The Graduate (1967) | Keeping the Score Series

Be it a gentle piano interlude or a glorious orchestral fanfare, no element of filmcraft sets a movie’s tone and identity quite like the musical score. Film music has the power to underline a filmmaker’s narrative ideas, forge our bond to a heroic character, and move us to the point of tears. Join us all year long as we showcase cinema’s iconic composers whose musical talents enrich the images we see on screen and have us humming their unforgettable melodies as we exit the auditorium. The series continues with THE GRADUATE! 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀: princetongardentheatre.org/specials

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲: Dustin Hoffman’s breakthrough role finds him playing a recent college graduate lacking direction who becomes sexually involved with a friend of his parents, the seductive and older Mrs. Robinson. THE GRADUATE is a coming-of-age film boasting a clever script and featuring a tremendously inventive use of Simon & Garfunkel’s music and impeccable acting from both Hoffman and Anne Bancroft. The impact of this generation-defining film is still felt to this day.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲:Emerging in the folk rock music scene in the late ‘60s, filmmaker Mike Nichols approached Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel to seek permission to license their music for THE GRADUATE. Concerned about selling out, the duo was initially hesitant, but changed their minds after hearing Nichols' proposal. They contributed their most famous songs at the time (“The Sound of Silence” and “Scarborough Fair”) and also recorded three new singles for the film, including the now-iconic “Mrs. Robinson.” While the film features instrumental pieces by composer Dave Grusin, it is the contemporary sound of Simon & Garfunkel that marked a significant milestone in film scoring through the integration of original pop music, playing a crucial role in the film's narrative. The enduring influence of this soundtrack is evident in both the film and music industries, as seen in notable films like SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, PULP FICTION, and PURPLE RAIN, which incorporate popular music into their narratives.

𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 $𝟭𝟬!Become a member of our nonprofit theater for as little as $40 a year. Learn more at princetongardentheatre.org/membership

You may also like the following events from Princeton Garden Theatre:

• This Wednesday, 21st May, 07:00 pm, Film is Dead. Long Live Film! (2024) w/ Antique Projector Demonstration by Jesse Crooks in Princeton
• This Thursday, 22nd May, 07:00 pm, A Beautiful Mind (2001) w/ the MIT Alumni Club of Princeton in Princeton
• Next Wednesday, 28th May, 07:00 pm, Planet of the Apes (1968) | Keeping the Score Series in Princeton

Also check out other Entertainment events in Princeton, Music events in Princeton, Arts events in Princeton.