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The Graduate (1967) DVD Review
The Graduate (1967) DVD Credits:
The Graduate (1967) Directed by:
Mike Nichols
The Graduate (1967) Written by:
Calder Willingham
The Graduate (1967) Cast:
Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katharine Ross, William Daniels
The Graduate (1967) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
The Graduate (1967) DVD Release Date:
10th September 2007
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The Graduate (1967) Synopsis:

Few films have defined 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, its 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.

The Graduate (1967) DVD Review:

There are certain films which no movie collection should be without. Some of these films aren’t even terribly fun to watch, but they are classics that every collection should include. The Graduate is one of these films, only it also happens to be entertaining generation after generation. Now more than ever The Graduate can be considered a true classic, forty-years later. From Dustin Hoffman’s hilarious performance to Simon and Garfunkel’s wildly popular soundtrack, The Graduate is a timeless piece of cinema worth owning, and the 40th Anniversary Edition has plenty of great extra perks.

Benjamin Braddock comes from a wealthy family and his life is certain to be a successful one, which is only further insured when Benjamin finally graduates from college. This success isn’t enough for Benjamin, who doesn’t seem motivated to do much of anything with his life. With no motivations or aspirations, Benjamin spends most days in the pool, living in his parent’s home. The dull existence is livened up quite a bit when a family friend, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), begins seducing Benjamin. At first he turns her down, even when she is naked in front of him, but after time he goes into it willingly. The affair is of no consequence to Mrs. Robinson, but Benjamin tries hard to like her, which doesn’t turn out well. As if the affair is not causing him problems enough, Benjamin’s parents and Mr. Robinson set up a date for Benjamin with their daughter (Katherine Ross). He tries just as hard not to like her, and fails just as miserably.

There is something so hauntingly honest and humorous about the mood of The Graduate, making it a film still effective forty years after initial release. The base themes of a young man who has been ushered through schooling only to find he has no passion for anything are painfully true for anyone who has completed any length of schooling. When Benjamin is finally lucky enough to find something he is truly passionate about he finds that he has endangered his own ability with the very thing that was serving as a distraction prior to passion. And as a final twist of ignorant youth, even when Benjamin wins back his passion, we can see that there is a slight disappointment setting in after the battle is won. This is what makes The Graduate such an honest and endearing portrait of youth; an untraditional coming of age tale, if you will.

Although there are two discs in the Anniversary Edition, the second disc is a soundtrack CD with four of the famous Simon and Garfunkel songs that have long been associated with The Graduate. This is a limited time addition to the Anniversary Edition of the DVD, and the special features are all on the same disc as the film. The special features are minimal, but of substantial quality. The featurettes have interviews with many cast and crew from the film as well as other great filmmakers such as Harold Ramis and Steven Soderbergh, who love the film enough to be included. Soderbergh is even invited on the commentary track with director Mike Nichols. The other commentary track has Dustin Hoffman and Katherine Ross. Some of the featurettes are old, including the interview with Hoffman at the 25th Anniversary marker and the original theatrical trailer.

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The Graduate (1967) DVD review written by: Ryan Izay

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