The Graduate – Dustin Hoffman Movie
The movie starts with young (21 years old) Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) returning home after completing his bachelors degree. By evening there is a party going on in his house where all his parents’ friends are invited. It is very clear for the viewers that young Benjamin is ill at ease with this and would be more than happy to be somewhere else than his house.
He goes back to his room where Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) follows him and tells him to drive her back to her house. Reluctantly he agrees. Once they reach her house she asks him to come into her house as it is dark and she is easily is scared at night. Once again, Benjamin succumbs to her pressure and goes in with her. She offers him a drink and tells him to wait till Mr. Robinson (Murray Hamilton) comes home. During this time Benjamin gets drift of what he should be expecting from Mr. Robinson and that’s when he delivers one of the most iconic lines of not just this movie but all Hollywood movies
“For god’s sake, Mrs. Robinson. Here we are. You got me into your house. You give me a drink. You… put on music. Now you start opening up your personal life to me and tell me your husband won’t be home for hours.”
“Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me”
“Aren’t you?”
He manages to escape clutches of Mrs. Robinson this time but after some days calls her from a hotel and asks her for a meeting. Mrs. Robinson tells him to get a room in the hotel. It is here that an affair develops between Benjamin and the older Mrs. Robinson.
The affair is dominated by Mrs. Robinson who uses Benjamin as a sexual toy. During this time Benjamin’s father, Mr. Braddock (William Daniels) keeps asking him for his future plans. While Mr. Robinson, who is unaware of the shameful relationship between Benjamin and his wife, keeps encouraging him to his daughter, Elaine Robinson (Katharine Ross) on a date upon her return from university.
Understanding that this could jeopardize her affair with Benjamin and may lead to disastrous result, Mrs. Robinson threatens Benjamin and makes him promise to never take Elaine on date. Due to fear of his parents and the pressure from Mr. Robinson, Benjamin takes Elaine out for a date. He acts aloof and tries everything to get in bad books with her. But her tears and guilt for his actions makes him forget the promise to Mrs. Robinson. He apologizes to Elaine and starts acting normal with her.
This develops into a very intensive relationship between them during which he confides to her about his relationship with an older woman. But he does not tell her that the person was her mother.
One rainy day he comes to pick up Elaine, Mrs. Robinsons barges into his car and threatens him that if he ever comes back she will spill the beans to all. Fear of loosing Elaine and thinking that it would be better off is she hears of the affair from him, he runs inside the house and tells her everything. This gives a shock to her and she tells him to get out the house and never to see her again. Mrs. Robinson ask him as to why he did it and its here he realizes that it was an empty threat from her as she would not have done such a thing.
Elaine goes back to her University and Benjamin’s affair with mother and daughter is totally over. But Benjamin has started to love Elaine and does not want to give up on her. He follows her to the university to woo her back.
From here onwards the story moves to a familiar Bollywood plot. Girls unhappy with boy, boy trying to woo her back by giving attention to girls every action.
But the story moves quickly as one day Benjamin finds out that Elaine is getting married to a guy who is liked and approved by her parents. Feeling that there is still a possibility of salvaging the situation Benjamin drives all night to the Robinsons house. It here he finds out that the wedding is not happening there. So he drives all the way back to he university where he finds out that the wedding is at the grooms family church that is again a long drive away.
He reaches the church just as the bride and groom are exchanging vows. He begins hitting the balcony glass and screams Elaine’s name again and again.
I do not wish to divulge the end as it will spoil the fun for people who would like to watch this movie.
Even though the plot was wafer thin (almost Bollywood style) the movie was very much fun to watch. Anne Bancroft was superb as Mrs. Robinson. If a Hindi re-make was done of this in early 80’s Simi Grewal would have fit the role perfectly.
This was Dustin Hoffman’s second movie but his acting suggested very early in his career that he would turn out to be genius at it. He was nominated for an Oscar for this role.
Katherine Ross did not have much to do other than act as a young college girl.
Rest of the actors have done fairly decent job. I was surprised to see Richard Dreyfuss in one of the scenes.
Simon and Garnfunkel provide the background score. The track “Sound of Silence” is played with the titles as well as during the scenes that shows the extent and depth of Mrs. Robinson and Benjamin’s affair. For some reason the major hit song “Mrs. Robinson” is never played, we only hear the tune during some scenes.
The movie was an adaptation of novel of the same name by Charles Webb
It was directed by Mike Nichols who has also given us fantastic films like Catch 22, Silkwood, Working Girl and Primary Colors. It was produced by Lawrence Turman and released in December 1967.
I rate this as a MUSTWATCH for every movie buff.
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
darn… still haven’t seen this one… goes on my Netflix queue.
The soundtrack is brilliant and it was great, original film in its time. The issue for people who have only seen it recently is that the film has been recycled by filmmakers to death in the last couple of decades so much, that it looks all too familiar.
All,
Dustin is amazing in this one.
There is one more movie called “Kramer Vs Kramer” Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep, dont miss it. He finally won his first Oscar for this one.
