BERKELEY, Calif. — The critically acclaimed 1967 film, “The Graduate,” directed by Mike Nichols, was a heavily influential piece for its time. The ingenue lead, Elaine Robinson (Katharine Ross), attends the University of California, Berkeley, making for plenty of film locations in Berkeley as well as the surrounding Bay Area.
The Graduate Hotel, previously known as the Durant Hotel, is attached to a common misconception that it was created in relation to the film. The hotel is part of a chain of many other Graduate Hotels in college towns all around the nation. However, Berkeley’s Graduate makes the film a point of pride, displaying movie posters throughout the hotel as well as a plethora of records by the film’s featured artists, Simon and Garfunkel, in the hotel lobby.
While the Graduate Hotel doesn’t have a connection with the making of the film itself, it sure is a fun place to visit if you’re looking to immerse yourself in the background of the industry-changing piece or just the Berkeley culture.
2647 Durant Ave., Berkeley, California
The Theta Delta Chi fraternity house is briefly featured in the film as protagonist Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman), frantically parks his red convertible in front of the house in the midst of his search for Elaine.
Durant Avenue in Berkeley
Just across the street from the fraternity house stands the UC Berkeley Unit 1 student living area. As can be seen from the photos above, the area has since been developed into a complex of student housing, computer labs and conference-center spaces.
Sather Gate, Berkeley, California
In the UC Berkeley quad, just across from the Student Union and student hot-spot, Golden Bear Cafe is a Berkeley landmark near the arched entry, Sather Gate. The gate is featured as Ben subtly watches Elaine from a distance.
2467 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, California
One of Berkeley’s hidden gems is Moe’s Bookstore on Telegraph. Still on the hunt for Elaine, Ben perches at a coffee shop across from the bookstore.