The Graduate (1967) is a landmark American film directed by Mike Nichols, starring Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, and Katharine Ross. Blending comedy, drama, and a touch of absurdity, it captures the confusion and disillusionment of youth in 1960s America. Its sharp dialogue, unforgettable soundtrack, and iconic final scene make it one of the defining movies of its era.
Detailed Summary
Benjamin’s Return from College
Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman), a recent college graduate, returns home to his wealthy suburban California family. Despite everyone celebrating his “bright future,” Ben feels completely lost. At his own graduation party, he’s bombarded with meaningless advice like “Plastics!”—symbolizing the artificial world of middle-class America.
Enter Mrs. Robinson
At the party, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), the wife of Ben’s father’s business partner, asks Ben to drive her home. Once inside, she tries to seduce him in one of cinema’s most famous scenes (“Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me. Aren’t you?”). After some nervous denial and moral hesitation, Ben eventually gives in, and they begin an affair conducted at the Taft Hotel under the name “Gladstone.”
The Affair and Its Emptiness
Their meetings are mechanical and passionless. Ben, despite being with a beautiful older woman, feels increasingly empty. Their conversations are often awkward or meaningless—Mrs. Robinson refuses to discuss her life, revealing only that her marriage is loveless. This relationship, intended to be exciting and freeing, instead deepens Ben’s existential crisis.
Elaine: A Complication Named Love
Things change when Ben meets Mrs. Robinson’s daughter, Elaine (Katharine Ross), who has returned home from college. Mrs. Robinson forbids him to see her, but Ben defies her. On their first date, he deliberately takes Elaine to a strip club to sabotage it—but when he sees how hurt she is, he apologizes, and they connect deeply. For the first time, Ben feels real love.
When Mrs. Robinson learns of their relationship, she tells Elaine about the affair, making her furious and disgusted. Elaine returns to college, leaving Ben heartbroken.
Ben’s Obsession
Determined to win her back, Ben drives to Berkeley, where Elaine attends university. His pursuit becomes obsessive—he rents a room near campus, follows her around, and eventually convinces her to meet him. After an emotional confrontation, she begins to soften. Elaine, torn between anger and affection, tells Ben she’s engaged to another man, Carl Smith.
Movie Ending
In the film’s unforgettable climax, Ben races to stop Elaine’s wedding. Driving recklessly through California (accompanied by Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson”), he arrives at the church just as the ceremony ends. Through the glass window, he sees Elaine and Carl exchanging vows. Desperate, he screams her name—“Elaine! Elaine!”—over and over.
In a shocking moment of rebellion, Elaine calls back, “Ben!” The church erupts in chaos as she runs to him. He fends off angry family members using a large cross to block the church doors—both a literal and symbolic gesture of rejecting societal expectations.
Ben and Elaine run out into the street, find a bus, and climb aboard, laughing and exhilarated. But as the bus drives away, their laughter fades. The final shot lingers on their faces—joy slowly replaced by uncertainty. They’ve escaped, but now what? The ambiguous ending perfectly captures the film’s theme: freedom comes with the terrifying weight of not knowing what comes next.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, The Graduate does not have any post-credits scenes. The final bus sequence is the emotional endpoint, and Nichols leaves the audience sitting with that lingering question: what happens after the rebellion?
Type of Movie
The Graduate is a drama-comedy (dramedy) and coming-of-age film. It’s also a deeply satirical look at suburban America, generational divide, and the alienation of youth in a world obsessed with material success.
Cast
- Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock
- Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Robinson
- Katharine Ross as Elaine Robinson
- William Daniels as Mr. Braddock
- Murray Hamilton as Mr. Robinson
- Elizabeth Wilson as Mrs. Braddock
Film Music and Composer
The film’s music was composed and performed by Simon & Garfunkel, with their songs becoming inseparable from the movie’s mood. Tracks like “The Sound of Silence”, “Mrs. Robinson”, and “Scarborough Fair” perfectly underscore Benjamin’s loneliness, confusion, and rebellion.
Filming Locations
Most of the film was shot in California, especially in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Berkeley.
- The Robinson house was filmed at a private residence in Beverly Hills.
- The hotel scenes were shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.
- The iconic final church scene was filmed at the United Methodist Church in La Verne, California.
These locations ground the movie’s story in the comfortable but suffocating world of upper-middle-class America.
Awards and Nominations
- Won: Academy Award for Best Director (Mike Nichols)
- Nominated: Best Picture, Best Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Best Actress (Anne Bancroft), Best Supporting Actress (Katharine Ross), Best Cinematography, and Best Adapted Screenplay
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Dustin Hoffman was nearly rejected for the role because he didn’t “look Californian” enough; he was a New York stage actor.
- Anne Bancroft was only six years older than Hoffman in real life.
- The final bus scene was improvised; Nichols just kept filming as the actors’ expressions changed naturally.
- The film’s use of pop music instead of orchestral score was revolutionary for its time.
- Benjamin’s scuba scene was filmed from inside the suit to emphasize his isolation—an intentional metaphor by Nichols.
Inspirations and References
The film is based on the 1963 novel “The Graduate” by Charles Webb. The story was also inspired by the social changes and generational tensions of 1960s America—especially the pressure to conform and the fear of meaningless adulthood.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
No official alternate ending was filmed, but early script drafts had Elaine hesitating at the church door longer, leaving Ben alone. Nichols decided against this because he wanted the film to end on emotional triumph followed by uncertainty, not outright tragedy.
Book Adaptations and Differences
In the book, the tone is darker and more cynical. Elaine’s decision to leave the wedding feels less romantic and more like an impulsive act of desperation. The film, while satirical, adds warmth and subtle humor, making Ben’s rebellion feel both foolish and heartfelt.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Mrs. Robinson’s seduction scene (“Would you like me to seduce you?”)
- Benjamin floating aimlessly in the pool—a metaphor for his post-college drift
- The scuba suit sequence, symbolizing his suffocating life
- The final bus scene—quiet, awkward, and perfect
Iconic Quotes
- “Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me. Aren’t you?”
- “Plastics.”
- “I want it to be with you, Mrs. Robinson.”
- “Elaine! Elaine!”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The film subtly references The Sound of Silence multiple times through visual loneliness—mirroring the lyrics.
- The hotel is named “Taft”—a nod to conservative conformity.
- Mrs. Robinson always wears animal-print clothing, symbolizing her predatory nature.
Trivia
- Dustin Hoffman’s nervousness during the seduction scene was genuine; he was terrified of acting opposite Bancroft.
- The Simon & Garfunkel song “Mrs. Robinson” was originally untitled and later finished because of the movie’s success.
- The film cost just $3 million to make and earned over $100 million worldwide.
Why Watch?
Watch The Graduate because it’s not just a movie—it’s a mood. It’s about uncertainty, rebellion, and the uncomfortable beauty of growing up. It’s funny, sad, awkward, and real—all at once. And that ending? Still one of the best in cinema history.
Director’s Other Movies
- Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
- Catch-22 (1970)
- Working Girl (1988)
- The Birdcage (1996)
- Closer (2004)
