The Graduate

The Graduate is a 1967 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols and based on Charles Webb’s 1963 novella.

The Graduate is a 1967 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols and based on Charles Webb's 1963 novella. The film stars Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate who becomes entangled in an affair with Mrs. Robinson before falling for her daughter, Elaine. The Graduate was a major critical and commercial success, earning Mike Nichols the Academy Award for Best Director.

Plot

Benjamin Braddock returns home after graduating college and feels directionless about his future. He begins a secret affair with Mrs. Robinson, the wife of his father's business partner. Later, he falls in love with her daughter Elaine, creating a conflict between the three characters.

Production and release

The film was directed by Mike Nichols and written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, adapted from Charles Webb's 1963 novella. It was produced independently and released by Embassy Pictures on December 21, 1967, with a running time of 108 minutes.

Reception and legacy

The Graduate became the highest-grossing film of 1967 in North America, including Canada. It received seven Academy Award nominations, winning Best Director for Mike Nichols. The film is widely regarded as a culturally influential work that explores generational alienation and post-college uncertainty.

Music

The film's soundtrack by Simon & Garfunkel helped shape its identity and popularity. The song "Mrs. Robinson" became especially closely associated with the film and became a hit.