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Surviving "The Graduate"

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Co-screenwriter Buck Henry noted that the production initially pictured Robert Redford and Candice Bergen in the principal roles. Nichols, riding the momentum of thirteen Academy Award nominations for his debut film, bypassed typical casting archetypes by telling the reluctant candidate the protagonist was "Jewish inside." Facing intense family criticism, the lead actor vacated his parents' house after five days to stay at the Chateau Marmont. Throughout filming, the performer continued to struggle with pervasive feelings of alienation and inadequacy.

Key points

  • Mike Nichols challenged traditional studio casting conventions by looking past the origin…: Mike Nichols challenged traditional studio casting conventions by looking past the original novel's physical character descriptions.
  • The lead actor required direct personal persuasion by phone to overcome skepticism about…: The lead actor required direct personal persuasion by phone to overcome skepticism about entering the Hollywood studio system.
  • Intense family criticism forced the actor to relocate to the Chateau Marmont during the L…: Intense family criticism forced the actor to relocate to the Chateau Marmont during the Los Angeles filming schedule.

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When I went down to the pool at the Chateau Marmont, it seemed like everyone knew each other and was having fun in the sun.

I had been staying with my parents in L.A., shooting “The Graduate,” but my father was driving me crazy. Every day, I’d get home from the set, and he’d grill me, wanting to know every detail of what happened. And he’d be very critical: Why did you do that? That’s not the way to do it. I lasted maybe five days, and then I couldn’t take it anymore. I was trapped in the house where I’d grown up, totally alienated by the previous generation, just like my character. So I’d moved to the hotel where the cast and crew were staying.

Out by the pool, it was like a cabana party on Mount Olympus: the people looked like golden gods among the palm trees. I felt immediately uncomfortable, unworthy. Here I was, playing a starring role in a movie by Mike Nichols, who was the director of the moment, but I felt like I had…

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