Tuesday Night is Film Night is going way back in time tonight. Last week was a brand new film, this week we uncover a classic, but will it be an education as we watch;
The Graduate
Well to say this has been on our "Watch List" for quite a while is an understatement. Yes, we have to go all the way back to 1967 for The Graduate, although it's only been on the list for the last few years.
What can we say about The Graduate that hasn't been said already? Well, we're not sure but we will give it a go and provide a synopsis and a critique.
Starring Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock and Anne Bancroft as the seductive Mrs Robinson, The Graduate is a quirky, sometimes dark, comedic tale of lust and love. Benjamin is the 21 year old graduate who returns home to his parents house to find a jubilant crowd to celebrate his educational achievements. Unfortunately Ben is none too pleased by the attention, preferring to spend time alone in his room, enjoying the sound of silence. Coerced to make an appearance, he reluctantly shows himself to the crowd, only to be forced back into seclusion, this time pursued by one Mrs Robinson. Mrs Robinson asks Ben to give her a lift home and this is where the seduction and affair starts. Interestingly, although Ben is 21 and Mrs Robinson is; ".....nearly twice your age....", Hoffman and Bancroft were 30 and 36 respectively at the time of filming.
The Robinson's daughter; Elaine is around the same age as Ben and as both families have been close for years, it seems sensible for Ben to be more interested in Elaine, Ben's parents are certainly pushing for that liaison, but Ben understandably is reticent and his ongoing affair with Mrs Robinson is a bit of a showstopper. In fact, Mrs Robinson point blank refuses any kind of tryst between Ben and Elaine. However, this doesn't stop Ben and this momentary love triangle implodes in a bout of impropriety.
That should suffice for the synopsis, obviously the story continues, but if you haven't already enjoyed The Graduate we won't spoil the ending.
The Graduate is a classic film, albeit somewhat dated viewing some 47 years after release, but it has stood the test of time and is pleasant story. A couple of points to make that entices The Graduate from the shadows of mediocrity and into the spotlight of glory. Firstly; there is the fantastic cast, Bancroft and Hoffman are sublime. Ann Bancroft especially as the the seductive siren that is Mrs Robinson, providing a Sixties style of sexual allure. Benjamin's father is played by William Daniels, who later to rose to further fame as the voice of KITT the futuristc car and star of Knight Rider. Secondly, and very importantly the soundtrack provided by Simon and Garfunkel is fantastic. All songs were penned by Paul Simon and we defy you not to be singing along to the musical backdrop to this film.
It was definitely worth waiting for and we are pleased that we have seen this film, although it was quirky and the comedy was thin. The moody Benjamin Braddock was a tad precocious and troubled to start off with, but the story and characters played out quite well eventually.
What can you say? It's a classic, although the TNiFN Rating may not reflect that.
TNiFN Rating 70%
IMDB Link
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