This was copied into Hindi movie as “Akele Hum Akele Tum” featuring Aamir Khan and Manisha Koirala.
I always thought Aamir Khan never did remakes. I like him a lot and I think he is the only actor in Bollywood others are just starts. Neverthless here is one more that I found his very popular “Joh Jeeta Wohi Sikander” was a remake of “American Flyers” Two brothers attempt to overcome family adevrsities by competing in a cross-country bike race. Kevin Costner and David Grant.
Muzzy: thanks for this review.
Shawshank Redemption: Its not necessary that Aamir always know that the film he was doing was remake. Hindi cinema has many clever film makers who watch not only hollywood cinema but now they go to films of small countries also, whose cinema is not so known and then The Inspiration is easy:)
BTW, the beer competition scene in RDB is a copy of scene shown in War and Peace (King Vidor version). ;)
The other Dustin Hoffman movie not to be missed is Tootsie.
Shawshank / RK
The poster of Akele Hum Akele Tum were carbon copy of Sleepless in Seattle, a Tom Hanks movie. Overall AH AT was absolure bullshit.
Anu Malik even copied Child In Time intro for one the moronic songs from the movie. Will never forgive Anu for slaughtering a song by one of my most favourite bands, Deep Purple.
Raja ko rani se pyaar hogaya is copied from the haunting background score of Godfather.
Less said about this movie the better.
RK
I’m a fan of Amir Khan’s acting & intelligence. But that does not mean we defend them blindlessly. AHAT was made by his own family(Mansoor Khan). Even if it wasn’t it does not matter. Most actors know that the movie they are doing is a copy. Like Big B in BLACK.
I actually liked AHAT.
When we talk of great American actors, Dustin Hoffman rarely is mentioned. But, he should be.
For every throwaway Hollywood movie he does, he then makes small, important films. Interested in seeing why he is one of my favourite actors? See these films:
Midnight Cowboy. The only X-rated film to win an Oscar, and a “mainstream” film that shook up the ratings system and in many ways changed American film viewing habits. And, Hoffman as Rizzo is genius. He almost didn’t get the part of Rizzo because of this clean-cut image in The Graduate…
Straw Dogs. Another shocking and important American film in its time, and a traditional Sam Peckinpah bloodfest, although with a very strong moral punch. In fact, thinking about this, anyone who enjoyed Dombivli Fast should see this one. It is more violent and the story is dissimilar, but the ideas behind what drives a good man to violent action are similar…
Hero. I skipped this in the theatre because I figured it was Hollywood trash, then caught it on cable a few years ago and fell in love with this film, and with his performance. A humourous film, not to heavy or preachy, but with a great message.
American Buffalo. Hoffman and Mamet, need I say more?
I could go on all day, but here is just a list of where he is brilliant, and I am skipping the children’s films I have loved him in:
Little Big Man (my favourite movie when I was a little girl).
Lenny. A must see for anyone with an interest in American comedy, politics, or social commentary.
Hook. Yeah, so I included a kids film anyway…
Crap, I should turn this into a post…
The two movies of Dustin Hoffman..which should not be missed are “The midnight Cowboy” an “Death of a Salesman”
and btw Jo jeeta Wohi Sikander is a copy of no film as far as inspiration is concerned..its inpired by a wonderful movie called “Breaking Away”
Most actors are well aware of the film’s source material when they act in a re-make. I have even heard from people in the industry that certain big stars approach directors asking them to remake a movie because they want to play that character. And a lot of directors even have a portable DVD player on set, so they can refer to the original film while setting their shots. Watch films like Deewangee, Zinda, Pyar Tho Hona Hi Tha. In the older days only stories and scripts were copied. Now they even recreate the lighting and composition.
Amit, “Death of a Salesman” is amazing. For me, it is Hoffman’s greatest performance to date, who won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for it. The Oscar eluded him that year as the film was only made for TV. Not to mention its also a great play by the great playwright Arthur Miller. John Malkovich is quite phenomenal in it too as Biff, the son.
t!
I don’t think Dustin Hoffman is not mentioned while talking about great american actors. Infact i think he makes everybody’s list. I don’t know of anyone who does not think that.
While on that…check this out. Also check out David Russell losing iton the sets of one of my fav films I Heart Huckabees.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSBbJ-x4t3Q&mode=related&search=
haven’t seen this one yet either.. added!
t! how can one overlook Dustin Hoffman’s brilliant performance as an autistic older brother of Tom Cruise in RAIN MAN. It was not an easy role to essay- to combine the pathos and passion with humour was remarkable indeed.
I didn’t mention Death of a Salesman because I didn’t think it was released on video (I saw it on TV). If you can rent this, then it belongs at the top of the list…
I won’t count Rain Man as a great role, because I could never sit through the film, so I cannot comment. I really didn’t like this film enough to care about the ending…
@ Mainok – I don’t think he is an actor that comes immediatly to mind for most people when people think of great actors, but then when you mention his name, it clicks and people realise that he is amazing. I think this may be because he is overshadowed by DiNiro or Pacino or the other actors who came of age at the same time he did. Everyone likes him, everyone knows him, but it takes a moment for the casual film-goer to realize that he is actually a better actor than most of the “great” actors…
He is definitely way beyond Pacino & DeNiro. Esp after what
they have done to themselves in recent years. Pacino has always done the same thing in every movie. he is great but not versatile. Which gets boring after a while. Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico. Those were classics. But all he has done is scream for last 15 years. Scent of a Woman is the best example of his hamming.
