In case you didn't know the origins of the song Mrs. Robinson by Simon & Garfunkel, it was first featured in the 1967 movie The Graduate, starring Dustin Hoffman. The movie is about a young man who has just graduated from college and is still trying to figure his life out. He is trying to find a way to escape the smothering pride of his parents and their friends. His escape? Mrs. Robinson, an attractive neighbor and acquaintence to his parents. She seduces him and they end up having an affair, that is until he meets her daughter, Elaine. As it turns out, Ben (Hoffman) and Elaine are perfect for each other, and Ben decides that he wants to marry her. Mrs. Robinson finds out and is furious, so she tries everything in her power to break them up, including telling her of their affair.
The Graduate is one of my favorite older movies. It's a classic. The funny thing is that the movie is actually incredibly awkward. Only three songs play throughtout the entire movie, (Sound of Silence, Scarborough Fair, Mrs. Robinson) though there are refrains and different versions. The acting is also very awkward. At the beginning, Ben is a confused, shy young man incapable of conversing with confidence. The filming is perhaps the most awkward aspect, however. There would be prolonged scenes where nothing is happening. The camera just zooms in on something inanimate, random, or someone's face with unchanging emotion. Despite this bizarre cinematography, I really enjoy this movie. Again, it's a classic, and it's fun to see how different the technology was back in the late 60's. It has a great plot and great actors and I suggest watching it at least once in your life.
The famous seduction scene:
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