Carnal Knowledge (1971)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Mike Nichols

Writer:

Jules Feiffer (written by)

Release Date:

5 November 1971 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Plot:

The film traces the sexual and emotional confusion of two men from their Amherst College days in the fifties through the Kennedy sixties...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Sex | College | Friend | Reference To Lassie

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Jack Nicholson	...	Jonathan
Candice Bergen	...	Susan
Art Garfunkel	...	Sandy (as Arthur Garfunkel)
Ann-Margret	...	Bobbie
Rita Moreno	...	Louise
Cynthia O'Neal	...	Cindy
Carol Kane	...	Jennifer

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | UK:X | Argentina:16 | Canada:18A (video rating) | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Sweden:11 | UK:18 (video rating) | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

AVCO Embassy Pictures

Trivia:

Writer Jules Feiffer originally pitched the concept to director Mike Nichols as a theatre project. After listening to Feiffer's ideas, Nichols said, "I see it as a movie."

Quotes:

Jonathan: Why don't you leave me?... For God's sake, I'd almost marry you if you'd leave me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "NYPD Blue: Colonel Knowledge (#11.14)" (2004)

A pure masterpiece.

Just like Nichols' later masterpiece Closer, Carnal Knowledge expertly deals with romances falling apart, coming back together and the study of lust and it's many complications. And just like Closer the dialogue and relationships in the film feel more authentic than virtually anything else I've ever seen. All of the arguments and especially the conversations between Jonathan and Sandy felt so natural, humorous and somewhat depressing. It evoked all of the emotions that lust in life does and perfectly demonstrates how rare true love and happiness is. The performances were all incredible and Ann-Margret more than deserved her nomination (the win in my opinion) but Jack Nicholson really shines above the rest of the cast. His realism, intensity and humor was top-notch to say the least. He also displays this internal pain that I can't even describe, but stunned me to my core. I felt like I could really relate to the character and that made his actions even more devastating to me.