The Graduate (1967) Black Comedy Drama Noir

"Hello darkness, my old friend"

Wow! Let me preface this review.

Once you get your Noir-dar activated you'll find that there is no going back. Lol. You watch enough Films Noir and you literally get to the point where some have said, "you know them when you see them." I'll go that one better. A Film Noir, for Noirsville is any pan generic dark story told in a visually stylistic way that triggers a vibe that you subjectively tune to, it's almost akin to a drug/alcohol high.  You get a Noir buzz. 

 During 1950s Hollywood was loosing their audiences to competition with TV. Previously the pool of dark themes and subject matter that Noir forged into stylish films, were held in check by a voluntary Motion Picture Production Code. Think of Hollywood productions under the Code as having a guardrail of violence on one side and a guardrail of sex and taboo subjects on the other.  When the Big Studios began to get serious competition from television, they needed an edge to get butts out of the living rooms and into the theaters they began to no longer enforce the code and to explore more previous banned subject matter. The guardrails disappeared. Then independent producers in competition with the Hollywood Studios tried to out do them by being the Avant guard of exploiting the new freedoms. The legal challenges of, and ever changing benchmarks to the obscenity laws and the old taboo themes weakened the bulwarks of the pool and that arbitrary "dam" holding back all creativity burst out with predictable results.  

So those Film Noir that went too far over the line depicting violence started getting classified as Horror, Thriller (even though they were just say, showing the effects of a gunshot wound, or dealing with weird serial killers, maniacs, and psychotics, etc.). Those that went too far depicting sexual, drug, torture, etc., situations were being lumped into or classed as various Exploitation flicks, (even though they are relatively tame comparably to today's films). The the noir-ish films that dealt with everything else, except Crime, concerning the human condition were labeled Dramas and Suspense. Those that tried new techniques, lenses, etc., were labeled Experimental. 

I saw The Graduate upon it's premier in Times Square. I was fifteen and it was well before I had any focus on Noir. But, I've had a hunch about the film looking back from memory now, and the opportunity arose to watch it last night on TCM's 31 Days of Oscar. 2022. It was in 1967 so in that Transitional Noir era when everyone was exploiting the new freedoms and pushing envelopes.

The Graduate is a Black Comedy Drama Noir that is an Oscar winner. With Mrs. Robinson as a cold bloodedly voracious sexual Femme Fatale to both Ben Braddock's virginity and her marriage. 

Directed masterfully by Mike Nichols who had an impressive string of hits, (his second film Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was his first The Graduate his second followed by Catch-22 and Carnal Knowledge). The screenplay was by  by Buck Henry and based on the novel by Charles Webb. The Music was by Simon & Garfunkel. The Cinematography was by Robert Surtees known for Classic Noirs Act of Violence, The Strip, and also The Last Picture Show (among others). Here he uses the unmistakable Visual Stylistics of Noir to enhance the dark unconventional relationships

The film stars Classic Noir Vet Anne Bancroft (Classic Noirs Don't Bother to Knock, New York Confidential, The Naked Street, Nightfall, and The Girl in Black Stockings) as Mrs. Robinson.

Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Robinson

Dustin Hoffman (Midnight Cowboy, Straight Time, Rain Man, Billy Bathgate, and many others) as Benjamin Braddock. 

Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock

Katharine Ross (Transitional Noir Mister Buddwing, and Western Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid ) as Elaine Robinson.

Katharine Ross as Elaine and Murray Hamilton as her father Mr. Robinson

William Daniels (Naked City (TV Series), Marlowe) as Mr. Braddock, Murray Hamilton (Anatomy of a Murder, The Hustler, Seconds, ) as Mr. Robinson, Elizabeth Wilson as Mrs. Braddock, and Norman Fell (The Killers '64, Bullitt, Charley Varrick, as Mr. McCleery.

William Daniels as Mr. Braddock

Norman Fell as Mr. McCleery

The Story

So college graduate Ben heads back to LA. His parents are proud, they buy him a red Alfa Romeo Spider as a graduation present and arrange to show him off to their friends, neighbors, and business associates at a welcome home party. 

Flying to L.A.

Ben's shy, and  gets overwhelmed and feels like he's in a fish bowl. He makes the rounds of the guests then excuses himself. He heads up to his room to sulk. 

Ben making the rounds

Plastics!

Poor Ben in the cross hairs of Mrs. Robinson

Sulking

Mrs. Robinson the wife of his father's business partner, follows him upstairs and asks him to drive her home because her husband left with the car. Ben offers her the keys to his brand new 1966 Alfa Romeo Spider 1600 and tells her to drive herself home. She tells him she can't drive a stick. So he drives her home.

Mrs. Robinson barges into Bens room

Ben I need you to drive me home

I can't drive a stick

She gets Ben into her house by telling him she is afraid of going into a dark house. Then she asks him to stay with her and keep her company until her husband gets home.

She takes him to the entertainment den where there is a bar. Its baked up against a window with the Robinson's green garden in view, the whole setting resembles a jungle. 

Apt, because Mrs. Robinson is preying on Ben. She gets him to have a drink. Turns on music. She sits on a barstool. Turns to face Ben. When she flashes her legs at him showing some inner thigh, Ben is flustered. She laughs at his reaction.

Benjamin: Oh, my God!

Mrs. Robinson: Pardon?

