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I love The Graduate! I first saw it in my teens some time in the early 80's. Such a great film, but I too, got very tired of the Simon & Garfunkel songs.
It definitely is a classic. I saw it way back in college when the idea of not knowing what to do with the rest of your life really resonated. I decided to watch it a few years back on a trans-Pacific Korean Air flight. I had forgotten about the scene where Benjamin takes Elaine to the gentleman's club, and of course the tassle scene was playing the entire time that the Korean flight attendant was serving dinner to our row. We were both a little mortified.
Dustin Hoffman was a new kind of movie star. He wasn't much to look at, but with great movie star charisma. He needed a good film to follow 'The Graduate', and he got one with 'Midnight Cowboy', which also made a great impact. Plus it showed Dustin's range as an actor. He made a couple of turkey's, before starring in 'Little Big Man.' For me, his 70s films are a mixed bunch, but he was always very watchable. He came again strong in the 80s with 'Tootsie', which is a great movie, and star performance. He should have made more films..... he has been a star for going on 50 years. There should have been more movies in his younger years.
Was it popular? Are you kidding? I think it was one of the highest-grossing movies of the time.
Of course I've seen it - a few times. It's not only funny - it's clever, it's beautiful, and if I remember correctly, it was considered a bit radical in the editing.
I LOVE The Graduate! Came out way before my time, but apparently it was a little controversial and I can understand that for the time period. The ending is amazing, focus on both Ben and Elaine's faces when they're sitting in the back of the bus. The expression is clear, "What now?" Ben using the cross to lock the door of the church always stayed in my mind, as well.
Not to spoil!
I read an interview with Mike Nichols where he explained that the final shot was not originally planned. They shot an ending of the pair bussing away happily ever after, but when Nichols was viewing raw footage from the day's shoot, he discovered that he had a minute of footage of Hoffman and Ross sitting in the back of the bus waiting to do the scene. Nichols decided that this footage created an ambiguous ending which was much superior to the "happy" one he had been going to use.
I read an interview with Mike Nichols where he explained that the final shot was not originally planned. They shot an ending of the pair bussing away happily ever after, but when Nichols was viewing raw footage from the day's shoot, he discovered that he had a minute of footage of Hoffman and Ross sitting in the back of the bus waiting to do the scene. Nichols decided that this footage created an ambiguous ending which was much superior to the "happy" one he had been going to use.
Hard to believe that Anne Bancroft was only 36 when she played Mrs. Robinson. (And Dustin Hoffman was 30.) Most of us were forbidden by our parents to see this movie when it initially came out. It played on television only a few years later.
Yes it was a hit and won multiple awards including Oscar for Best Picture, Director, Lead Actor (Dustin) and Actress (Anne Bancroft) plus 4 Golden Globes including Best Comedy and a Grammy for Best Original Score, plus a plethora of other lesser awards. I loved the soundtrack, and every time I meet anyone with the last name Robinson I start singing the song in my head, lol. My very favorite scene is at the hotel when he's talking to Anne in the phone booth.
Yes it was a hit and won multiple awards including Oscar for Best Picture, Director, Lead Actor (Dustin) and Actress (Anne Bancroft) .
Your information is incorrect. "In The Heat of the Night" won best picture in 1968, Rod Steiger won best actor and Katharine Hepburn won best actress for "Guess Who Is Coming To Dinner?" Hoffman and Bancroft were nominated.
Mike Nichols did win for best director, the only award "The Graduate" received.
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