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The Graduate [1967] (REGION 1) (NTSC)


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Few films have defined a generation as The Graduate did. The alienation, the non-conformity, the intergenerational romance, the blissful Simon and Garfunkel soundtrack--they all served to lob a cultural grenade smack into the middle of 1967 America, ultimately making the film the third most profitable up to that time. Seen from a later perspective, its radical chic has dimmed a bit, yet it's still a joy to see Dustin Hoffman's bemused Benjamin and Anne Bancroft's deliciously decadent, sardonic Mrs. Robinson. The script by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham is still offbeat and dryly funny, and Mike Nichols, who won an Oscar for his direction, has just the right, light touch. --Anne Hurley, Amazon.com


Classic that ages even better than Mrs Robinson
Review date: 2007-12-24 Rating: 10 out of 10

Having finally watched this classic film, I was suprised just how good it was. Not only did it capture the sexual Zeitgeist of the 60's it has proven remarkably (and ominously) prescient in depicting what 'gender equality' might mean regarding sexual relations.

Anne Bancroft is wickedly delicious in the role(reversal) of the scheming, older sexual predator. What young man could say no to her? Especially a man as unsure and sexually inept as the Dustin Hoffman character. And when he does say no, she simply falsely accuses him of rape. With the dice seemingly now loaded against him and his gender, will our male hero somehow restore the natural order of things and win the love of Mrs Robinson's pretty young daughter? A classic snapshot of the hopes and fears of a unique generation, memorable performances from an oh so young Dustin Hoffman and an oh so seductively wicked Anne Bancroft. Easily a five star film even before being soundtracked by some of Simon and Garfunkels greatest songs.

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Reviews


great film, why aren't we getting this?
Review date: 2007-11-18 Rating: 2 out of 10

The Graduate is a 5*film. It provides the viewer with an interesting plot and many laughs. The problem is, is that we Brits are getting the dogs meal of dvd releases. In the states they have apocalypse now complete dossier, CE3K 30 anniversary edition and just look at the Blade Runner 5 disk set! How comes we don't get the 40th anniversary edition of this classic film? Now I have to splash out on a multi format DVD player (I recommend getting one of these anyway. We're going to have these problems quite a lot in the future) and pay for duty etc. I'd rather do that than get our dodgy release anyway... disgraceful

Film that personified the 60s
Review date: 2007-06-23 Rating: 10 out of 10

The theme of an innocent and confused youth who is exploited, mis-directed, seduced (literally and figuratively) and betrayed by a corrupt, decadent, and discredited older generation (that finds its stability in "plastics") was well understood by film audiences and captured the spirit of the times. One of the film's posters proclaimed the difficult coming-of-age for the recent, aimless college graduate:

This is Benjamin. He's a little worried about his future.

The two different generations are also reflected in other dualities: the two rival women (young innocent daughter Elaine and the older seductress Mrs. Robinson), the two California settings (Los Angeles and Berkeley) and S. and N. California cultures (materialistic vs. intellectual), and the division in Benjamin's character (morally drifting and indecisive vs. committed).

There was already a growing dissatisfaction with the status quo and middle-class values, and the breakthrough film mirrored that anarchic mood perfectly for America's youth of the 60s during the escalation of the Vietnam War. However, in the final analysis, director Nichols actually subversively portrayed how aimless and unalive the disaffected young generation was (in the character of Benjamin) - and would become as they approached middle-age and worked in sterile corporate settings. [In the same year, it joined Bonnie and Clyde (1967) as one of the most popular films for the college-aged generation.] It was complemented by the music of the popular singing duo Simon and Garfunkel from their Grammy-winning The Sounds of Silence album (with songs composed earlier and previously-released except for "Mrs. Robinson"), with meaningful, haunting lyrics to enhance the film's moods and themes.

The Film of the Year, Robbed of Best Picture
Review date: 2007-03-20 Rating: 10 out of 10

Mike Nichols' The Graduate would end up prompting him more success, after winning favour with the adaption of the play, Who's afraid of Virgina Woolf by Edward Albee, where Elizabeth Taylor arguably gave her last and best performance as Martha, giving him the upper hand in Hollywood especially when you have to consider this was his debut feature of his directing career.

Benjamin Brackin is a young man in his 20s (played by Dustin Hoffman), who is a bit unsure about his future, his graduation at College, makes him worried, people are still encouraging things they want him to do. Ben has always fancied Mrs Robinson, the wife of his father's best friend and workmate, but when she seduces him unexpectantly for love, he realises who he really wants.........

