To me this is the way I would want every interview to be but especially to have it be Dustin Hoffman about to graduate is so over the top fabulous thanks Dustin and thanks to whoever produced this
The Graduate is one of my favourite films ever, thanks to the fantastic acting by Dustin and all, and directing, but also to the truly great Simon and Garfunkel soundtrack which permeates this movie and gives it its special soul.
Thank you Dustin & Tom, this is for The Movie Rain Man,” It’s never been done for unbelievably nailing what the families went go through on a daily basis. Our daughter will be 30yrs old on 5/4/23. It’s never done right, however, no one ever thought about what the parents go through. It was so perfect that only families who live with Autism can get what we go through. My husband and I saw it before we were married and had no children when Rain Man first came out. We both thought it was a really great movie. 15yrs later, our daughter was 18 we were laughing our asses off. You just can’t find the humor in it unless you have a child with Autism. My god, Dustin and Tom did it to a science. It’s as all families who have a loved one w/ autism wanted to thank all of you people who were involved in Rain Man. Parents are and/or family are never noticed how hard it is, the love we have for that child. We kept Christina, or daughter till she was 22yrs old. My husband & I were 54 then, and I was diagnosed with Atrial fibulation, w/ some other stress related things. Anyway, we have her home every single weekend and 5 nights and days for holidays. Always wanted to thank you for that moment on the train when Dustin says goodbye to Raymond, Tom, it showed the love a family member feels. So again a HUGH thank you!!!! It’s now 11/6/22 🙏🏽 we don’t loose our democracy. Are daughter has been saying since 2016 “Trump is a very bad man.” She is so smart. We still call her our little princess. Sorry for making your eyes and ears bleed. Again thk you!!!
So nice to hear the thoughts of someone else who appreciates the honesty of Hoffman about how reality wrestles with creativity to make movie magic if you're lucky.
What a great interview. I also really appreciate the interviewer not interrupting him, just letting him go and realizing he didn’t have to ask much or keep rambling on with the question because he knew he had gold
Hey Big thanks for posting, i know the Graduate back to front, in my Top 5 movies! I've always wondered about how this film came about, in terms of Dustin and other actors. This interview answered all of those long sought out questions. Thanks again, a great listen
My favourite actor - I could listen to his anecdotes ALL DAY! The man is a LEGEND and we all seem to forget that had he NOT got the part he may never have become an actor to so all his incredible moves like 'Midnight Cowboy' , 'Tootsie' etc! I would indeed love to sit for 1 hour and talk to this GIANT who very nearly was an 'also ran'...........THANK YOU Dustin for all the joy.
Wow. What a great interview by a great actor about one of my favorite movies. My neighbor used to have him come to her house for Italian dinners when he was just starting doing summer theater in Iowa. She called him “Dusty” and had great things to say about him. She saved a letter of thanks he’d sent her many years later.
LOOOONG history of assaulting women. Career over. Bye-bye. Go view the interview with Matt Lauer and Dustin Hoffman, chortling together. They're both gone. Good riddance.
I thought for sure he was going to say that the older Benjamin was working in plastics. Also I was surprised that he suggested he was "still" married to Elaine, as I was not actually under the impression that they were about to get married. Their expressions as they drove away in the bus suggested otherwise.
his portrayal of captain hook in "hook" was honestly spot on and really amazing. even if the movie is kinda a kids movie, he rlly made a great character to oppose peter and make him re-evaltuate his role as a father. his voice and mannerisms for hook, rlly just spot on
Our most beloved actor certainly has his right to privacy, but what a shame that we so rarely got to enjoy his consummate storytelling. This is priceless.
This was the first adult film I ever saw. Being the younger sister with three big brothers! It was Christmas and I can remember it like it was yesterday.
Wonderful actor...the graduate, midnight cowboy, rain man, Tootsie, Stray Dogs, Kramer vs Kramer, all the presidents men....just a few of his great movies...oh, and Outbreak....so much wonderful entertainment!
I'm a quasi Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft fan. There are movies I love from both of them but I would not say I follow them like a fan. I wonder why now after seeing this interview. When a great discusses a film they have been in and tell you such details as Dustin has in this film, it is magic. I never truly appreciated this film, probably because I was way too young at the time. After seeing this interview I am going to to watch it entirely from beginning to end.
