The Graduate

The Graduate is a drama-comedy movie filmed in 1967 by Mike Nichols. Starring Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, and Katharine Ross, the film opens up with Ben (Hoffman) attending a party that his parents are hosting in his honor for graduating from college. Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), the wife of Ben’s father’s partner asks Ben to drive her home. When they arrive at the Robinson’s house, Mrs. Robinson invites Ben in for a drink and tries to seduce him until her husband arrives home. Later on Ben succumbs to Mrs. Robinson’s attempts and they meet in hotel rooms at night.

 Ben’s father and Mr. Robinson set up a date between Ben and Mr. and Mrs. Robinson’s daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross). Ben takes Elaine out and tries his best to be rude to her which includes taking her to a strip bar. Ben finally realizes that his behavior is too terrible when Elaine begins to cry. He explains his situation (to an extent) to Elaine and they reconcile. When Ben drops Elaine off at her house, Mrs. Robinson threatens to tell Elaine about their relationship but Ben manages to tell her first. Elaine doesn’t want anything to do with Ben anymore.

Ben follows Elaine back to college and kind of stalks her and gets an apartment just so he can be close at hand. Ben has decided that he is going to marry Elaine but her family tries to stop him. Ben finds out that Elaine is getting married to someone else and he rushes to the church where the ceremony is being held and stops the wedding. He and Elaine run off together even though Elaine is already married to the other man.