‘Graduate’ notes
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Re Susan King’s “An Advanced Degree of Influence on Modern Film” [May 1]: Neither Bob Redford nor Doris Day said no to “The Graduate.” Redford tested for the role (along with four other hopefuls, including Dustin). Nobody agrees to do a screen test for a role they don’t want.
I, as producer, sent the novel early on to Day’s husband-manager for a reaction, not an offer (I don’t recall that I even told Mike Nichols I was doing so). He, Marty Melcher, hated the book, so he never passed it along to her. The first, and only, actors offered the Benjamin and Mrs. Robinson roles were Dustin and Annie.
Larry Turman
Los Angeles
Larry Turman was the producer of “The Graduate” and is currently the chairman of the Peter Stark Producing Program in the School of Cinema/TV at USC.
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