The Graduate is a frank account of some young people who are daunted by chance of surroundings, the pressure to move with the times and to break into the adult world. Mike Nichols' crafted direction encourage us to see Ben stare at his own reflection of the world, how he boldly evolves into a man through the close ups of the silute window views peeking in, after receiving the generous warm and tender love of Mrs Robinson, how he loses his nervousiness, but gains frustation into a life he should lead on his own. The editing shows clearly how the passion of a relationship with Mrs Robinson becomes repetitive, whilst keeping it a secret from his parents, but also how he is reminded of his love for her daughter that causes the burden. The Graduate is however seen by me as a pun and metaphor, because it is associated with being clever, confidence and determination, which Ben lacks, he let's things drift and becomes disilluniosed by his apperance.

The Graduate also was important to many Americans who were going through a radical period in American History, the Vietnam War was round the corner for instance, the cival rights movement and eventually Watergate, about their lives.

The acting in Graduate, saw Hoffman break into his wonderful career as a screen actor, after serverly struggling in povetry. Despite being well past the age of the character of Ben, his youth makes up for it and fools the perpective of the audience. Hoffman displays Ben as reclusive, inquistive and shy, unaware of his growing feelings for Elaine, who thinks is the right thing to do for himself, but we are never certain. Katharine Ross as Elaine is constantly in the shadow of her bitter parents. Murray Hamilton plays the tired, money obessive Mr Robinson, despite eventually being stereotype for corruptive characters like this like Jaws. The scene stealer belongs to Anne Bancroft, who many people secretly know she should have won Best Actress Oscar and rightly so. Bancroft plays Mrs Robinson as sultry, upper lipped, agressive, miserable, malicious and as a woman begging for love, being a bit of a prositute to shed her lonely side. Her posture of the cigarette in hand and cracked laughter from Ben's remarks, plus sudden mood swings all but bring to the character. Rarely did she get roles to express herself and was a good sign to avoid the stereotype.

The Graduate become well loved in it's day and arguably still relates to the youngsters of the 21st Century with the theme of alientation, isolation and reclusive all playing their parts, which strength the film, including the great performances and editing sealing it firmly from beginning to finish. You just can't help but think it was robbed of 1968 Best Picture prize, where In the heat of the Night merely won for acknowling the extremely powerful civil rights movement, but it can't touch this material. A film for the age, the film of the year.

Classic 60's movie
Review date: 2006-03-23 Rating: 10 out of 10

The Graduate has become a classic film, one that makes all those ‘top 100 film’ lists. It stars a young Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock, a young man from a wealthy family, who has just graduated from college. He is in limbo, unsure of what to do with his time and where life will lead him. The Robinson’s are his parents’ best friends and it is their daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross) who Ben’s parents have earmarked as a partner for their son. However Mrs Robinson (played by a brilliantly predatory Anne Bancroft) has other plans and is set on seducing the naïve young man. When Elaine returns from college, Ben falls for her and ends his relationship with her mother. Predictably Mrs Robinson reacts with hostility and sets out to ruin both his relationship with her daughter and his life.
Simon and Garfunkle provide the music in their inimitable style and the title song, Mrs Robinson, was a huge hit for them. Director Mike Nichols managed, in this film, to capture the feel and mood of the 60’s flawlessly and he deservedly won an Oscar for his work. The DVD itself has few extras, a documentary by the director, interview with Hoffman, some trailers and the usual subtitles. The picture and sound quality are good, what you would expect from the format. This is a film that has stood the test of time and is still worth watching today.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Dustin Hoffman
Anne Bancroft
Katharine Ross
Murray Hamilton
William Daniels

Creators:
Dustin Hoffman (Primary Contributor)
Anne Bancroft (Primary Contributor)
Buck Henry (Writer)
Robert Surtees (Cinematographer)
Sam O'Steen (Editor)
Joseph E. Levine (Producer)
Lawrence Turman (Producer)

Director(s):

Recording label: MGM
Manufacturer: MGM
EAN: 0027616075031
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: AC-3, Collector's Edition, Colour, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC,
Release date: 2007-09-11
Universal product code (UPC): 027616075031
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 1
Running time: 105 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1967
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: Spanish (Subtitled)
Language: French (Dubbed)

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