Elaine and Carl’s Wedding, The Graduate
Like Sue Ellen and Pinter’s wedding, this ceremony between Elaine and Carl would ultimately be D.O.A., thankfully (or not?) for our preferred couple, Elaine and Benjamin.
There’s no question the final scene of The Graduate, in which Elaine and Benjamin’s faces subtly move from elated, to contemplative, to possibly horrified about their immediate future as they sit on the bus that will carry them into their life together, is one of the best in movie history. But the events that transpire before Elaine and Benjamin board the bus make for a truly unforgettable wedding.
After Carl’s fraternity brothers tell him that the wedding is taking place in Santa Barbara, Benjamin sets off to pull one of the most epic objections of all time.
First, of course, is Benjamin banging on the glass and yelling (howling?) Elaine’s name over and over. Elaine hesitates, then responds; “Ben!” She starts to run to him! Mrs. Robinson slaps her! A brawl ensues between Benjamin and the guests! Then, the coup d’état: Benjamin jams a large cross through the doors of the church, barricading the guests inside while the lovers make a run for it.
For a wedding that ultimately didn’t go through, this one is still without a doubt one of the most memorable in cinematic history. But it begs the question: Did Elaine and Benjamin ever have a wedding of their own?