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Koo-Koo-Ka-Choo, Mrs. Robinson… Bear with me those of you who so fondly recognise of what I sing, as this post is consecrated to those who do not. Mike Nichols little gem of a film, The Graduate, was freed in late 1967. Reflecting the social and moral climate of the times, this coming-of-age story of recent college graduate, Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman), captivated the hearts and libidos of popular audiences all over the country. Home from college, Benjamin finds himself adrift in confusedness and doubt. Unsure regarding the expected route in life mapped out for him by his family and society. He becomes effortlessly distracted from his future by the seductions of the older, bolder, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), wife of his father’s longtime business partner. The affair that results lasts until Mrs. Robinson’s daughter, Elaine (Katharine Ross) returns home from college for a visit. A romance amid Elaine and Benjamin develops for the duration of her visit – on a date, strongly encouraged by his parents and Mr. Robinson. Upon the invention of the affair, Elaine returns to college and accepts a marriage proposal from another. Benjamin’s pursuit of Elaine leads to one of the most remarkable climactic scenes in film history. (Some minor characters include, Richard Dreyfuss and Norman Fell in a standout performance as the ever distrustful boarding house owner.) The Graduate unfolded into what set the bar for not only comedy and satire in film, but likewise editing and musical enhancement. The Soundtrack provided by folk/rock duo, Simon and Garfunkel, contained only one basi song at the time of release. Originally titled “Mrs. Roosevelt” and changed to “Mrs. Robinson” for the film, this single track propelled the soundtrack to the top of the charts, replacing The Beatles “White Album”. And, though not the theme song, has become one of the most unforgettable songs connected to a film. Gaining public knowingness three years prior, with what was the theme song, “The Sounds of Silence”, Simon and Garfunkel were best known for their sweet harmonies and turbulent relationship, dating back to childhood. The award winning duo were among the most frequent recording artists of the 1960′s, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. The Graduate, after being released, went on to garner 7 Academy Award nominations in major categories, with Mike Nichols winning for Best Director. The film has systematically rated within top movie lists in the industry and in 1996 inducted into the United States Film Registry for film preservation. Forty years after it is release, this landmark film, remains, a little gem of a film. Koo-Koo-Ka-Choo!
Few films have specified a generation as The Graduate did. The alienation, the nonconformity, the intergenerational romance, the blissful Simon and Garfunkel soundtrack–they all served to lob a cultural grenade smack into the middle of 1967 America, ultimately making the film the third most profitable up to that time. Seen from a later perspective, it is radical chicness has dimmed a bit, yet it’s still a joy to see Dustin Hoffman’s bemused Benjamin and Anne Bancroft’s deliciously decadent, sardonic Mrs. Robinson. The script by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham is still offbeat and dryly funny, and Mike Nichols, who won an Oscar for his direction, has just the right, light touch. –Anne Hurley Most helpful customer reviews 139 of 148 people found the following review helpful. Also worth noting in particular is the direction of Mike Nichols. He truly gives the film a unique visual style to make it an experience rather than just a comedy/drama. Note the opening credits with Hoffman on an airport moving sidewalk set to the tune of Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence”. Nichols’ uses cuts very interestingly in several scenes such as the scene where Benjamin jumps up on his raft in the pool, and lands in bed with Mrs. Robinson. He also uses zooms to great effect throughout the film. Nichols’ Best Director Oscar for this film was well-deserved. I think that Hoffman’s performance should have won also, as well as the screenplay by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry.
One other thing that I must mention is that The Graduate absolutely must been seen in its original aspect ratio! If you’re not watching a widescreen version, then you’re not watching The Graduate. The film was shot in the Panavision process with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Mike Nichols makes wonderful use of the 2.35:1 frame, so the film will be absolutely botched in pan and scan. If you watch The Graduate in full-screen pan and scan, you’re really, really missing out. The visual impact of the film will be irreparably damaged.
The DVD is adequate, but this film deserves much better. The disc is labeled a special edition, but it’s really too skimpy to be that. At very least you’re getting a widescreen version of the film. However, the transfer is not enhanced for 16:9 televisions. What we need is a fully remastered 16:9 transfer which would be immensely beneficial. The picture quality is fair, but could be so much better. It’s really stunning what difference a brand new remastered 16:9 transfer can make for an older film like this. Just look at the new DVD of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. The film also deserves better supplemental materials. A better documentary and a commentary by the filmmakers would be great. A seperate commentary by Dustin Hoffman would be even better. I’m convinced that someday The Graduate will receive a worthy DVD edition, and I will wait until then to purchase it. 57 of 61 people found the following review helpful. The Mike Nichols film has suffered through the DVD era so far, represented by a series of double-dip issues that perpetuated the same sorry source materials: grainy picture, grating audio — the typical first-generation DVD blahs. Here comes “The Graduate: 40th Anniversary Edition,” due Sept. 11. Fox’s specs show 2.35:1 widescreen with DTS and Dolby Surround. This appears to be in true widescreen. (The previous DVDs’ version apparently was created by throwing letterboxing atop the full-screen version. Seems the guy who was so big on plastics got into the home video business.) Check out the new extras: * Commentary by Dustin Hoffman and Katherine Ross Along with some odds and ends ported over from the older discs. Disc 2 has a pleasant surprise: Simon & Garfunkle’s soundtrack, in CD form. I’ll be revisiting the film for Hoffman’s sonic boom of a breakout performance; the “Mrs. Robinson” song and seduction scene; and Ross’ beautifully naturalistic presence. Koo-koo-ka-choo. 101 of 114 people found the following review helpful. I give the film “The Graduate” from 1967 as many stars as any ratings measure can grant, but this DVD is a very poor represntation that is disrespectful of the genuine classic piece of cinematic art and cultural revolutionary comedy-piece that this movie was and always will be! It’s a shame. The picture is still grainy and the “widescreen” is still a full-screen image with black bars at top & bottom and NOT a true 16X9 formatted image for widescreen televisions! This true masterpiece of film demands nothing short of the best optimization that current-day technology can (and should) provide! Anything less is completely unacceptable! I’m sorry, but this is a travesy. The Graduate deserves the most pristine image and sound quality that the DVD format can give and viewers should demand nothing short of that high-standard of excellence. The sound is in a lousy mono and the picture is fuzzy at times, desaturated, grainy, noisy, and compressed too much. The producers of this DVD obviously aren’t die-hard fans and did a half-a** job here. Most fans of this film would gladly pay a few extra dollars for a better version, so why go cheap on such a great classic is beyond me?!? That’s just a moronic business decision of a cheap corporation that doesn’t know art from a hole in the ground, always cutting corners to salvage every penny. For shame! I wish the Criterion Collection would remaster the Graduate and finally do it right! Amen. The Graduate Photo The Graduate Pic The Graduate Image The Graduate Photo The Graduate Image The Graduate Pic |
Great movie, needs a better DVD
‘Graduate’ graduates
Shame, Shame, Shame…
