The Graduate Blu-ray - Anne Bancroft Dustin Hoffman Katharine Ross

directed by Mike Nichols
U.S. 1967

A social force of cinema that influenced the generation gap, THE GRADUATE was a tour de force for newcomer Hoffman and made him an overnight sensation. Hoffman plays Ben Braddock, a pensive and somewhat shy youth of wealthy Southern California suburbia. Upon completion of his college studies, he's pressured by family and friends to "get going" with his life, encouraged at every turn to find a job, marry, and become a clone of his parents. Bancroft seduces Hoffman who cannot believe the older, married woman--she and her husband Hamilton are his parents' best friends--is pursuing him. Hoffman falls in love with her daughter Ross, and is put in the exhausting position of maintaining relationships with mother and daughter. He finally decides that Ross will be his wife, although Bancroft is wholly opposed to the union.

This comedy is wonderfully crafted by director Nichols who presents a half-dozen hilarious scenes, including Hoffman escaping badgering advice by submerging himself in the family pool in scuba gear and Bancroft's sudden shift from respectable matron to predatory tease, hiking her skirts lasciviously and purring promises of smoldering sex which almost put Hoffman into a comatose state. Nichols was to declare: "I think Benjamin and Elaine will end up exactly like their parents; that's what I was trying to say in the last scene." Yet the well-to-do younger audiences of the day interpreted this sequence of blatant heroics as a wonderful act of defiance by two young people whose destinies were being manipulated by their parents.

Excerpt TV Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release Date: December 21, 1967

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Comparison:

MGM (2-disc) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. MGM (2-disc - 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Momentum (SE) - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Enrique B Chamorro for the original MGM and Momentum screen captures.

(MGM (40th Anniversary Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. MGM - R1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Momentum - R2 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	MGM Region 'A' - Blu-ray	MGM (40th Anniversary Collector's Edition) Region 1 - NTSC	MGM Region 1 - NTSC	Momentum Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	1:45:55.349	1:45:48	1:45:28	1:41:18 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,403,381,704 bytes Feature: 19,734,417,408 bytes Codec: MPEG-2 Video Total Bitrate: 24.84 Mbps	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.69 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	2.35 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate:6.19 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.50 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Bitrate: MGM (40th Anniversary)
Bitrate: MGM
Bitrate: Momentum
Audio	DTS-HD Master Audio English 3279 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3279 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps Dolby Digital Audio French 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital DTS), English Mono DUB: French Mono	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), DUBS: German Mono, Italian Mono, Spanish Mono
Subtitles	English, Spanish, French and none	English, Spanish, French and none	English, French and none	English, German, Italian, Spanish, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: MGM 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,403,381,704 bytes Feature: 19,734,417,408 bytes Codec: MPEG-2 Video Total Bitrate: 24.84 Mbps Edition Details: • First disc of the Anniversary Edition DVD is included . Blu-ray Release Date: June 2nd, 2009 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 24	Release Information: Studio: MGM (40th Anniversary) Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic widescreen - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by Dustin Hoffman and Katherine Ross • Commentary by director Mike Nichols and Steven Soderbergh • Featurette: Students of the Graduate (25:56) • Featurette: The Seduction (8:49) • Featurette: 'One on One With Dustin Hoffman' (22:39) • Featurette: The Graduate at 25 (22:35) • Original Theatrical trailer (3:45) • Oscar trailer - many films (1:15) Disc 2 - CD • 4 Songs from the soundtrack • The Sound of Silence • Mrs. Robinson • Scarborough Fair/ Canticle • April Come She Will . DVD Release Date: September 11th, 2007 Keep Case in cardboard sleeve Chapters 24	Release Information: Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterbox - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical trailer • Collectible 8 page insert Booklet • 'One on One With Dustin Hoffman' (22:36) • The Graduate at 25 (4:3 - 22:00) DVD Release Date: December 7, 1999 Keep Case Chapters 19	Release Information: Studio: Momentum Pictures Home Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic widescreen - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • 64-page Companion Book (only available on initial release - no longer available ) •'One on One With Dustin Hoffman' (4:38) •The Graduate at 25 (4:3 - 22:00) •Photo Gallery (14) •Trailer DVD Release Date: March 26th, 2001 Keep Case Chapters 24

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were ripped directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: MGM - Region 'A' Blu-ray - May 09': Well, it's better in terms of color and a bit in the detail but overall this is a shabby way to treat such a classic. This single-layered Blu-ray is MPEG-2 transferred and suffers from that lesser encode's compression. There is not an abundance of grain. Perhaps superior to the image is the DTS-HD audio at over 3000 Kpbs. The Simon + Garfunkel / Dave Grusin songs sounds wonderfully clean and crisp.

