of its scenes or dialogues have been parodied and referenced in other media, including the American filmmaker Wes Anderson. rated as one of his favorite movies and inspiring muses.
Awards and nominations
At the 40th Academy Awards, the film was nominated for seven awards, winning the Academy Award for Best Director:
| Category | Outcome | Receptor |
|---|---|---|
| Best movie | Nominated | Lawrence Turman |
| Best Director | Winner | Mike Nichols |
| Best Adapted Guion | Nominated | Buck. Calder Willingham |
| Best Actor | Nominated | Dustin Hoffman |
| Best Actress | Nominated | Anne Bancroft |
| Best Dealer Actress | Nominated | Katharine Ross |
| Best Photography | Nominated | Robert L. Surtees |
At the 1968 Golden Globe Awards, the film won five awards and became the favorite of the night.
| Category | Outcome | Receptor |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Globe to the best movie - Comedy or musical | Winner | Lawrence Turman |
| Golden Globe to the best director | Winner | Mike Nichols |
| Golden Globe to the best actor - Comedy or musical | Nominee | Dustin Hoffman |
| Golden Globe to the best actress - Comedy or musical | Winner | Anne Bancroft |
| Golden Globe to the best script | Nominees | Buck Henry & Calder Willingham |
| Golden Globe to the New Star of the Year - Actor | Winner | Dustin Hoffman |
| Golden Globe to the New Star of the Year - Actress | Winner | Katharine Ross |
American Film Institute
The film is recognized by the American Film Institute on the following lists:
- 1998: AFI's 100 years... 100 films (#7),
- 2000: AFI's 100 years... 100 smiles (#9),
- 2002: AFI's 100 years... 100 passions (#52),
- 2004: AFI's 100 years... 100 songs:
- "Mrs. Robinson" (#6)
- 2005: AFI's 100 years... 100 phrases:
- Mr. McGuire: "Plastics." (#42)
- Benjamin Braddock: "Mrs. Robinson, is trying to seduce me. Is that not so?" (#63)
- 2007: AFI's 100 years... 100 films (tenth anniversary edition) (#17)