The first song Bryan Cranston fell in love with: “I was amazed”
The enduring legacy of The Graduate cannot be understated; from the suffocating cinematography, sense of adolescent aimlessness and commanding presence of Mrs Robinson, the film captures the meandering melancholia of a young man who is simultaneously overwhelmed by the possibilities and cage of adult life. For anyone going through the post-graduate existential crisis, it’s an absolute staple, showing the sporadic and non-sensical decisions you find yourself making in an attempt to create order out of chaos. And for Bryan Cranston, one particular element of the film had a unique effect on him.
Simon and Garfunkel perhaps made the easiest money of their life when Mike Nichols called them up and asked for a contribution to his 1967 film. Simon was initially unconvinced, but agreed after reading the script and having their fee negotiated to $25,000.
The singing and songwriting duo had recently written a song called Mrs Roosevelt, which they changed to Mrs Robinson after hearing about the premise of the film. They were given two percent of the royalties from their song, which became the hit of the year, reaching number on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming number one in many other European countries.
The song has a light-hearted and whimsical sound, creating a delightful mismatch between the existential anxiety and ennui of Dustin Hoffman’s character with the taboo relationship between himself and Mrs Robinson. It captures the eagerness and delusion of our youth, as well as the insecurity and awkwardness of thinking you know more than you do.
When asked about the song, Cranston had one memory from his own younger days that sprang to mind, saying, “I was much too young but I’d just seen The Graduate. Oh my God! I was amazed by its overt sexuality and, being so young, I related to Dustin Hoffman’s character and the world of seduction he entered. That song was popular when I was 12 and was playing when I was trying to pluck up the courage to ask a girl out. But he who hesitates loses and sure enough another guy came over, asked her to dance and they were on their way. It was crushing!”
The Graduate is a brilliant example of the counter-culture at the time, something that Cranston highlighted in the overt sexuality and controversial relationship between Benjamin and Mrs Robinson. It’s one of the few films that shows the friction between modernity and the ideals of the past, with Benjamin being caught between the dreams his parents hold for him and a life that exists to please others and something new and daring that goes against tradition.
Like Cranston’s tragic story about being paralysed by the fear of taking a risk, many other viewers can relate to the eternal sense of being lost and making bad decisions. This creates a timeless masterpiece that reminds us of our own indecision and poor life choices of our youth. It remains one of Nichols’ most impactful films and only increases in emotional power as it ages, speaking to a generation of drifters and dreamers.