Extras on the Blu-ray consist of a trailer for the film and 3 others (Pink Panther, Hoosiers, Rocky) but included is the first disc of the Anniversary DVD (with 2007 VOB files) with all of those extras including the commentaries and featurettes.

So the bottom line is that the Blu-ray has the best transfer currently available but MGM really appear to have scrimped. I suspect that, although confirmed Region 'A'-locked by my Momitsu, we've been told (Thanks Michael) the French Blu-ray (HERE) is the VC-1 and looks quite good. It's disappointing that they don't seem to value this title - a beautiful and witty comedy that is impossible to believe it's over 40-years old now. Trying to look positively about the hi-def edition package - it's a great price especially considering the first disc of the Anniversary DVD (which is offered individually at the exact same price!) is included. Maybe MGM/Fox could wise-up here and do The Graduate some deserved justice and although it, really, has improved the presentation - we know it could be better.

***

ADDITION: 40th Anniversary DVD - September 07': First off - apologies - although the same method was utilized for screen captures we shrunk the anamorphic Momentum caps down to 720 (this is from a very early comparison). We don't do that anymore - we actually shrink to only 800 pixels wide. I don't think the points we make will be missed by this deviation from our standard format.

The new 40th Anniversary DVD is finally coming to an anamorphic transfer for region 1 (what a delay!) and it looks quite strong. Anything would have been an improvement over the widescreen letterboxed and heavy green color of the old MGM from 1999. The new NTSC version appears to have the most faithful image. NOTE: Studio Canal logos are all over this DVD and we suspect this is from the same transfer possibly used on the French HD DVD (forced French subs) that was scheduled - where did it go? Anyway - wherever it came from it looks strong - FINALLY!

The Momentum always looked boosted to me with awkward manipulated colors (overly bright and also red skin tones).

Bottom line on the image is that the new version is quite acceptable and it shows a lot more in the frame (both edges). Audio gives us the original mono - a 5.1 bump and another untested DTS track (no reason for this MGM!). There is also a French mono DUB. Audio is supported by optional French, English or Spanish subtitles.

Where the Anniversary editions shines is in the supplements - there are two optional audio commentaries - the first with Dustin Hoffman and Katherine Ross (pretty laid-back - lots of gaps - Dustin does most of the talking) and the second with director Mike Nichols and Steven Soderbergh (this is quite good - Nichols does most of the talking responding at length to occasional queries from Soderbergh). On top of that there are 4 featurettes: Students of the Graduate runs almost 30 minutes and has input from many journalists, film professors and critics mostly discussing Nichols interpretation and groundbreaking use of music in the film. The Seduction (8:49) has many of the same participants but they look quite deeply at the multi-cut seduction sequences; 'One on One With Dustin Hoffman' (also on the old MGM) is the full 22:39 interview with Hoffman and although dated is rewarding to listen to and finally The Graduate at 25 is the same 22 minute featurette found on the Momentum PAL disc. Also included are the original Theatrical trailer (3:45)

There is a second disc - a CD - with 4 songs from the film; The Sound of Silence, Mrs. Robinson, Scarborough Fair/ Canticle and April Come She Will.

Bottom line is that this is an amazing deal at less than $17. One we strongly recommend for a timeless classic comedy film that delivers on many levels.

- Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

MGM (40th Anniversary Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC - Disc 1 (Disc 2 is a CD)

(MGM - R1 - NTSC - Left vs. Momentum - R2 - PAL - Right)

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE BELOW TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

Screen Captures

Subtitle Sample

MGM - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP vs. MGM - 40th Anniversary BOTTOM

1) MGM - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP

2) MGM - 40th Anniversary - Region 1 - NTSC SECOND