STORY BEHIND THE MOVIE

What can you tell me about The Graduate? – E

Gene Hackman was cast as Mr Robinson but was sacked after just three weeks, deemed too young for the role by perfectionist director Mike Nichols. Another star with a footnote in the origins of the 1967 movie is then-little-known model Linda Gray, whose leg is pictured opposite Dustin Hoffman in the famous promotional poster. Anne Bancroft got the part but Gray would play Mrs Robinson on stage and star as Sue Ellen in Dallas.