The 1967 movie The
Graduate has been called one of the
funniest, wisest Generation Gap films ever made.
Its lasting popularity among teenagers, college
students, and adults alike testifies to the
durability of its appeal. Mike Nichols's film hits
all of its targets with methods ranging from high
farce to melancholy comedy, aided by an irreverent,
acidic screenplay from Buck Henry and Calder
Willingham. The film includes many classic scenes,
including the bittersweet and ambiguous last shot,
and a wonderful song score by Paul Simon and Art
Garfunkel. Songs which, like the film, will never
go out of style.
"This is Benjamin. He's a
little worried about his future."
Webmaster's
Note:
Although the subject
matter and brief nude scenes in The
Graduate may seem tame by today's standards,
they were risqué enough to warrant an R
rating for the film in 1967. This precluded anyone
under the age of 17, which at the time included
myself, from seeing it. When the film was rereleased
to theaters in the spring of 1972 (with a
poster that said "See The Graduate
again or for the first time"), I finally found out
what all the fuss was about. Captivated by the
film, I went back to see it again and again, like
thousands of people had before me five years
earlier. It remained my favorite movie of all time,
so I decided to write a paper on it for a college
English course I took in the early 1980's. Most of
the editorial material used in this Web site came from the research I
assembled for the paper.
"A landmark film of the
late 60s that's still just as pungent -- and funny
-- as ever. * * * * (out of 4
stars)" - Leonard Maltin
"One of the more subtle
comedies on film, The Graduate was a
tour de force for newcomer Dustin Hoffman and made
him and Katharine Ross, who plays his young lover,
overnight sensations. * * * * *
(out of 5 stars)" -
Cinebooks
Ben and Mrs. Robinson's
first rendezvous at the Taft Hotel.
Visitors
Since September 22, 2001
If you find this site
useful for research purposes, or if you're just a
fan of the film, I would be delighted to hear from
you. Feedback can be left in the Guestbook, or you can e-mail us directly.
