"The Graduate" is a good comedy that has generally been over-rated over the years. While the film launched Dustin Hoffman's career, it is by no means his best film (my bets are on "Little Big Man"). Most of the humor works, which admittedly is the point, but the characters of Hoffman and Ross lack consistency and motivation.

Perhaps "The Graduate" should have been called "The Three Faces of Dustin" instead. Benjamin (Hoffman) has just graduated from college, but continues to live at home. He is polite and earnest. He is seduced by his father's partner's wife, middle-aged Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft).

As the furtive affair continues, Benjamin becomes
secretive and dissipated. Mrs. Robinson's
daughter, Elaine (Katherine Ross) returns home
from college. Under pressure from his parents,
Benjamin dates Elaine but soon falls for her.

This leads to The Third Face of Dustin, the
obsessed Stalker, as he tries to get her to marry
him. Benjamin is extremely naive for a college
graduate with his golden resume, which includes
captain of the track team and editor of the
college newspaper. It doesn't help that Hoffman
was thirty years old in 1967, nearly ten years
older than his character. His first encounter
with Bancroft at a swank hotel is endearingly
clumsy, but not completely credible. After
several such encounters, he still refers to her
as "Mrs. Robinson". You think they'd be on a
first name basis by then.

Katherine Ross is lovely, but her character seems
to just go with the flow. When Benjamin is cruel
to her, she cries. When he wants to make up, she
agrees. Benjamin stalks her, and she believes
that he raped her mother. So, why does she show
up at his apartment. And agree to marry him
against her parent's wishes and her better
judgment? And whatever happened to the beautiful
brand new Alfa Romeo? If he doesn't want it, I'll
take it!

Look fast for Richard Dreyfuss. He's the guy who
wants to call the police. Buck Henry, who also
co-wrote the screenplay, has a small part, as
does Norman Fell. All three are funny.

The soundtrack is full of Simon & Garfunkel
tunes. The soundtrack had as much success as the
film, topping the charts. The tunes are wimpy but
still very good.

"The Graduate" won the Oscar for Best Director
(Mike Nichols). The film was nominated for many
other Academy Awards, including Best Picture,
Best Actor (Hoffman), Best Actress (Bancroft),
Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography
(Robert Surtees), and Best Supporting Actress
(Ross). (71/100)



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday evening