 Dustin Hoffman (qv) was set to play Franz Liebkind, but declined  when he got the part of Benjamin in _Graduate, The (1967)_ (qv).  Brooks only allowed Hoffman the chance to go off to the audition for  the film because his wife (Anne Bancroft (I) (qv)) was in it, and  Brooks was familiar enough with the role of Benjamin to know Hoffman  was utterly wrong for it (as written) and would never be cast.