De Niro has gone one step beyond Pacino. He has made a film called THE GOOD SHEPHERD. lolol… Jokes apart De Niro has also been doing the same repetitive stuff.
Mafia does that to you i think. Like in real life Mafia …even in Film Mafia…once you get established there ….there is no going back.
You probably right. The regular 6 pack Joe for sure thinks Pacino & De Niro are nothing short of gods. They don’t even think about Hoffman. Its just that LA is so full of cinema conscious people its almost the other way. Most people i know would consider Hoffman a great. And no one watches the other 2 guyz anymore.
i was pleasantly surprised to see pacino in a different avatar in “angels in america”.. a very believable performance away from his screaming and shouting “angry young man” persona
I missed that Striker. I heard great things about ANGELS IN AMERICA.
Its not that Pacino or De Niro cannot act. Their egos have taken control of their lives. they are not artists anymore. They do a good movie once in a while so that they can keep their dignity …enough to hang out with everybody. Artist on the other hand takes the opposite route. They do good work, seek good work & promote good work. They one commercial work once in a while so that they can do 5 more indie films & still have enough money to have a lifestyle.
mainak.. agree with your points. must be a star thing.. bc the same point about egos is the case for the stars in india, as we all know. at least the stars in the US do that “once in a while” good movie though… would bachchan or SRK ever do a movie for an indie to promote them? think we all know the answer to that..
do check out AIA.. some really brilliant performances all around.
A popular criticism of Pacino’s style is that all he does is emphasize the 3rd word of every sentence. Jokes apart, the man with his loud style was explosive and could have really experimented a lot more with his roles in the recent past.
De Niro on the other hand, the implosive performer was in fact asked by his doctors to stay away from serious roles, following the depression that he went into. Being a method actor, a lot of the dark films he did took a toll on him as a person. Which is why he did a string of films like Analyze This, Analyze That, Meet the Parents etc. etc.
Hoffman on the other hand must be commended for trying to associate himself with different projects. He hasn’t been hell bent on his role per say, and has focused on being a part of good movies, regardless of the length of the role. Finding Neverland, I Heart Huckabees, The Lost City, Stranger Than Fiction.
Amit Singhji,
I havent seen Breaking Away but have seen American Flyers .. and so i am sure “Jo Jeeta wohi Sikander” was inspired by that. It could be possible that both the movies were the inspiration. Will try and catch Breakign away, thanks for the info.
RKji,
You are right. Aamir may not have known (AHAT or JJWS) were a remake/inspiration, lets give him the benefit of doubt but what about Mansoor Kahn… He should have mde Aamir aware of it. In those days it was hard to find out so they got away with it. I know quite a bit of movies are remakes …sorry inspired
Here are some i know.
Darr – (Cape Fear)
Mohobattein (Dead Poets Story)
Baazigar (Joan Cusack movie..dont know the name)
Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (The Secret of My Success)
Ram Jaane (Dont know the movie)
Josh (West side story)
AgniSakshi (Sleeping with the Enemy)
Bade miyan Chote Miyan (Bad Boys)
Most Mahesh Bhatt movies
All Abbas Mastan Movies
Most David Dhawan movies
many many more …. the list goes on..
Darr had some scenes stolen from Cape Fear but they were very different movies. Darr was about obsessive love, Cape Fear was about a convicted rapist seeking revenge.
Mohabbatein again took a lot of inspiration from Dead Poets Society in terms of its premise, but then veered off into the idealistic world of true love, while DPS focused on students finding their true capabilities through exploration of poetry. I could not tolerate either film.
Baazigar is a remake (with masala changes) of A Kiss Before Dying (1991) starring Matt Dillon, which itself was a remake of a 1956 film of the same name starring Robert Wagner, which to begin with was adapted from the novel by Ira Levin. I doubt whether Abbas-Mastan read the novel or even watched the 1956 film. There are scenes in Baazigar identical to scenes from the 1991 film.
Josh was adapted again in premise from West Side Story, which in essence was adapted from Romeo and Juliet. I didn’t find Josh to be a great film, but it was tolerable enough because it had enough of a story going of its own within the WSS premise. We just have to ignore minor flaws like a 1990’s model car being driven in a flashback of what is supposed to be 1970s Goa.
The list goes on. I remember seeing one Salman Khan movie where Preity Zinta plays a sex worker, and they ripped the first half of the film right out of Pretty Woman.
All these remakes,adaptations,inspirations just reaffirm the copyright act that you have all the rights and a right to copy..
luv the graduate and dustin hofman . he is best in hollywood.
^:)^:)>-:d/