The
Graduate: 40th Anniversary Edition (1967)
MGM
Cast:
Anne Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman, Katharine Ross.
Rating:
PG
Run
time: 106 mins..
Genre:
Drama
Verdict:
Brilliant
(see rating
system)
Forty
years on and Mrs. Robinson still looks damn good to me...
Er,
that's the movie AND the great Anne Bancroft, who sadly died
two years ago at age 73.
Bancroft
was sensational as the horny Mrs. Robinson (though she looks
middle-aged in the movie, she was only 35 when it was made).
The
film was a landmark for several reasons.
First,
it launched the movie career of Dustin Hoffman, who was just
29 when he took the role of an awkward, confused college grad
unsure of his goals in life. This was his breakthrough role.
Second,
it gave a fresh voice to "the older woman", portraying
her as determined in the pursuit of something she wanted -
sex - rather than as a mere plaything of men. Mrs. Robinson
definitely wore the pants.
Third,
it boosted the musical careers of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel,
who provided several songs for the movie, including the title
track.
The
Story: Benjamin Braddock (Hoffman), returns to his parents'
comfortable home after graduating. He's unsure of himself
and what he wants to do. Mrs. Robinson (Bancroft), wife of
the dull Mr. Robinson (Murray Hamilton), a business partner
of Ben's father, senses the young man's confusion at a party
and has him drive her home, then shocks him by trying to seduce
him
The
sexually inexperienced Benjamin rejects her advances, but
a few weeks later arranges to meet her at a hotel and they
begin an affair.
Benjamin's
confusion and guilt deepens, and a crisis looms when he meets
the Robinsons' beautiful daughter (Katharine Ross) and falls
for her.
Funny,
touching and entirely believable, The Graduate features fine
performances and nice direction from Nichols, who won the
Oscar for Best Director.
This
40th anniversary edition does the classic flick proud, with
a beautiful picture and sound transfer, four featurettes,
audio commentaries by Hoffman, Ross, Mike Nichols and Steven
Soderbergh PLUS a CD containing Simon and Garfunkel's The
Sound of Silence, Mrs. Robinson, Scarborough Fair/Canticle
and April Come She Will.
