MovieChat Forums > The Graduate (1967) Discussion > Dustin Hoffman too old for the part?

Dustin Hoffman too old for the part?

posted 8 years ago by ZolotoyRetriever
14 replies | jump to latest

Dustin Hoffman always strikes me as too old to play the part of Benjamin. Not only was Benjamin supposed to be young, but even a bit unusually young, in that he had just graduated college but was only 20 years old according to the script. Usually, college graduates are 22, or maybe 21... but 20 is kind of unusual. Possible, but a bit rare.

Hoffman was 30 at the time - he never struck me as the 20-year-old that Benjamin was supposed to be. It doesn't ruin the picture for me, but his age does appear obvious at times.

Don't mess with me, man! I know karate, judo, ju-jitsu..... and several other Japanese words.

[–] kenny-164 8 years ago

I have never considered Hoffman too old for this part.

[–] spaniardo73 7 years ago

Yea, it was ridiculous when he said he was 20 years old.

[–] SoapWatch 7 years ago

Yeah I saw the movie for the first time and thought he was supposed to be mentally retarded.

If they had actually picked someone young to fit the role, it would have fit better.

But then who should they have chosen?

[–] ayhaga 7 years ago

Steve Martin

thank god not every movie is a citizen kane

[–] InherentlyYours 7 years ago

I saw the movie for the first time and thought he was supposed to be mentally retarded

why? I mean, your avatar makes your comment ironic.

[–] twominds79 7 years ago

Yeah that was a big issue as he looked 30 . Also a star athlete !!! C'mon . Table tennis maybe .,

[–] shawnmichael15 7 years ago

Well, he was "turning" 21 a week after he graduated, if that helps. But yeah, still pretty young to graduate college. He must have been one of those people who graduated high school at 17.

[–] kag2 7 years ago

As a great actor in his breakout film, he makes himself seem like a 20/21 year old nerdy virgin, even though he was nearly 30 when they filmed it (and Anne Bankcroft/Mrs. Robinson was just 36).

[–] earl237 (1106) 7 years ago

Funny how William Daniels who played Hoffman's character's father was only 10 years older than him in real life. Anne Bancroft was only 6 years older than Hoffman.

[–] prolelol (1421) 7 years ago

As I'm now 20, I agree that he was damn too old for the role.

[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 6 years ago

"As I'm now 20, I agree that he was damn too old for the role."

You are looking at him through today's eyes.

[–] prolelol (1421) 6 years ago

I respect your opinion about that's how the men were looking from the 1960s, but I just couldn't imagine him as 20-years-old boy while he was actually 30 at the time. The same way about Sissy Spacek for Carrie. Maybe he looked like 25.. but 20? There's no way he looked alright for the role.

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 6 years ago

I think Hoffman looked suitably young and pulled off being 21 years old. He was very boyish actually.

[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 6 years ago

I never felt that he was too old. He looked like most 20 year old guys of that time. We are talking 1967. Many of us looked older at that time.