Name: The Graduate
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: 1967-12-21
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 7.6
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katharine Ross, William Daniels, Murray Hamilton

The Graduate

A Father's Warning to a Suitor

Mr. Robinson All right, now listen to this. I don't know whether I can prosecute, but I think I can. I think I can get you behind bars if you ever look at my daughter again. Now, I've seen Elaine, and I've made damn sure you can't get to her. Stay away from me, Ben! I don't want to mince words with you. As far as Elaine is concerned, you're to get her out of your filthy mind right now! Is that perfectly clear to you? And that's all, Ben. You'll pardon me if I don't shake hands with you. I think you are filth. I think you are scum. You are a degenerate!

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The Graduate

A Personal Question Between Two Characters

Mrs. Robinson Can I ask you a personal question?

Benjamin Ask me anything you want.

Mrs. Robinson Is this your first time?

Benjamin Is this what?

Mrs. Robinson It is, isn't it? It is your first time.

Benjamin That's a laugh Mrs. Robinson. That's really a laugh. Ha, ha.

Mrs. Robinson Well, you can admit that, can't you?

Benjamin Are you kidding?

Mrs. Robinson It's nothing to be ashamed of.

Benjamin Wait a minute.

Mrs. Robinson On your first time if you're afraid of being inadequate.

Benjamin Who said it was my first time? Wait a minute.

Mrs. Robinson Just because you happen to be inadequate in one way.

Benjamin INADEQUATE?! Don't move!

[Mrs. Robinson starts to dress]

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The Graduate

An Unexpected Confession Between Two Characters

Benjamin Mrs. Robinson, if you don't mind my saying so, this conversation is getting a little strange. Now, I'm sure that Mr. Robinson will be here any minute now and -

Mrs. Robinson No.

Benjamin What?

Mrs. Robinson My husband will be back quite late. He should be gone for several hours.

Benjamin Oh my God.

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The Graduate

Fear and Avoidance in Relationships

Mrs. Robinson What are you so scared of?

Benjamin I'm not scared, Mrs. Robinson.

Mrs. Robinson Then why do you keep running away?

Benjamin Because you're going to bed. I don't think I should be up here.

Mrs. Robinson Haven't you ever seen anybody in a slip before?

Benjamin Yes, I have, but I just...Look, what if Mr. Robinson walked in right now?

Mrs. Robinson What if he did?

Benjamin Well, it would look pretty funny, wouldn't it?

Mrs. Robinson Don't you think he trusts us together?

Benjamin Of course he does, but he might get the wrong idea. Anyone might.

Mrs. Robinson I don't see why? I'm twice as old as you are. How could anyone think that...

Benjamin But they would! Don't you see?

Mrs. Robinson Benjamin. I am not trying to seduce you!

Benjamin I know that, but please, Mrs. Robinson. This is difficult..

Mrs. Robinson Would you like me to seduce you?

Benjamin What?

Mrs. Robinson Is that what you're trying to tell me?

Benjamin I'm going home now. I apologize for what I said. I hope you can forget it. But I'm going home right now.

[A long pause]

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The Graduate

A Moment of Honest Connection

Benjamin Elaine, I like you. I like you so much. Do you believe that? Do you?

[She nods silently]

Elaine Yes.

Benjamin You're the first thing for so long that I like, the first person I could stand to be with. My whole life is such a waste. There's just nothing. I'm sorry. I'll take you home now.

[He sighs deeply]

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The Graduate

A Love Conflicted by Unexpected Connections

Benjamin Listen to me. What happened between Mrs. Robinson and me was nothing. It didn't mean anything. We might just as well have been shaking hands.

Mr. Robinson Shaking hands? Well, that's not saying much for my wife, is it?

Benjamin The point is I don't love your wife, I love your daughter, sir.

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The Graduate

Marriage Discussions and Blood Tests

Elaine Why don't you drag me off if you want to marry me so much?

Benjamin Why don't I just drag you off? All right, I will. Right after we get the blood tests...

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The Graduate

A Conversation About Elaine

Mrs. Robinson Don't talk about Elaine.

Benjamin Don't talk about Elaine?

