<P> The Graduate is a 1967 American romantic comedy - drama film directed by Mike Nichols and written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham , based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Charles Webb , who wrote it shortly after graduating from Williams College . A bildungsroman that follows its protagonist 's transition into adulthood , the film tells the story of 21 - year - old Benjamin Braddock ( Dustin Hoffman ) , a recent college graduate with no well - defined aim in life , who is seduced by an older woman , Mrs. Robinson ( Anne Bancroft ) , and then falls in love with her daughter Elaine ( Katharine Ross ) . </P>
<P> The Graduate is a 1967 American romantic comedy - drama film directed by Mike Nichols and written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham , based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Charles Webb , who wrote it shortly after graduating from Williams College . A bildungsroman that follows its protagonist 's transition into adulthood , the film tells the story of 21 - year - old Benjamin Braddock ( Dustin Hoffman ) , a recent college graduate with no well - defined aim in life , who is seduced by an older woman , Mrs. Robinson ( Anne Bancroft ) , and then falls in love with her daughter Elaine ( Katharine Ross ) . </P>
who played mrs robinson in the film the graduate
who played mrs robinson in the film the graduate
Anne Bancroft
Anne Bancroft