10 Mistakes That Actually Improved The Final Films
8. A Stand-In Director Helped To Make A Fantastic Finale
Mike Nichols' The Graduate is another film with an iconic ending that only came about due to a total accident. An editor was filling in for the director and forgot to yell "cut", leading to a highly memorable scene that made it into the final film.
Like any good romantic comedy, the film ends with the couple riding off into the sunset after our hero, Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) declares his love in dramatic fashion, interrupts the wedding of Elaine Robinson (Katharine Ross) and battles his way out of the church, using a huge cross to barricade an angry mob in the building before jumping on the nearest bus with Elaine.
The pair rush to the back seat and laugh joyously as they drive away together. But the camera then lingers for a moment, and the couple's smiles fade a little, replaced with slightly awkward, contemplative expressions.
Viewers interpreted this as the couple suddenly starting to worry about their uncertain future. In reality, Hoffman and Ross were just sitting there and trying to stay in character while wondering why the cameras were still rolling.