'The Graduate' is a drama movie released in 1967 based on a novel of the same title by Charles Webb. Directed by Mike Nichols, it stars Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock, Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Robinson, and Katharine Ross as Elaine (Mrs. Robinson's daughter).
Benjamin returns home after graduating from college with honors to a party celebrating his achievement, but refuses to mingle with the guests, most of whom are his elite parents' friends. The guests include Mr. and Mrs. Robinson. Mrs. Robinson asks Benjamin to drive her home, to which he reluctantly agrees.
Mrs. Robinson invites Benjamin to come inside their house, where she made moves to seduce him (ToyHollwood.com spoofed this scene in this video.). Benjamin refuses and leaves, only to call Mrs. Robinson several days later to grant her request, and their affair begins the whole of summer.
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Figure 1. Mrs. Robinson tries to seduce Benjamin in her home. This scene was spoofed by ToyHollywood.com in this video. |
This affair takes Benjamin's much of his time, making his parents think that he is becoming a bum. Still, he refuses to find a graduate school, which is what his father wants. Soon, his parents and Mr. Robinson are asking him to call Elaine so they can date, but he doesn't want to. Of course, this is also the last thing that Mrs. Robinson wants Benjamin to do.
Before long, however, Benjamin is forced to take Elaine on a date, during which he tried to enrage her in order to drive her away from his life. Elaine cries, making Benjamin feel guilty. When Benjamin runs after her, he realizes that he like Elaine after all, and their love story begins.
Needless to say, Mrs. Robinson fumes when she finds out about their relationship, making Benjamin promise that he will stay away from her daughter with a threat to tell her daughter about their affair if he doesn't. Instead of staying away from Elaine, Benjamin decides to simply admit the affair to her. This anger Elaine so much that she banishes him from her life.
Benjamin does everything to win back Elaine but to no avail. Soon he learns that Elaine is engaged to another man. During the wedding day itself, Benjamin desperately drives his sports car to the distant chapel but runs out of gas before he gets there. He runs on foot only to see the couple about to kiss when he arrives.
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Figure 2. Benjamin drives his famous Alfa Romeo Spider to the chapel to 'steal' Elaine. |
Benjamin pounds on the glass window on the second floor where he is, shouting out Elaine's name. The people in the ceremony look up to see Benjamin. Elaine responds to the call and mayhem ensues. After a little struggle, Benjamin and Elaine are able to extricate themselves from the crowd and board a public bus together, ready to start a future of their own.
Information on the movie's full credits may be found at:
