Daily Dialogue — June 27, 2011

Benjamin: Oh my God! 
Mrs. Robinson: Pardon? 
Benjamin: Oh no, Mrs. Robinson. Oh no. 
Mrs. Robinson: What’s wrong? 
Benjamin: Mrs. Robinson, you didn’t… I mean, you didn’t expect… 
Mrs. Robinson: What? 
Benjamin: I mean, you didn’t really think I’d do something like that. 
Mrs. Robinson: Like what? 
Benjamin: What do you think? 
Mrs. Robinson: Well, I don’t know. 
Benjamin: For god’s sake, Mrs. Robinson. Here we are. You got me into your house. You give me a drink. You… put on music. Now you start opening up your personal life to me and tell me your husband won’t be home for hours. 
Mrs. Robinson: So? 
Benjamin: Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me. 
Mrs. Robinson: [laughs] Huh? 
Benjamin: Aren’t you? 

 — Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman) Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), The Graduate 1967), screenplay by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry, based on a novel by Charles Webb

http://movieclips.com/e/yf9Th/

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is seduction suggested by Teddy Pasternak. Today’s suggestion comes from Russell.

Trivia: Robert Redford screen-tested with Candice Bergen for the part of Benjamin Braddock but was finally rejected by director Mike Nichols because Nichols did not believe Redford could persuasively project the underdog qualities necessary to the role. When he told this to Redford, the actor asked Nichols what he meant. “Well, let’s put it this way,” said Nichols, “Have you ever struck out with a girl?” “What do you mean?” asked Redford. “That’s precisely my point,” said Nichols.