7. Robert Redford As Benjamin In "The Graduate"
This entry into the list may be surprising, but it has nothing to do with Redford's acting abilities; the man can do little wrong in my books. But after watching the finished product of
The Graduate (Mike Nichols, 1967) it becomes clear that the part of Ben was written for Dustin Hoffman. He lives and breathes that role, hitting every mark with expert precision. It put him on the map as a formidable acting talent, and rightly so. I'm positive Redford would have done the part justice, but the sheer fact that Hoffman is the perfect candidate to play Ben means that anyone who was considered for the part would have ended up taking away from this 60's classic. Also, it's hard to disagree with Mike Nichols' view that Redford wouldn't make a believable underdog due to his chivalrous good looks and demeanor. We should all be thankful that Dustin landed the part even if simply for the fact that it meant we got to see a lot more of him in later films thanks to the celebrity that the part of Ben bestowed upon him.