Sophia Halkias

Film Review: The Graduate

1. Relate what was discussed in class or text to the screening: The Graduate, a film
directed by Mike Nichols in 1967, is easily my personal favorite film during the course of
this semester. Nichols, who was married to television anchor Diane Sawyer, is one of
twelve people to have ever won all of the major American entertainment awards: Emmy,
Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards. Mike Nichols skills as a director are easily depicted
during The Graduate. He won an Academy Award for Best Director for The Graduate.
This film grossed 40 million at the Box Office. This is no surprise when taking into
consideration the many Academy Awards for the film: Best Director, Best Picture, Best
Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Screenplay, and Best
Cinematography. Dustin Hoffman, the main character in the film, was nominated for Best
Actor for The Graduate, which was his first starring role. Anne Bancroft, or Mrs.
Robinson, is an Oscar and Tony winner. She made many elements of the film come to
life, including the themes and ideas we discussed in class. The film has obvious camera
shots and cutting, which introduces the idea of film as an intrusive art.
2. Find a related article and summarize the content: In the film The Graduate, Mrs.
Robinson has a unique sense of style which visually depicts her personality after
carefully analyzing the sequence of events in relation to how her personality appears to
be and her choice of clothing. In an article titles Fashion in Film: The Graduate by
blogger Rianna, readers are able to carefully analyze how Mrs. Robinson speaks volumes
about who she is with the way she chooses to dress. Rianna comments on how throughout
the film, Mrs. Robinson consistently wears some kind of animal print. In todays society,
we refer to women who date men younger than them as cougars, which can create
some kind of relationship with an animal print. Mrs. Robinson wears a cocktail dress
covered in black lace, which resembles lingerie, during the graduation party where she
watches Benjamin from a distance, but does not yet approach himsimilar to an animal
watching its prey. Her predator nature and sensuality is exhibited throughout the film in
other seductive articles of clothing, including her large cheetah print coat at the hotel, her
slip which is also animal print, her animal print blanket, and her animal print suit and
matching hat at her daughters wedding.
http://franklymydear-blog.blogspot.com/2014/01/fashion-in-film-graduate.html
3. Apply article to film screening in class: In class, we discussed that Anne Bancroft
brilliantly portrays the aggressive nature and sensuality of Mrs. Robinson through her
dialogue, and perhaps more importantly, her wardrobe. Dr. Mirrer asked the class to
brainstorm what types of personality traits we associate with animal printsome ideas
that come to mind are vicious, wild, dangerous, and uninhabited. These are all words
reflective of Mrs. Robinsons fiery nature. She shows us over and over again in the film
that she will not stop until she gets what she wants. She offers herself to Benjamin, and
has demands of him even though they are having an affair. She prohibits Ben from seeing
Elaine, despite Mr. Robinsons request of taking her out on a date. Mrs. Robinson is
seductive, and sensual, although she reveals that she is an unhappy housewife seeking
excitement in her life. This article supported the way I thought of Mrs. Robinson.
4. Write a critical analysis of the film: I truly enjoyed learning about the actors, director,
and music for film The Graduate. This was easily my favorite film during this semester.
The directors contributions to this film using various angles and cutting from scene to
scene was visually engaging. Overall, the plot used was relatable to college seniors and
graduates in terms of, where do I go from here? The high hopes for Ben set up by his
family and social circle were turned upside down when Ben takes up Mrs. Robinson, a
friend of his parents, on her seductive offer. The generation gap between Mrs. Robinson
and Ben was interesting to watch. When the love triangle was introduced between Ben
and Elaine, Mrs. Robinsons daughter, was introduced, things were even more shocking
and interesting. Ben and Elaine eventually ran out of Elaines wedding ceremony with
her then-husband, only to stare out into space with the same thought that Ben had after
collegewhat now?

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM

1) (X) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) (X) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly
explain that in the paper.

3) (X) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used
indentation and citation within the text.

4) (X) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the
text of the paper.

5) (X) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) (X) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I
cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) (X) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) (X) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research
and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Sophia Halkias ______________________ Date: May 5, 2014_____________________