Dustin Hoffman Recalls 'Terrible' Time Making 'The Graduate'
In a New Yorker essay, Hoffman writes that director Mike Nichols had Katharine Ross slap him for 27 takes, but the slap was cut from the film.
Dustin Hoffman has published an essay in The New Yorker describing his experience making 'The Graduate' as a "terrible" one. In the piece, Hoffman recounts a scene in which director Mike Nichols had Katharine Ross slap him for 27 takes, according to The New Yorker.
Hoffman writes that Nichols ultimately did not use the slap in the finished film. The day after the slapping scene, while filming an underwater scene in a scuba suit, Hoffman punctured an eardrum, he writes.
The essay offers a first-person account of the production of 'The Graduate', the 1967 film adapted from Charles Webb's novel and directed by Nichols. Hoffman played Ben Braddock, with Ross as Elaine.
'The Graduate' was released in theaters on December 22, 1967. It was nominated for seven Oscars and won best picture at the 40th Academy Awards. Hoffman's agent persuaded him to screen-test for the role of Ben Braddock, which he got; he had read Webb's novel before trying out for the part.
Quick answers
What did Dustin Hoffman say about making 'The Graduate'?
In a New Yorker essay, Hoffman described the experience as "terrible" and recounted a slapping scene with Katharine Ross that took 27 takes.
Did the slapping scene appear in 'The Graduate'?
No. Hoffman writes that Mike Nichols did not use the slap in the finished film.