I love all his movies, he was great in the movie let’s see Tootsie it was great,funny, you really wouldn’t. Know if it was him he was a women funny great loved it he was a great actor 😊
The unconventional leading man does that make him stand out so much from the the other actors of his time or was he really that good of an actor, I don’t know really all I know is when I watch him on screen is it gives me and the other not so handsome men of hope that we have a chance of getting the girl we deep down think that is out of are league
@@Greg-re7nj agree. I believe the unofficial sequel was The Heartbreak Kid (1972). Seeing a predatory older man grooming & molesting an underage girl (if that is what he is implying) wouldn’t fly for obvious reasons.
There was a Sequel to the Graduate. It was called- HomeSchooled or maybe Homeschooling. I don'r think there was every a Movie Sequel to the Graduate at least as I write this (11/02/2018) , but Charles Webb wrote the Novel- The Graduate which was the Basis (really entire script) for the Movie wrote a Novel called HomeSchool (or maybe Homeschooling). IN that novel, Ben and Elaine are Married and living in Westchester with their 2 Sons whom they have been Homeschooling.. The local Westchester Board of Education gives them a hard time about homeschooling their kids so they call upon Elaine's Mother- aka Mrs. Robinson (known in the NOVEL AS Nana) I won't give away any ore of the Novell. I don't think it was good as the Origianal, but it was still good to see a Sequel to The Graduate.
Enjoyed the interview until the end.What a horrible idea for a sequel. The whole theme of the original was a generational statement of hope for the post war generation to not grow up to be as shallow as their parents. A turn towards cynicism would be horrible. Granted there was a lot of phoniness among we boomers. But The Graduate was an expression of hope.
The Graduate 1967, in life men had to become a success, men had to become somebody, men had to become Millionaires, We are Jewish, after the War we came here with NOTHING. Kosher Shyster & Ass, London, England, 2018
I don't blame Katharine Ross for turning on him, when he pinched her rear. Who the hell did he think he was? But, apparently, he's done that to women all of his life. "Get us relaxed" oh sure. Like when he slapped Meryl Streep across the face.
Such a different time that he thought even when the interview was done that pinching Katherine Ross was appropriate and mentioned that she later apologized to him. Sort of cringe-worthy to listen to.
Weird Al: So Dustin, remember that day you came over to my house, and I shaved your back with my teeth? Dustin Hoffman: DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT TO ME, AGAIN! Weird Al: Whoa... I'm sorry Dustin. I didn't realize that would... Dustin Hoffman: ...HOW DARE YOU!
Was not considered to be anything special in those days - they all did it. He is a victim of fast moving time and over the top political correctness. Though, for some feminists he would come over as extremely annoying - he jokes about it. For all the obvious faults i still think he's great.
a 20 plus year old dude shouldn't be touching anyone without there approval. Sorry he was not 12-15 years old he was a grown man. i like hoffman as a actor but as a human what he was doing was pretty shitty.
Its important to separate his craft skills from personal behavior. All that was needed at the time of the allegation of sexual harassment was for Dusty to say, “We need to reevaluate whats said in between takes” to begin the self reflection needed in this era. Oliver said such truth when he remarked that one groups acceptable banter can create another group (paraphrase). What strikes me, offends me, is 1)other women that came forward since 2) his complete lack of self examination, empathy, or compassion 3) His vanity, physical obsession! His first remark of coworker “Shes beautiful”; Describing Nichols flirting w/her, .”Hes hitting on her”; “I cant blame him”. Women arent going to accept being treated as a piece of meat any longer! Sad his first remark had nothing to do with her skills, her work, his wanting to work with her, nothing on a professional level. Sorry but the combined behaviors represent the wrongs which our society must redress if we are to ever gain sexual equality. Women have called him a pig, I might too.Sorry Dusty’s f**d up where sexual interactions on a professional level are concerned.
@@hualani6785 Wait.. you seriously have a problem with "She's beautiful" or "I can't blame him for hitting on her" ? You need to grow up, women aren't some special super-race.. they are just human beings and they're subject to everything that comes with it including men thinking "wow, she is HOT". You say women won't accept it, but most women USE that to their advantage. You have a lot to learn.
Well yes, it wasn't a big deal back then, but the point is that it _is_ regarded as inappropriate by most people now, and that's why we've gotten to a point where it's not tolerated anymore. ~:~
Dart Vade They are buying it. You see all these guys careers being destroyed. Look at Kevin Spacey, it was decades ago and they reshot the damn movie and fired him from House of Cards.
