Dustin Hoffman pens essay about "terrible experience" making The Graduate
In a new essay, Dustin Hoffman describes a "terrible experience" making The Graduate , including an incident where he was slapped in the face by Katharine Ross 27 times for a scene that didn't make it into the film.
Dustin Hoffman has penned a revealing essay detailing his "terrible experience" while filming the iconic movie, The Graduate, which catapulted him to fame. In the piece, published by The New Yorker, Hoffman reflects on the often tense relationship he had with director Mike Nichols. Hoffman notes that Nichols was "wonderful during rehearsal" but transformed into an entirely different person when filming commenced.
The actor frequently felt threatened, believing he might be fired at any moment, and admits to feeling uncertain about his performance during key scenes. Hoffman recounts instances of Nichols' irritability and even mentions a particularly grueling day where he was subjected to 27 takes of a scene where actress Katharine Ross slapped him.
Additionally, Hoffman describes enduring an eardrum puncture while wearing a wetsuit in a pool scene and nearly losing consciousness while filming the climactic church scene. The actor acknowledges the film's lasting impact on his life, recounting his belief that he was essentially a stand-in for Nichols' own self-loathing. Hoffman speculates that Nichols, in casting him as Benjamin, was searching for an alter ego following a professional break-up with his long-time collaborator, Elaine May.
Despite acknowledging allegations of unprofessional behavior on various sets, Hoffman has since come to appreciate Nichols in a new light. The full essay can be found in the latest issue of The New Yorker.
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