Benjamin: Oh no, Mrs. Robinson. Oh no.

Mrs. Robinson: What's wrong?

Benjamin: Mrs. Robinson, you didn't... I mean, you didn't expect...

Mrs. Robinson: What?

Benjamin: I mean, you didn't really think I'd do something like THAT.

Mrs. Robinson: Like what?

Benjamin: What do you think?

Mrs. Robinson: Well, I don't know.

Benjamin: For God's sake, Mrs. Robinson. Here we are. You 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! 

Mrs. Robinson: [laughs] Huh?

Benjamin: Aren't you?

Ben is like a deer in the headlights. He hasn't a fucking clue. 

Things get a bit more serious when Mrs. Robinson asks him if he'd like to see Elaine's portrait. He follows Mrs. Robinson upstairs to Elaine's room. While Ben is admiring the painting. Mrs. Robinson is removing her jewelry. 

She asks an astonished Ben if he'd undo her zipper. 

She removes her dress and is wearing a bra and a half slip. She walks into a bathroom while Ben mumbles nervously about leaving and heads down the stairs. 

 Mrs. Robinson calls out and asks him to bring up her gold purse from downstairs. 

 When Ben brings it up she tells him to put it in Elaine's room. Ben does so, but Mrs. Robinson follows him in naked. Dripping with anticipation she is right behind him and locks the door. She turns around showing him everything she's got. 

A naked reflection

Benjamin: Oh God. Oh, let me out.

Mrs. Robinson: Don't be nervous.

Benjamin:  Get away from that door.

Mrs. Robinson: I want to say something first.

Benjamin:  Jesus Christ.

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 Christ.

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 arrangement. 

Benjamin:  Oh...

Mrs. Robinson: Do you understand what I...

Benjamin:  Let me out.

Mrs. Robinson: Benjamin, do you understand what I just said?

Benjamin: Yes! Yes. Let me out!

Mrs. Robinson: I find you very attractive.

The timely arrival of Mr. Robinson driving up the driveway gets Ben scurrying downstairs fast and back to the bar. 

Ben explains to Mr. Robinson that his wife asked to be driven home. Mr. Robinson makes them drinks. The conversation they have is hilarious after what just took place.

Mr. Robinson: Ben, can I say something to you?

Benjamin: What?

Mr. Robinson:  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?

Benjamin: Quite a while.

Mr. Robinson:  I watched you grow up, Ben.

Benjamin: Yes, sir.

Mr. Robinson:  In many ways, I feel as though you were my own son.

Benjamin: Thank you.

Mr. Robinson:  So I hope you won't mind my giving you a friendly piece of advice.

Benjamin: I'd like to hear it.

Mr. Robinson: Ben, I think... 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.

Mr. Robinson:  [Mrs. Robinson joins them; Ben abruptly stands up] Don't get up.

Mr. Robinson:  I was just telling... Ben. Ben, here, that he ought to sow a few wild oats. Have a good time while he can. You think that's sound advice?

Mrs. Robinson: Yes, I do.

Benjamin: I've got to go.

Mr. Robinson:  You have yourself a few flings this summer. I bet you're quite a ladies' man, huh?

Benjamin: Oh, no.

Mr. Robinson:  [taken aback] What?

Mr. Robinson:  You look to me like the kind of guy who has to fight 'em off.

Mr. Robinson:  [to his wife] Now, doesn't he look to you like the kind of guy who has to fight them off?

Mrs. Robinson: Yes, he does.

And the vision that was planted in my brain Still remains

So Ben after being visually baited by her "charms" and dark offer of Mrs. Robinson eventually succumbs and he gives her call on the phone from the Taft hotel. Mrs. Robinson immediately asks if he's got a room and then, before he can answer, tells him she'll be there in an hour and hangs up. 

The bar lounge at the Taft is festooned with plants. Another jungle. When Mrs. Robinson arrives she is wearing appropriately, a leopard skin jacket and leopard print skirt.

Buk henry as Desk Clerk

Another humorous sequence ensues around his use of a pseudonym to sign the register, that makes a reprise later in the film. We then get another chuckle inducing situation up in the room when Mrs. Robinson deduces that Ben is a virgin. (just a heads up, in the book he's not, and his reluctance there, is for more conventional reasons like maybe he's got some scruples). 

So after that initial tryst Ben becomes a bit more self assured and he and Mrs. Robinson continue their sleazy affair at the Taft. He hangs around his parents house floating in the pool by day. He bangs an eager Mrs. Robinson by night.  

The Stud

A little obvious subtext

After finding out the Mrs. Robinson's daughter Elaine is coming home from school Ben jokingly tells her that he will date Elaine. Mrs. Robinson goes ballistic and forbids it. 

More obvious subtext 

However, Ben heavily pressured by both his parents and Mr. Robinson acquiesces to taking Elaine out on one friendly date. It all goes Noirsville.

Noirsville

 

All of the performances are spot on. Hoffman, pretty much steals the show except for his scenes with Bancroft. Bancroft, in cougar mode, constantly sucking on a tar bar, is scarily predacious. A unrelenting feline out for man meat. She's gonna smoke him down and crush him out. Daniels and Hamilton play your typical 50s TV sitcom dads while their friends and neighbors offer Ben platitudes. Ross is very believable playing her college girl innocence perfection. The camerawork is excellent. Bravo Café au lait Noir 10/10.

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