Film Analysis: The Graduate

The Graduate: An Adopted Champion of the Youth Movement

The Graduate, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Dustin Hoffman is not only critically hailed as a one of the greatest films of all time, it is also one of the most financially successful films of all time.1 Although initially looked over by the established Hollywood elite, the film found a home with an underrepresented and frustrated youth culture that was taking root in the 1960s. Its success lay in its effective portrayal and communication of the generation gap from a youthful perspective. Its box office reception as well as its critical reception show a shift in the definition of a bankable Hollywood film both in its choice of director, stars, music, narrative content, and style. In short the rebellious nature of the film captured the attention and praise of a rebellious generation. The 1960s were a time a great
New, younger directors will take over the scene with fresh ideas and a willingness to experiment with the classical Hollywood style. There is a kind of changing of the guard in Hollywood with young film school directors such as Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg6. This new generation of films and filmmakers are simultaneously reflecting and shaping the changing American culture around them. The Graduate shows exactly this changing culture with its lead actor, musical choices, and narrative content. The Graduate met with generally positive reviews but it was the audience reception that made it an unqualified success. With adjustments in regards to inflation, The Graduate is one of the twenty most profitable movies of all time.7 Producer Lawrence Turman originally optioned the rights for Charles Webb 's novel of the same name for one thousand dollars.8 The film was shot on a low budget of three million dollars and grossed thirty-five million in its first six