Women grope men often lol. They check you out, laugh about you, ogle you, feel your arms, pat you on the butt ... I got stopped by two female cops while jogging without a shirt on. They had no reason to stop me, they just wanted to check out some meat and laughed about it. But that's ok because they're women and they're, you know, special, high up on a pedestal where we place them ... the mother of the species. Men on the other hand are consigned to being the 9 to 5 workhorse, we die earlier, are sacrificed in wars, lose our property in divorce settlements, are considered second in importance to the mother in the family structure and generally are considered the #2 parent by comparison. Women are revered, men aren't. So I think they can put up with a pinch on the arse or two, it won't kill them and may loosen them up! Good for you Dustin, nobody should take that kind of thing seriously even if the feminists are moaning about it - christ they're always moaning about something.
Imagine you as you are surrounded by 2,000 people as self-centered as this individual (yes, I know Hoffman and the Graduate) at the Oscars. That is just one of the reasons why their ratings are tanking. Add 'progressive' wokeness on top of it and there is no reason to wonder.
maga doofuses spread stupidity everywhere. Go invade another government building and quit posting your ignorance on RUclips boards. Your master is going to prison.
Imagine YOU, J.Q. Randumb, as you are surrounded by 2000 anti-American Mussolini fascist shills, at a canned and highly produced Trump MAGA rally. Your boy is finished, banished to live the rest of his days in litigation or behind bars.
Richard Dreyfus would have been better. Imagine Ben at the hotel, getting nervous like the "Call the Cops!" guy. Dustin Hoffman can't do comic anxiety like that.
One of the best, most honest,and downright humorous interviews I’ve ever seen
Dustin Hoffman gorgeous like fine wine
Absolutely riveting - it's so rare to hear an actor talk so precisely about his work.
His roles in Graduate & Midnight Cowboy are among my favorites, but he’s captivating in everything does. Fantastic story telling too !
I've always loved his acting, and Family Business is probably my favorite.
Dustin Hoffman is a great actor because he is a charactor actor, and really becomes the person. One of the best ever!
To me this is the way I would want every interview to be but especially to have it be Dustin Hoffman about to graduate is so over the top fabulous thanks Dustin and thanks to whoever produced this
pretty amazing stories, and told so well. a real gift. thank you.
The Graduate is one of my favourite films ever, thanks to the fantastic acting by Dustin and all, and directing, but also to the truly great Simon and Garfunkel soundtrack which permeates this movie and gives it its special soul.
you said it all almost perfectly, dont forget the superb clever and witty script!
Not to forget the beautiful Anne Bancroft.
Thank you Dustin & Tom, this is for The Movie Rain Man,” It’s never been done for unbelievably nailing what the families went go through on a daily basis. Our daughter will be 30yrs old on 5/4/23. It’s never done right, however, no one ever thought about what the parents go through. It was so perfect that only families who live with Autism can get what we go through. My husband and I saw it before we were married and had no children when Rain Man first came out. We both thought it was a really great movie. 15yrs later, our daughter was 18 we were laughing our asses off. You just can’t find the humor in it unless you have a child with Autism. My god, Dustin and Tom did it to a science. It’s as all families who have a loved one w/ autism wanted to thank all of you people who were involved in Rain Man. Parents are and/or family are never noticed how hard it is, the love we have for that child. We kept Christina, or daughter till she was 22yrs old. My husband & I were 54 then, and I was diagnosed with Atrial fibulation, w/ some other stress related things. Anyway, we have her home every single weekend and 5 nights and days for holidays. Always wanted to thank you for that moment on the train when Dustin says goodbye to Raymond, Tom, it showed the love a family member feels. So again a HUGH thank you!!!! It’s now 11/6/22 🙏🏽 we don’t loose our democracy. Are daughter has been saying since 2016 “Trump is a very bad man.” She is so smart. We still call her our little princess. Sorry for making your eyes and ears bleed. Again thk you!!!
One of the most creative movies ever made in regards to cinematography & music.
The story line and acting in the first third of “The Graduate” is as good as any movie ever made.
Fascinating. Love behind the scenes stuff.
