The Graduate

The Graduate
Directed by	Mike Nichols
Written by	Charles Webb (novel) Calder Willingham Buck Henry
Produced by	Lawrence Turman
Starring	Anne Bancroft Dustin Hoffman Katharine Ross William Daniels Murray Hamilton Norman Fell
Cinematography	Robert Surtees
Edited by	Sam O'Steen
Music by	Dave Grusin Paul Simon (songs)
Distributed by	Embassy Pictures Corporation / United Artists
Release date	December 21, 1967
Running time	105
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$3 million

The Graduate is a 1967 American movie based on a novel by Charles Webb, and directed by Mike Nichols. It is set in Southern California.

In the movie and book, a recent college graduate (played by Dustin Hoffman) is seduced by Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), the wife of his father's business partner. He later falls in love with their daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross).

The movie was Hoffman's first major role (it was his second role). He was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance.

The soundtrack album contained music by folk duo Simon and Garfunkel, and replaced The Beatles's White Album for the number one position (most sales) on the music charts.

Scenes from The Graduate have been well-remembered by many people, since it appeared. In one of them, one-word advice for corporate success ("Plastics") is given by a family friend of Benjamin's. (Reportedly, sales of stock in plastics companies jumped in the months after the movie appeared.) Another scene, where Ben tries to stop Elaine from marrying another man, has been imitated and parodied in television programs, including the cartoon series Daria.

In 1998, a play based on the movie premiered in London and on Broadway; its stars included Kathleen Turner, Alicia Silverstone and Morgan Fairchild.

Cast

• Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Robinson
• Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock
• Katharine Ross as Elaine Robinson
• William Daniels as Mr. Braddock
• Murray Hamilton as Mr. Robinson
• Elizabeth Wilson as Mrs. Braddock
• Buck Henry as Hotel Clerk
• Walter Brooke as Mr. McGuire
• Brian Avery as Carl Smith
• Norman Fell as Mr. McCleery
• Marion Lorne as Singleman party guest
• Alice Ghostley as Singleman party guest

Uncredited:

• Mike Farrell as a bellhop at the hotel
• Richard Dreyfuss as Boarding House Resident
• Ben Murphy as the shaving student in the fraternity house
• Kevin Tighe as Carter, Carl Smith's fraternity brother
• Eve McVeagh as party guest
• Hamilton Camp as Second Hotel Clerk
• Donald F. Glut as College Student
• Elaine May as Girl with Note for Benjamin

Awards and honors

Anne Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman, and Katharine Ross earned Oscar nominations for their performances.

Along with the acting nominations, the movie received nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture. Mike Nichols won the Academy Award for Best Director.

The movie won the BAFTA Award for Best Film, the BAFTA Award for Best Editing (to Sam O'Steen) and the BAFTA Award for Best Screenplay.

In 1996, The Graduate was picked to keep in the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

American Film Institute recognition

• 1998: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies - #7
• 2000: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs - #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 Movie Quotes:
  • "Plastics." - #42
  • "Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me. Aren't you?" - #63
• 2007: AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition) - #17

The movie is listed in the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die book.

Alfa Romeo made a "Graduate" edition Alfa Romeo Spider, the car Benjamin drives in the movie.

Other websites

• The Graduate on IMDb
• NPR feature on movie
• Kierkegaard's Narrative Archived 2006-01-04 at the Wayback Machine: The Graduate