The Graduate

"Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me. Aren't you?" 

   
     This iconic film is one of my all time favorites. Dustin Hoffman's big break in Mike Nichol's production of The Graduate. Also starring Anne Bancroft (The Miracle Worker and To Be or Not To Be) as Mrs. Robinson, and Katherine Ross (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid).
     This is the story of Benjamin Braddock (Hoffman), a college graduate who isn't sure what to do with his future. During a welcome home party, Mrs. Robinson takes Benjamin to her home and seduces him. This leads into an affair between the two. They meet regularly in a hotel. One day, Mrs. Robinson warned Benjamin to stay away from her daughter, Elaine (Katherine Ross). But Ben's father (William Daniels from Boy Meets World) goads him to go out with Elaine. It was then that Ben fell in love with Elaine. But when Elaine found out that he's having an affair with her mother, she wants nothing to do with Ben. As much as I want to tell more of the story, I'm not gonna give away the ending. But the ending, by the way, is awesome. That's all I'm gonna say about that.
    I love this movie. It's well filmed, the story moves you, and the music by Simon & Garfunkel is great. I especially love Dustin Hoffman's performance in this movie. I've seen him in other excellent performances in Tootsie, Rain Man and Hook. But I think The Graduate is my favorite Dustin Hoffman movie.
               

       PARENTS GUIDE: In my opinion, I think this movie should be rated PG-13 for these reasons: Mrs. Robinson and Benjamin, who is 20 to 21 in the movie, have a sexual affair and is intended that they made love in a few scenes. Also, there's some brief nudity. There's some language in the movie and some violence at the end of the movie. 

        DID YOU KNOW?: Dustin Hoffman was originally set to be in Mel Brook's movie The Producers when an opportunity to audition for this movie came up. Robert Redford screen tested with Candace Bergen for the lead. He was rejected by Mike Nichols because he didn't think Redford could nail the role as Benjamin. 

Hello, Darkness, my old friend...