Mrs. Robinson No.

Benjamin Well, why not?

Mrs. Robinson Because I don't want you to.

Benjamin Well, why don't you? I wish you'd tell me.

Mrs. Robinson There's nothing to tell.

Benjamin Well, why is she a big taboo subject all of a sudden? Well, I guess I'll have to ask her out on a date and find out what the big deal is.

Mrs. Robinson Benjamin. Don't you ever take that girl out. Do you understand that?

[Pulling his hair]

Benjamin Well, why shouldn't I?

Mrs. Robinson I have my reasons.

Benjamin Well let's hear em.

Mrs. Robinson No.

Benjamin Let's hear them Mrs. Robinson, because I think I know what they are. I'm not good enough for her to associate with, am I? I'm not good enough to even talk about her, am I?

Mrs. Robinson Let's drop it.

Benjamin We're not dropping it. I'm good enough for you, but I'm not good enough to associate with your daughter. That's it, isn't it?

Mrs. Robinson Benjamin.

Benjamin Isn't it?

[Ripping the sheet off her]

Mrs. Robinson Yes.

[Covering up]

Benjamin You go to hell. You go straight to hell, Mrs. Robinson. Do you think I'm proud of myself? Do you think I'm proud of this?

Mrs. Robinson I wouldn't know.

Benjamin Well, I am not! No sir, I am not proud that I spend my time with a broken-down alcoholic!

Mrs. Robinson I see.

Benjamin And if you think I come here for any reason besides pure boredom, then you're all wrong; because Mrs. Robinson, this is the sickest, most perverted thing in the world that ever happened to me! And you do what you want, but I'm getting the hell out!

Mrs. Robinson Are you?

Benjamin Goddam right I am!

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The Graduate

Drifting in Comfort and Contemplation

Mr. Braddock Ben, what are you doing?

Benjamin Well, I would say that I'm just drifting. Here in the pool.

Mr. Braddock Why?

Benjamin Well, it's very comfortable just to drift here.

Mr. Braddock Have you thought about graduate school?

Benjamin No.

Mr. Braddock Would you mind telling me then what those four years of college were for? What was the point of all that hard work?

Benjamin You got me.

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The Graduate

One Word of Advice

Mr. McGuire I want to say one word to you. Just one word.

Benjamin Yes, sir.

Mr. McGuire Are you listening?

Benjamin Yes, I am.

Mr. McGuire Plastics.

Benjamin Exactly how do you mean?

Mr. McGuire There's a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it?

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The Graduate

Confronting Moral Ambiguity in Relationships

Mrs. Robinson Benjamin, would this be easier for you in the dark?

Benjamin Mrs. Robinson. I can't do this.

Mrs. Robinson You what?

Benjamin This is all terribly wrong.

Mrs. Robinson Do you find me undesirable?

Benjamin Oh, no, Mrs. Robinson. I think, I think you're the most attractive of all my parents friends. I mean that. I find you desirable, but I, for God's sake, can you imagine my parents? Can you imagine what they would say if they just saw us in this room here right now?

Mrs. Robinson What would they say?

Benjamin I have no idea Mrs. Robinson, but for god's sake, they brought me up, they made a good life for me and I think they deserve better than this. I think they deserve a little better than jumping into bed with the partner's wife.

Mrs. Robinson Are you afraid of me?

Benjamin Oh, no. You're missing the point. Look. Maybe we could do something else together. Mrs. Robinson, would you like to go to a movie?

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The Graduate

A Sudden Decision Sparks Confusion

Mr. Braddock Well, when did you decide all this?

Benjamin About an hour ago.

Mr. Braddock Wait a minute, you talked to Elaine this morning?

Benjamin No, she doesn't know about it.

Mr. Braddock Uh, you mean she doesn't know you are coming up to Berkeley?

Benjamin No, actually she doesn't know about us getting married yet.

Mrs. Braddock Well when did you two talk this over?

Benjamin We haven't.

Mrs. Braddock You haven't?

Mr. Braddock Ben, this whole idea sounds pretty half baked.

Benjamin No, it's not. It's completely baked. It's a decision I've made.

