Re: Let's discuss The Graduate, shall we?
 

At the time, the ending of THE GRADUATE was considered a "What do we do now?" ending, possibly the first of its type, with no indication that Ben and Elaine had any clue of where they were headed. Kind of a metaphor for the times. And a not uncommon ending in the years to follow. (See THE CANDIDATE.)

Critics were mixed on the film, but it became a hit with young audiences, who formed lines to see it at a time when lines for movies weren't that common. It became something of a cultural phenomenon, so the critics went back to see what they had missed and suddenly changed their minds and raved about it, possibly to seem like they were "with it" and tuned in to the new "youth culture." Andrew Sarris, writing in the Village Voice, never wavered in his view that the film was overrated.

BONNIE AND CLYDE was a similar phenomenon the same year where critics went back and reevaluated it after trashing it. Bosley Crowther, the top critic at the New York Times, basically lost his job (good riddance!) over his failure to "appreciate" BONNIE AND CLYDE. He was finally deemed "out of touch." (And he certainly was, but for different reasons, IMHO.)

I saw THE GRADUATE once when it was reissued in the early 1970s. Haven't seen it since. I saw BONNIE AND CLYDE a few months after it came out and then a few more times in the years after, including at a public college screening.

Re: Let's discuss The Graduate, shall we?
 

I just watched The Graduate yesterday on TCM and it is really inspiring how he still got her at the end even when literally everyone hated him (except his parents) and he even threw out modern society's structure like the last kiss to signify marriage out the damn window fighting them off because really we are all primal creatures at heart.

Re: Let's discuss The Graduate, shall we?
 

^ inspiring? i don't think so.

Re: Let's discuss The Graduate, shall we?
 

Yes because he triumphed over all.

Re: Let's discuss The Graduate, shall we?
 

^ Did he? The ending of The Graduate is perhaps the quintessential ambiguous ending of all time.

Re: Let's discuss The Graduate, shall we?
 

He's clearly happy with her on that date saying how his life was pointless before her, i mean he only went upward with her why would it be ambiguous?? Maybe because of their expressions on the bus?

Re: Let's discuss The Graduate, shall we?
 

I apologize if this linked image disappears
http://www.cinephobia.com/grad2.jpg I call this one: "Portraits of Victory"

Re: Let's discuss The Graduate, shall we?
 

They didn't overturn the morals of the Production Code, they overturned the strictures of the Production Code and eventually made the Code irrelevant, paving the way for the Ratings system. And there were a good many more movies than those in 1967, most of them European (think BELLE DE JOUR and WEEKEND). The Best Picture that year, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, dealt with abortion. Even trash like VALLEY OF THE DOLLS broke a few taboos. And even the James Bond films did their part.

In case no one's mentioned it in this thread yet, to those interested in more info about 1967, read Mark Harris' "Pictures at a Revolution," a production history of the five films nominated for Best Picture in 1967: THE GRADUATE, BONNIE AND CLYDE, DR. DOLITTLE, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT and GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER? There's your context.

Re: Let's discuss The Graduate, shall we?
 

Dude, you read my mind.

I watched this several weeks ago for the firs time and at the end, I was shocked to realize that I didn't like the movie. In the first half of the movie, Ben is a insufferable asshole. He turns somewhat likable when he starts dating Elaine and then turns into a creepy stalker when he starts following Elaine around. The ending may have worked back in the 60's, but nowadays, it's stupid and hackneyed.

The Graduate is the first classic movie that I've disliked. I've seen others where I admired the movie and could see why it is considered a classic, but the Graduate is the first classic movie that I don't plan on owning in any format.

Re: Let's discuss The Graduate, shall we?
 

What about it's photography, soundtrack, and use of location? Even if you don't like Ben I think there's plenty in the film to enjoy. Also, it should be emphasized that the film IS a comedy. I think when some people watch a 40 year old film with dry wit they might mistake it for a melodrama.

Re: Let's discuss The Graduate, shall we?
 

I loved the part where Ben is telling on the phone where the church is because he's the minister that has to preside over the marriage, a hotrod cruising graduate sweating his chops off trying to figure out which church the marriage is to happen at the last minute.

Re: Let's discuss The Graduate, shall we?
 

Not really.

Re: Let's discuss The Graduate, shall we?
 

Father: "then what the hell was the point of you doing 4 years of college?"
Benjamin: "you got me."

I just watched it last night, maybe only the second time I've watched it. I was indifferent the first time I saw it; now I'm older, and I can appreciate the film a lot better now than when I was young.

I really liked it.

Mr. Roeper was a douche (reminded me of my paternal grandfather) - one of his house tenants was Richard Dreyfuss - never noticed him before!

Dustin Hoffman, in the beginning, was very Rain Man-ish, but as the film wore on, he kind of "fleshed out."

Re: Let's discuss The Graduate, shall we?
 

Anyone who doesn't recognize the magnificence of this film is one of them outside agitators. :mad:

Re: Let's discuss The Graduate, shall we?
 

LOL!

I see "The Graduate" as an art film, and a very good one, at that, for its time. The camerawork, some of the angles, the imagery...very good direction from Mike Nichols.