Post-graduate advice from 'The Graduate'

By Jeff Renfro

Mike Nichols' "The Graduate" is a timeless, cinematic classic that continues to make light of coming of age and offers serious criticism of contemporary expectations. Originally released in 1967, "The Graduate" was immediately embraced, earning an Oscar for Best Direction for Nichols.

The film is the story of Benjamin (played by Dustin Hoffman), a young man who has recently graduated from college and seems to have a bright future ahead of him. Benjamin has trouble deciding what to do with his life and begins an affair with Mrs. Robinson (played by Anne Bancroft), an older, married family friend. Benjamin ends up meeting Mrs. Robinson's daughter, and falling in love. He follows the younger Robinson to California to break up her marriage.

The script, written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, perfectly portrays what it is like to be a young, educated person, with an exciting life ahead, and no idea what to do with it. The film uses a truly unique sense of humor to showcase a possible route through the uncertainty. An example being the famous scene in which Benjamin is taken aside at his graduation party by a family friend who gives him one word of advice: "Plastics."

Dustin Hoffman delivers a performance that might be his best (which is saying quite a bit). For much of the movie, his expression is blank. He acts as if he is watching his own life unfold on television. He appears to be resigned to allowing adult life to rob him of his freedom and crush his dreams. His interactions with his parents and family friends are hilariously absurd. His father buys him a wetsuit and scuba gear, complete with harpoon gun, as a gift. Benjamin is forced to show off his new gift in the pool at a barbeque. His father repeatedly forces him back under water as he attempts to leave the pool.

Anne Bancroft is great as the lonely, manipulative Mrs. Robinson. She does not hesitate to use Benjamin as a tool to recapture any sort of passion in her life. She and her socialite husband sleep in separate rooms and fill their days with drinking. Bancroft seems to be just as apathetic as Benjamin until the possibility of him dating her daughter comes up.

Almost as culturally significant as the film was the soundtrack. The film is set to the music of Simon and Garfunkel, who showcase some of their most famous material. "Scarborough Fair," "The Sounds of Silence," and "Mrs. Robinson" all have prominent parts in the movie.

The themes of "The Graduate" are truly timeless and it might be the only film that a person of any age can sit down to and enjoy. There will always be adults full of hot air and confused young people; fortunately, they will always have "The Graduate" to offer them a laugh.

Grade: A

û Contact Jeff Renfro at (408) 554-4546 or jrenfro@scu.edu.