Mrs. Braddock But what makes you think she wants to marry you?

Benjamin She doesn't. To be perfectly honest, she doesn't like me.

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The Graduate

Advice on Youth and Enjoyment

Mr. Robinson I wish I was that age again because Ben...you'll never be young again...Ben, can I say something to you?...uh, how long have we known each other now? How long have you and I known each other? How long have your dad and I been partners?...I watched you grow up, Ben...In many ways, I feel as though you were my own son...So I hope you won't mind my giving you a friendly piece of advice...I think you ought to be taking it a little easier right now than you seem to be...Sow a few wild oats, take things as they come, have a good time with the girls and so forth...You have yourself a few flings this summer. I'll bet you're, you're quite a ladies man...You look to me like the kind of guy who has to fight em off. Now doesn't he look to you like the kind of guy who has to fight em off?

[To Mrs. Robinson, who enters]

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The Graduate

Seduction and Confusion in The Graduate

Benjamin For God's sake, Mrs. Robinson, here we are, you've got me into your house. You give me a drink. You put on music, now you start opening up your personal life to me and tell me your husband won't be home for hours.

Mrs. Robinson So?

Benjamin Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me...

Benjamin ...aren't you?

Mrs. Robinson Well, no. I hadn't thought of it. I feel very flattered.

Benjamin Mrs. Robinson. Will you forgive me for what I just said?

The Graduate

Uncertain Love and Marriage Proposal

Elaine Benjamin...Will you kiss me?

[He rises from bed]

Benjamin Will you marry me? You won't?

[After a sleepy kiss; She shakes her head no]

Elaine I don't know.

Benjamin But you might?

Elaine I might.

Benjamin Is that so? You might marry me?

Elaine Yes.

The Graduate

Struggling with Post-Graduation Expectations and Identity

Benjamin Braddock I've had this feeling ever since I graduated. This kind of compulsion that I have to be rude all the time...It's like I was playing some kind of game, but the rules don't make any sense to me. They're being made up by all the wrong people. I mean no one makes them up. They seem to make themselves up.

The Graduate

Conflict Between Desire and Authority

Mrs. Robinson Drive down the block.

[gets into Benjamin's car]

Benjamin Mrs. Robinson, Elaine and I have a date, we're going for a drive.

Mrs. Robinson Do exactly as I say!

[angrily]

Benjamin Now, it seems to me...

[Ben drives down the block]

Mrs. Robinson Listen very carefully to me, Benjamin: You are not to see Elaine again, ever! Those are my orders, is that clear?

Benjamin Mrs. Robinson, do you think...

Mrs. Robinson I can make things quite unpleasant.

Benjamin How?

Mrs. Robinson In order to keep Elaine away from you, I'm prepared to tell her everything.

Benjamin I don't believe you.

[Ben stops the car]

Mrs. Robinson Then you better start believing me.

Benjamin I just don't believe you would do that.

Mrs. Robinson Try me.

The Graduate

Tension in a Confrontational Encounter

Mrs. Robinson Don't be nervous.

[now naked]

Benjamin Get away from that door.

Mrs. Robinson I want to say something first.

Benjamin Dear God.

Mrs. Robinson Benjamin. I want you to know that I'm available to you, and if you won't sleep with me this time...

Benjamin Oh, my God.

Mrs. Robinson ...if you won't sleep with me this time I want you to know that you can call me up anytime you want and we'll make some kind of an arrangement. Do you understand what I...?

Benjamin Let me out.

Mrs. Robinson Benjamin. Did you understand what I said?

[Screeching car tires are heard outside in the driveway]

Benjamin Yes, yes, let me out.

Mrs. Robinson Because I find you very attractive. Now, anytime you want, you just...

Benjamin Oh Jesus, that's him.

The Graduate

A Conversation About Concerns and Uncertainty

Benjamin I'm just...

Mr. Braddock ...worried?

Benjamin Well...

Mr. Braddock About what?

Benjamin I guess about my future.

Mr. Braddock What about it?

Benjamin I don't know. I want it to be...

Mr. Braddock ...to be what?

Benjamin ...Different.

The Graduate Quotes

find it. watch it.