I saw this film when it first came out in 1967. Here are the positive characteristics: Katherine Ross is (almost) unbelievably beautiful; the Simon and Garfunkel songs are great; the individual performances are interesting. Here's my problem with this film. How did a young man in 1967 graduate from college and still remain so clueless about women? Ben acts like he has no idea what Mrs. Robinson is after. How can that be? To me, that is unbelievable. He's supposed to be this brilliant student, editor of the college newspaper, etc., and he stutters and stammers and acts like he's never been with a woman. It's just ridiculous. OK, so imagine that you can accept that part. Can you then accept that Ben would think that it's going to work out between Elaine and him? Especially since he's basically stalking her??? "Oh, by the way, Elaine, I've been sleeping with your mom for months and I was hoping that now I could just switch over to you." HUH???? To me, the writing is the problem. He doesn't know people at all! This story made sense to me when I was 13. It really is written at the "young teenager" maturity level. Ben acts like he's about 16, instead of a college graduate.
Review of The Graduate
