Dustin Hoffman, “The Graduate” 1967 Embassy/ Rialto Pictures/ The Hollywood Archive
New York-based specialty distributor Rialto Pictures and Studiocanal will release Mike Nichols’ groundbreaking THE GRADUATE, starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft, in new 4K digital prints beginning in April.
The 50 anniversary restoration had its World Premiere earlier this month at the TCL Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, as the centerpiece event of this year’s TCM Classic Film Festival. The new GRADUATE restoration will play in over 700 movie theaters nationwide on April 23 and 26, as part of TCM and Fathom Events’ monthly “TCM Big Screen Classics” series.
Dustin Hoffman, in his star-making, breakout role, portrays Benjamin Braddock, the college track star suddenly adrift after graduation, and ripe for seduction by an older, married woman: Bancroft’s coldly calculating friend-of-the-family Mrs. Robinson. When Ben ultimately falls for dream girl Elaine (Katharine Ross), who happens to be the Robinsons’ daughter, it sets up a love triangle like no other in American films up to that time.
Adapted from the Charles Webb novel by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, THE GRADUATE was the biggest box office surprise of the decade, nominated for seven Oscars and winning for director Nichols’ sophomore effort. The classic score by Simon & Garfunkel yielded a number one hit record for the duo. “Mrs. Robinson” became the Simon & Garfunkel ‘s second chart-topper, hitting number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and peaking within the top 10 of multiple other countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Spain, among others. In 1969, it became the first rock song to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year. The song has been covered by a number of artists, including Frank Sinatra, the Lemonheads, and Bon Jovi. In 2004, it finished at #6 on AFI’s 100 Years…100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema.
For more information visit Fathom Events.