Movie Monday: The Graduate 1967
Benjamin Braddock has finally graduated college, but has no idea what to do. He has grown tired of being pushed and prodded along through life, but there doesn't seem to be anything for him to really do. Until a family friend decides to make him her own little pet project. You guessed it: enter Mrs. Robinson. The famed seductress. One of the original cougars. The reason for the song. click play to listen
Benjamin decides to just lay low for a while. Still incredibly unhappy, he gets lost in an empty affair with Mrs. Robinson and whittles away an entire Summer with no thought as to what his future might hold. But then Mrs. Robinson's daughter, Elaine, returns home from school and after much pressure from his concerned parents, Benjamin reluctantly agrees to ask her out on a date.
Sure enough, Benjamin and Elaine hit it off, and her mother is absolutely furious. So furious that she is willing to ruin both of their lives by revealing the secret. But what is Benjamin to do? He is finally in love, and finally knows what he wants.
Some might be surprised that The Graduate is such a heralded movie, seeing as how it's often portrayed as merely a movie with a great soundtrack and a twisted love triangle. The Graduate is really a much deeper story about a young man who is struggling for control over his life, not knowing what he wants, but knowing full well what he does not want- the life that has been made for him. As a fellow contemplative 20-something, I find Benjamin's character highly relatable. He has wandered around aimlessly until he found something, or someone, worth chasing. And boy does runs hard after her.
classsic mike nichols film
Great movie choice! I wish I was able to watch so many movies. xo, rv
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one of my faves well done!
oh i wanted SO badly to like this movie but i’ve never been much of a dustin hoffman fan so that didn’t work for me. however…elaine’s eyes! i could stare at those for hours! why don’t people have eyes like that anymore? you know what i mean…that kind of vintage dreamy look…
I have yet to see this movie and now I MUST. Always had a thing here and there for Mr. Dustin Hoffman.
Ooh, I love this film and your summation is wonderful.
The only difference that I took away from it is that I don’t think it is Elaine that Benjamin wants, per se, but the rebellion from the world of his parents and Mrs Robinson. At least, that final shot suggests that the situation is not as simple as Benjamin hopes…
This is my favorite movie of all time.
Plastics.
Ellie, I would agree with that. I think Elaine more or less symbolizes that rebellion from his parents’ world. He obsessed over her more as a challenge and as a way to regain the control over his life that Mrs. Robinson and his parents have taken away. In my opinion. :)
My local arthouse cinema is showing this in a few weeks – I’ve seen it before but I’m so looking forward to seeing it on the big screen!
Wow, a classic! I am such a huge Dustin Hoffman fan, I can’t believe I haven’t seen that one yet. Definitely putting it on my list, right now!
love your movie mondays! every one of them is on my movie list, if i haven’t seen them already:) x
I love this movie – it’s definitely a classic for a reason!
This is one of my favorite films of ALL TIME. I recently watched it again, and fell in love with the plot, characters etc. The last scene is absolutly my favorite part of the film.
I love this film! The nipple tassle scene makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time :)
… in fact the whole film makes me feel like that :)
LOVE this movie!!
I always forget the beginning of this movie. ALWAYS. I need to resee it so I remember. I tend to always remember when things start going down with Anne Bancroft being upset in their house and then the movie leading to the end. I have always adored the ending.