This interview must surely be one of the very best one can EVER wish or hope
to listen to
EXCELLENT Hoffman‼️🥂💫
👊🔥
🪖
So nice to hear the thoughts of someone else who appreciates the honesty of Hoffman about how reality wrestles with creativity to make movie magic if you're lucky.
What a great interview.
I also really appreciate the interviewer not interrupting him, just letting him go and realizing he didn’t have to ask much or keep rambling on with the question because he knew he had gold
One of MY TOP FAVORITE ACTORS !! ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Hey Big thanks for posting, i know the Graduate back to front, in my Top 5 movies! I've always wondered about how this film came about, in terms of Dustin and other actors. This interview answered all of those long sought out questions. Thanks again, a great listen
My favourite actor - I could listen to his anecdotes ALL DAY! The man is a LEGEND and we all seem to forget that had he NOT got the part he may never have become an actor to so all his incredible moves like 'Midnight Cowboy' , 'Tootsie' etc! I would indeed love to sit for 1 hour and talk to this GIANT who very nearly was an 'also ran'...........THANK YOU Dustin for all the joy.
Wow. What a great interview by a great actor about one of my favorite movies. My neighbor used to have him come to her house for Italian dinners when he was just starting doing summer theater in Iowa. She called him “Dusty” and had great things to say about him. She saved a letter of thanks he’d sent her many years later.
Good story
I love Dustin Hoffman , Great actor and never seen a bad interview with him . Nice guy ♥️
What a great story, captivating!
Great actor
LOOOONG history of assaulting women. Career over. Bye-bye. Go view the interview with Matt Lauer and Dustin Hoffman, chortling together. They're both gone. Good riddance.
@@patricias5122 ok, but he's a great actor.
Dustin seems to be extremely genuine and candid in this interview with a good sense of humor. Very refreshing.
That's one of the best interviews I've ever seen
I thought for sure he was going to say that the older Benjamin was working in plastics. Also I was surprised that he suggested he was "still" married to Elaine, as I was not actually under the impression that they were about to get married. Their expressions as they drove away in the bus suggested otherwise.
He overstated. Katherine Ross said it wouldn't last
his portrayal of captain hook in "hook" was honestly spot on and really amazing. even if the movie is kinda a kids movie, he rlly made a great character to oppose peter and make him re-evaltuate his role as a father. his voice and mannerisms for hook, rlly just spot on
Our most beloved actor certainly has his right to privacy, but what a shame that we so rarely got to enjoy his consummate storytelling. This is priceless.
Love Dustin Hoffman lol. Quite possibly my all-time favorite actor 💖
Just finished Mike Nichols bio so the algorithm led me here. Nichols was an incredible director.
Subway tokens. Boy, that was way back in the day.
Wonderful memories of one of the best actors out there.
This was the first adult film I ever saw. Being the younger sister with three big brothers! It was Christmas and I can remember it like it was yesterday.
Dustin Hoffman one of the best actors.
It always amazes how famous people were nobody’s before a lucky break.
Wonderful actor...the graduate, midnight cowboy, rain man, Tootsie, Stray Dogs, Kramer vs Kramer, all the presidents men....just a few of his great movies...oh, and Outbreak....so much wonderful entertainment!
Excellent interview!
he's a good story teller
Bit of a BS also
NO...he is a GREAT storyteller...and a great Bullshitter!
love this! thank you
Que bien luces....😘 por siempre.... graduado 😍
I'm a quasi Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft fan. There are movies I love from both of them but I would not say I follow them like a fan. I wonder why now after seeing this interview. When a great discusses a film they have been in and tell you such details as Dustin has in this film, it is magic. I never truly appreciated this film, probably because I was way too young at the time. After seeing this interview I am going to to watch it entirely from beginning to end.
Warren Beatty turn role down because the ending sucked. He then produced and started in Bonnie& Clyde ,an even greater film!!
Thank God they didn't make a sequel!
exactly!
There was a sequel novel but it was never filmed.
Whatever hassle they went through was all worth it as it was the highest grossing movie of 1967
True. Abit overrated too
Dustin.
You described the magic.
I love how Insecure you were
This is wonderful.
Dustin has only made a few duds and even in these he is always watchable.
Dustin is a Treasure.
Pinching Katherine Ross’ behind foreshadowed his later problems. Sad.
