All this week, ET is spotlighting our top five summer romance movies: 'Dirty Dancing,' 'The Graduate,' 'Grease,' 'Pretty Woman' and 'Titanic.'

Koo-koo-ka-choo, Mrs. Robinson! When 'The Graduate' hit movie theaters in 1967, it made DUSTIN HOFFMAN a bonafide star and catapulted SIMON & GARFUNKEL's theme song to the top of the charts. Now, ET has fascinating details you may have never known about the movie!

Directed by MIKE NICHOLS, the critically-acclaimed film chronicles recent college graduate Benjamin Braddock's (Hoffman) boredom and disillusionment with entering the "real world" and his affair with an older married woman, Mrs. Robinson (ANNE BANCROFT).

ROBERT REDFORD was the initial casting choice to play Benjamin Braddock, with screen legends LANA TURNER, AVA GARDNER and RITA HAYWORTH reportedly eyed to play Mrs. Robinson and CANDICE BERGEN as her overprotected daughter, Elaine. GENE HACKMAN was even set to play Mrs. Robinson's husband, but was fired from the film early on when they decided he looked too young.

Director Nichols knew that the character of Ben Braddock had to be Jewish as opposed to a WASP, and Hoffman, a New York stage actor, was flown in to audition. He recalls having what he considered a disastrous experience, but Nichols loved Hoffman's dark look and nervous energy; the rest all fell in to place once Hoffman got the job, and Bancroft (an Oscar winner for 'The Miracle Worker') ultimately landed the iconic role of Ben's married cougar seductress, Mrs. Robinson.

Playing the 45-year-old Mrs. Robinson, Bancroft was in reality only 35 years old -- and just six years older than Hoffman, who was playing a young man fresh out of college. When all was said and done, the film earned seven Academy Award nominations, including acting nods for Hoffman, Bancroft and KATHARINE ROSS as Elaine. Nichols walked away with the only trophy, however, as Best Director.