The Graduate (1967)
Dustin Hoffman got his first starring role in this gentle
Oscar-winning satire about American values as Benjamin Braddock, a
21 year-old man who is seduced by the older Mrs Robinson (Anne
Bancroft), and then falls in love with her daughter Elaine
(Katharine Ross).
Essentially a 'rites of passage' tale, The Graduate has
many funny moments, with most of the humour derived from Ben's
naivety (his notion of sexual arousal is to put his hand
tentatively on Mrs Robinson's breast as if he were feeling her
pulse).
While Ben just wants to talk about art (or anything), Mrs
Robinson (who majored in fine arts) just wants sex - Until the
affair becomes impossible when he falls in love with her young
daughter, Elaine.
Undeterred by the fact that Elaine has just married a man she
does not love, Ben turns up at the church, fights off the wedding
party with a giant cross, uses it to jam the church door and
escapes with Elaine (still in her wedding dress) into a happier
future on a passing bus.
The music of Simon and Garfunkel helped to popularise the film.
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