I agree. I believe his, Mike Nichols, and Buck Henry’s objectification of women make them seem extremely stunted in The Graduate interviews.
@@nomiddlenamenmn427is this your hobby?
I love all his movies, he was great in the movie let’s see Tootsie it was great,funny, you really wouldn’t. Know if it was him he was a women funny great loved it he was a great actor 😊
Great actor, especially in the Rainman!
From what year is this interview? Great movie!!!!
The unconventional leading man does that make him stand out so much from the the other actors of his time or was he really that good of an actor, I don’t know really all I know is when I watch him on screen is it gives me and the other not so handsome men of hope that we have a chance of getting the girl we deep down think that is out of are league
Is it possible that RUclips deflectors purposefully reduce volume levels to minimize popularity?
Be nice to know the date of the interview...
the Camille and Ed show ! Looks like in 80s a would say.
It was actually recorded in 1992
@@charliewilson9819 haha Which is practically the 80s still
@@charliewilson9819 makes sense. He mentions the golf war at one point in the interview. That's I draw my time line conclusion.
Early 80’s ? 1982 / 83 .
That sequel would have been an awesome movie.
Nope. Not meant for sequal
@@Greg-re7nj agree. I believe the unofficial sequel was The Heartbreak Kid (1972). Seeing a predatory older man grooming & molesting an underage girl (if that is what he is implying) wouldn’t fly for obvious reasons.
best actor of his generation, De Niro is a one trick pony and pales by comparison
I really liked him in Tootsie.
Great story. And too bad they didn't do the sequel (which I'm usually not a fan of)....I did see a bit of Rain Man in that head banging.
That sequel would have been so interesting!
There was a Sequel to the Graduate. It was called- HomeSchooled or maybe Homeschooling. I don'r think there was every a Movie Sequel to the Graduate at least as I write this (11/02/2018) , but Charles Webb wrote the Novel- The Graduate which was the Basis (really entire script) for the Movie wrote a Novel called HomeSchool (or maybe Homeschooling). IN that novel, Ben and Elaine are Married and living in Westchester with their 2 Sons whom they have been Homeschooling.. The local Westchester Board of Education gives them a hard time about homeschooling their kids so they call upon Elaine's Mother- aka Mrs. Robinson (known in the NOVEL AS Nana) I won't give away any ore of the Novell. I don't think it was good as the Origianal, but it was still good to see a Sequel to The Graduate.
It's too obvious. Maybe ask me a general question
16:10 When I was 10 my best friend and I would argue about whether or not you put the balls in too.
That’s was great
Dustin Hoffman I think could have been the only one besides Alan Rickman capable of playing Severus Snape.
Interesting idea!
❤❤❤
Enjoyed the interview until the end.What a horrible idea for a sequel. The whole theme of the original was a generational statement of hope for the post war generation to not grow up to be as shallow as their parents. A turn towards cynicism would be horrible. Granted there was a lot of phoniness among we boomers. But The Graduate was an expression of hope.
Great interview.
Details!
The Graduate 1967, in life men had to become a success,
men had to become somebody, men had to become Millionaires,
We are Jewish, after the War we came here with NOTHING.
Kosher Shyster & Ass, London, England, 2018
“author” is a scumbag (USA)
When was this interview done?
1992
I don't blame Katharine Ross for turning on him, when he pinched her rear. Who the hell did he think he was? But, apparently, he's done that to women all of his life. "Get us relaxed" oh sure. Like when he slapped Meryl Streep across the face.
Hollywood should remake it as they have a real knack for that...........
Ann Bancroft was only a few years older than Dustin Hoffman.
I believe this is a different interview from the one where Dustin laughs about holding a woman’s breast while she was in blackface.
So, was the future plastics? Not really.
Such a different time that he thought even when the interview was done that pinching Katherine Ross was appropriate and mentioned that she later apologized to him. Sort of cringe-worthy to listen to.
💔
Hoffman
These behind-the-scenes interview segments are so funny I wonder if Dustin is making them up. Jk 🙂
What's he drinking?
looks like its in the 80s
✝️
I felt he was too old to play the character in this film.
Weird Al: So Dustin, remember that day you came over to my house, and I shaved your back with my teeth?
Dustin Hoffman: DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT TO ME, AGAIN!
Weird Al: Whoa... I'm sorry Dustin. I didn't realize that would...
Dustin Hoffman: ...HOW DARE YOU!
