The Graduate The Graduate, motion picture about a disillusioned college graduate who returns home to live with his upper-middleclass parents and faces amorous advances from their neighbor's wife, based on the novel by Charles Webb.

The Graduate The Graduate, motion picture about a disillusioned college graduate who returns home to live with his upper-middleclass parents and faces amorous advances from their neighbor's wife, based on the novel by Charles Webb. Released in 1967, this Academy Award-winning box-office hit made stars out of actors Dustin Hoffman and Katharine Ross. Feeling vague and aimless after college, Ben Braddock (played by Hoffman) is unsatisfied with the shallow material world offered by his parents and their friends. He suffers through a humiliating graduation party where neighbor Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) drops constant hints that she wants to seduce him. Ben later goes on a few dates with her daughter Elaine (Katherine Ross), but then experiments in adultery with Mrs. Robinson. Ben decides to pursue Elaine again when she goes back to college, but she is already engaged to be married. This film's release coincided with the counterculture youth movement of the 1960s, and it continues to enjoy success at college campuses and through video rental. Richard Dreyfuss made his brief acting debut in the film, and it features a hit soundtrack by Simon & Garfunkel that includes the songs "Mrs. Robinson," "Scarborough Fair/Canticle," "The Sound of Silence," and "April Come She Will." Director Mike Nichols Cast Anne Bancroft (Mrs. Robinson) Dustin Hoffman (Ben Braddock) Katharine Ross (Elaine Robinson) William Daniels (Mr. Braddock) Murray Hamilton (Mr. Robinson) Elizabeth Wilson (Mrs. Braddock) Brian Avery (Carl Smith) Walter Brooke (Mr. Maguire) Norman Fell (Mr. McCleery) Elisabeth Fraser (Lady) Alice Ghostley (Mrs. Singleman) Buck Henry (Room clerk) Marion Lorne (Miss DeWitt) Harry Holcombe (Minister) Lainie Miller (Nightclub stripper) Eddra Gale (Woman on bus) Richard Dreyfuss (Berkeley student) Jonathan Hole (Mr. DeWitt) Awards Academy Award for Best Director (1967): Mike Nichols Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures (1967): Mike Nichols Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture--Musical/Comedy (1967) Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actress--Musical/Comedy (1967): Anne Bancroft Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Director (1967): Mike Nichols Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer--Female (1967): Katherine Ross Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer--Male (1967): Dustin Hoffman Selected for Registry by the National Film Preservation Board (1996) Trivia Actor Robert Redford was an early hopeful for the part of Ben but turned it down because he felt he couldn't act naïve enough for the role. In addition, actor Charles Grodin turned down the part following a disagreement over his salary. The Graduate screenwriter Buck Henry also plays the role of the room clerk in the film. Quotes Mr. McGuire (at graduation party): "I just want to say one word to you ... just one word." Braddock: "Yes, sir." McGuire: "Are you listening?" Braddock: "Yes, sir I am." McGuire: "Plastics." Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.