Carnal Knowledge (1971)

Director:

Mike Nichols

Writer:

Jules Feiffer (writer)

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:

Misogynist | Feminist | Suicidal | Hippie Chick | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Köttets lust (Finland: Swedish title) (TV title) (Sweden) [sv]
Ânsia de Amar (Brazil) [pt]
Ce plaisir qu'on dit charnel (France) [fr]
Coneixement carnal (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Conocimiento carnal (Spain) [es]
Conoscenza carnale (Italy) [it]
Gnorimia tis sarkas, I (Greece) [el]
Ilk defa (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Iniciação Carnal (Portugal) [pt]
Kunst zu lieben, Die (West Germany) [de]
Mandomsåren (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Miehuusvuodet (Finland) [fi]
Porozmawiajmy o kobietach (Poland) [pl]

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | UK:X | 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:

After working with Jack Nicholson in Easy Rider (1969), Karen Black went to Mike Nichols, on recommendation from Jack, to test for the role of Bobbie. It was mutually decided that Karen did not have the right figure for the role.

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 "The Wonder Years: Carnal Knowledge (#5.19)" (1992)

You hang on every word of this lively, honest script by cartoonist Jules Feiffer.

Its a wry, often funny, often sombre drama about the sex lives of two college roommates, Jack Nicholson and Art Garfunkel (who's actually fine in this - much better than in Catch-22) - at college, and in middle age.

There are really very few movies where the dialogue seems so true and searching, yet funny, that you hang on every word. I can only think of a few - and this is one of them.

It is episodic, and may be broken into two halves - intentionally, importantly. The heart of the story is in the comparison of the first half and the second: how the two men have or have not changed. If you consider this is the purpose of the film, the two halves are not perfect - but nevertheless a fascinating film.

Bitterness, nostalgia and melancholy run through this character comedy from the 70's. Its a frank, confronting (depending on the viewer) laying bare of sex. Though there is very little actual sex in the film, this one is definitely only for adults. A penetrating character study, and a richly worded film filled with wit, irony and character penetration by cartoonist Jules Feiffer.

9/10. Not perfect, but absolutely must-see.