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Carnal Knowledge main poster

Carnal Knowledge

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6.6/10 • 195

1971-06-301h 38m

DramaRomance

Its time has come.

Two lifelong friends navigate complex sexual encounters and emotional entanglements, wrestling with societal norms and personal desires.

Directors
Mike Nichols
Editors
Sam O'Steen

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Jack Nicholson

    Jack Nicholson

    Jonathan

  2. Candice Bergen

    Candice Bergen

    Susan

  3. Art Garfunkel

    Art Garfunkel

    Sandy

  4. Ann-Margret

    Ann-Margret

    Bobbie

  5. Rita Moreno

    Rita Moreno

    Louise

  6. Cynthia O'Neal

    Cynthia O'Neal

    Cindy

  7. Carol Kane

    Carol Kane

    Jennifer

  8. Sheri Jackson

    Sheri Jackson

    Mama

Reviews1

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Wuchak Avatar

Wuchak

May 1, 2025

6/10

Psychological study of the romantic lives of two males over the course of 25 years In the late 1940s, Two roommates at Amherst College (Jack Nicholson and Art Garfunkel) exchange personal info about their sextivities with various women as the years progress to the early ’70s. The female cast includes Candice Bergen, Ann-Margret, Cynthia O'Neal, Carol Kane and Rita Moreno. “Carnal Knowledge” (1971) is not a conventional look at college life in the manner of the later “Small Circle of Friends” or “The ’70s.” Rather, it’s a sometimes depressing, sometimes amusing chronicling of the evolution and devolution of the sexual lives of two college friends, one a smooth-talking narcissist (Nicholson) and the other a sensitive nice guy (Garfunkel). Their friendship and discussions are reminiscent of Jerry Seinfeld and George Costanza in the 90s, just more edgy and not as funny. When released, the counterculture revolution of the late 60s was still fresh and nudity was the hip thang, which explains the skinny-dipping sequence in "Woodstock" and, a year later, the nudity in this flick and "The Last Picture Show,” as well as the soon-to-come "Stigma" and “The Harrad Experiment.” Of course, nudity in mainstream movies was nothing new in light of the pre-Hays era, as observed by "Tarzan and His Mate" from 1934. With the code lifted after almost three decades, movies like this seemed to exult in a new sense of libertine freedom. Whilst risqué and cutting edge at the time, it's just a quirky adult-oriented drama today. Nicholson has his likable smirk, as usual, but as the story progresses his character becomes increasingly distasteful and pathetic. Reflect on where he ends up; it’s a powerful point. Garfunkel’s character isn’t anywhere as bad, but he also becomes somewhat pitiable. “Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” Although the story is sometimes tedious and there are distasteful elements, the cast is great and the psychological insights interesting. It runs 1 hour, 39 minutes, and was shot in New York City and at Panorama Film Studios in Vancouver. GRADE: B-

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  • Carnal Knowledge poster
  • Carnal Knowledge poster
  • Carnal Knowledge poster
  • Carnal Knowledge poster
  • Carnal Knowledge poster
  • Carnal Knowledge poster
  • Carnal Knowledge poster
  • Carnal Knowledge poster
  • Carnal Knowledge poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
$28,623,900.00
Keywords
friendssexual confusion