The Graduate

Not many people think kindly of an older man as a predator on young women, seducing them to “teach them the tricks of the trade”.
Of course in France, the old tradition apparently was for a father to take his son to an older woman, sometimes his own mistress for that purpose.

eazybee

I watched this film recently, as in the last five years, and I was surprised at how dark it was. There was also a radio adaptation which fleshed the story out.
Mrs. Robinson was a predator, preying on her daughter's boyfriend. Not nice.

Yes she was a predator but there were many young men who relished the opportunity of having an older woman teaching them the tricks of the trade. Remember that song Summer (The First Time) by Bobby Goldsboro. I'm not talking about under age boys, or teachers and pupils, both of which are totally wrong.

Does anyone remember Last Tango in Paris or the first Emanuelle (1972 and 1974 respectively)?

Iconic film, loved Ann Bancroft but being young, I thought she was really ancient! (I’d certainly swap now).
eazybee that adaptation sounds very interesting.

Just watched my recording of Charade with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant all set in Paris in the early 1960s. It was fabulous. All her clothes were by Givenche. Cary Grant although about 20 years older than her still looked handsome. Those were the days. I think it had been on Ch4.

Love the party guest advising the Dustin Hoffman character to get into plastics. Look at plastics now,

I can't believe it's 51 years since I first saw The Graduate but it must have been as I was expecting DS1 who will be 51 next April. It was the first time I'd seen Dustin Hoffman and since then he has never disappointed.

We both loved this film - at the time.
maybe wouldn't appreciate it so much now.
In fact husband found an affordable Alpha Romeo Spider - worried me a bit for a while until the gear box broke down,
loved the music too.

I watched this film recently, as in the last five years, and I was surprised at how dark it was. There was also a radio adaptation which fleshed the story out.
Mrs. Robinson was a predator, preying on her daughter's boyfriend. Not nice.

I love this film and enjoyed seeing it again recently, it is so well made and very stylish. Dustin Hoffman was perfect for the part, so was Ann Bancroft, I believe it was originally going to be Doris Day and Robert Redford - that would have been an entirely different film.

So much of what was taboo then is just accepted now. The age difference- respectable married woman seducing younger man, sex outside marriage, sex in respectable America, woman having sex with her daughter's boyfriend, girl ditching groom at the altar. Now its all taken for granted and much worse is seen on reality shows. It was such an iconic film and so many of us wanted to run off in a white wedding dress with Dustin Hoffman. Seriously though we did see it as chalenging old conventions.

Ann Bancroft was so beautiful and of course married to the wonderful Mel Brooks.

When my mother and I saw it we weren't bothered about the young man/older woman aspect. Our worry was whether you could really marry someone who'd been sleeping with your mother!

I love The Graduate but I agree it was very much of its time.

I saw it when it first came out, and again recently. It's a real favourite of mine, partly because Dustin Hoffman is so great and partly because of the Simon and Garfunkle soundtrack.

The famous stockinged leg on the movie poster belonged to Linda ‘Sue Ellen’ Gray.

And here's to you Mrs Robinson…

Like the film and love the music, especially Sound of Silence.

Had to look this up but I seemed to remember that Dustin Hoffman was much older than the age he was in the film. There was actually only 6 years between him and Anne Bancroft.

I really like the film and the music

Classic

It was very much of its time. Explicit for those times and mildly shocking. But very funny in parts and fabulous music. We watched it last week and really enjoyed it.

I think the older woman seducing much younger man premise. As well as Mrs Robinson being friends with his parents. Wasn't there a scene where she was in her underwear? Risque for the time maybe