 The same style of directing was used for "The Graduate", where, notes film historian Peter Biskind, Nichols took Dustin Hoffman, with no movie acting experience, along with Anne Bancroft, Katharine Ross and others, and managed to get some of their finest acting on screen.This ability to work closely with actors would remain consistent throughout his career.Hoffman credits Nichols for permitting the realistic acting needed for the satirical roles in that film