Was not considered to be anything special in those days - they all did it. He is a victim of fast moving time and over the top political correctness. Though, for some feminists he would come over as extremely annoying - he jokes about it. For all the obvious faults i still think he's great.
a 20 plus year old dude shouldn't be touching anyone without there approval. Sorry he was not 12-15 years old he was a grown man. i like hoffman as a actor but as a human what he was doing was pretty shitty.
Its important to separate his craft skills from personal behavior. All that was needed at the time of the allegation of sexual harassment was for Dusty to say, “We need to reevaluate whats said in between takes” to begin the self reflection needed in this era. Oliver said such truth when he remarked that one groups acceptable banter can create another group (paraphrase). What strikes me, offends me, is 1)other women that came forward since 2) his complete lack of self examination, empathy, or compassion 3) His vanity, physical obsession! His first remark of coworker “Shes beautiful”; Describing Nichols flirting w/her, .”Hes hitting on her”; “I cant blame him”. Women arent going to accept being treated as a piece of meat any longer! Sad his first remark had nothing to do with her skills, her work, his wanting to work with her, nothing on a professional level. Sorry but the combined behaviors represent the wrongs which our society must redress if we are to ever gain sexual equality. Women have called him a pig, I might too.Sorry Dusty’s f**d up where sexual interactions on a professional level are concerned.
@@hualani6785 Wait.. you seriously have a problem with "She's beautiful" or "I can't blame him for hitting on her" ? You need to grow up, women aren't some special super-race.. they are just human beings and they're subject to everything that comes with it including men thinking "wow, she is HOT". You say women won't accept it, but most women USE that to their advantage. You have a lot to learn.
Well yes, it wasn't a big deal back then, but the point is that it _is_ regarded as inappropriate by most people now, and that's why we've gotten to a point where it's not tolerated anymore.
~:~
In the blu ray interview, he laughs about holding a woman’s breast while she was in blackface.
Yikes! How creepy is it he is talking about groping women all the way back to 7th grade. Now this interview will haunt him for the rest of his life.
its OK bc we dont believe anyone who doesnt have proof and waited for 30yrs to now get paid...not buying it and nobody else does eitehr
Yes, because nobody touched a girls boobs in 7th grade. Fucking imbecile.
Dart Vade They are buying it. You see all these guys careers being destroyed. Look at Kevin Spacey, it was decades ago and they reshot the damn movie and fired him from House of Cards.
Blondie Boy Nobody stupid enough to talk about in an interview. Dumbass.
Women grope men often lol. They check you out, laugh about you, ogle you, feel your arms, pat you on the butt ... I got stopped by two female cops while jogging without a shirt on. They had no reason to stop me, they just wanted to check out some meat and laughed about it.
But that's ok because they're women and they're, you know, special, high up on a pedestal where we place them ... the mother of the species. Men on the other hand are consigned to being the 9 to 5 workhorse, we die earlier, are sacrificed in wars, lose our property in divorce settlements, are considered second in importance to the mother in the family structure and generally are considered the #2 parent by comparison. Women are revered, men aren't. So I think they can put up with a pinch on the arse or two, it won't kill them and may loosen them up! Good for you Dustin, nobody should take that kind of thing seriously even if the feminists are moaning about it - christ they're always moaning about something.
This role and movie follow him in his grave. He that good. Movie is overrated though
Imagine you as you are surrounded by 2,000 people as self-centered as this individual (yes, I know Hoffman and the Graduate) at the Oscars. That is just one of the reasons why their ratings are tanking. Add 'progressive' wokeness on top of it and there is no reason to wonder.
maga doofuses spread stupidity everywhere. Go invade another government building and quit posting your ignorance on RUclips boards. Your master is going to prison.
Imagine YOU, J.Q. Randumb, as you are surrounded by 2000 anti-American Mussolini fascist shills, at a canned and highly produced Trump MAGA rally. Your boy is finished, banished to live the rest of his days in litigation or behind bars.
Oh wow...weird
Don't do interviews ... boooring🏃😳🌹
Richard Dreyfus would have been better. Imagine Ben at the hotel, getting nervous like the "Call the Cops!" guy. Dustin Hoffman can't do comic anxiety like that.
It’s not supposed to be funny. Inept, yes, but not funny.
Have you seen "Tootsie"?