Dustin Hoffman Says Filming ‘The Graduate’ Was a ‘Terrible Experience’ and Director Mike Nichols Made Katharine Ross Slap Him 27 Times for a Scene He ‘Didn’t Even Use’
Dustin Hoffman says making “The Graduate” was a deeply uncomfortable experience, despite the film launching his career. In a recent essay, he describes feeling unworthy of the lead role and fearing director Mike Nichols thought he had been miscast.
Hoffman recalls Nichols ordering Katharine Ross to slap him 27 times for a scene that was ultimately cut. After the repeated takes, Hoffman says he felt dizzy; the next day, he noticed blood coming from his ear during an underwater shoot and says he had punctured an eardrum. Released in 1967, the film received seven Oscar nominations and won best picture.
In short
- Hoffman says he felt anxious and miscast while filming “The Graduate”.
- Ross slapped him 27 times for a scene Nichols later cut.
- Hoffman says he punctured an eardrum during filming.
Explained simply
The Graduate is a 1967 American film about Benjamin Braddock, a recent university graduate played by Dustin Hoffman, who becomes involved with an older family friend, Mrs Robinson, and her daughter Elaine. The film was directed by Mike Nichols, with Katharine Ross playing Elaine.
The role made Hoffman widely known, although he later described feeling unsure that he belonged in the part. His account of repeated takes with Ross reflects the power directors had over performances on set and has renewed attention to how actors were treated during filming. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won best picture.