Jack Nicholson (The Passenger) and Art Garfunkel (Bad Timing) star alongside Candice Bergen (Starting Over) and Ann-Margret (R.P.M.) in Carnal Knowledge, one of American cinema’s most daring and provocative films, masterfully directed by Mike Nichols (The Graduate).
During their time in college, roommates Sandy (Garfunkel) and Jonathan (Nicholson) reveal their innermost feelings about girls and sex to one another, each taking his own approach to getting what he wants. As they grow older and establish new relationships, they continue to share their fantasies and frustrations about the opposite sex, each responding differently to the mixture of desire, distain and disinterest they experience.
Note-perfect dialogue from the pen of the great Jules Feiffer (Little Murders) and exquisite photography by legendary Italian cinematographer Giuseppe Rotunno (Fellini Satyricon) combine with universally outstanding performances – including from supporting players Rita Moreno (The Night of the Following Day) and Carol Kane (The Last Detail) – to create an unflinching and uncompromising classic of the New Hollywood era.
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Supplements
- Audio commentary with writer and film scholar Justin Bozung (2025)
- Mike Nichols and Jason Reitman in Conversation (2011): archival video recording of the two filmmakers on stage at Walter Reade Theater in New York, following a screening of Carnal Knowledge
- Cruel Masters (2025): actor, comedian and filmmaker Richard Ayoade provides an in-depth appreciation of the film and its director
- Original theatrical trailer
- Radio spot
- Image gallery: promotional and publicity material
- Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Brad Stevens, an archival interview with director Mike Nichols, writer Jules Feiffer and actor Jack Nicholson, a contemporary location report originally published in American Cinematographer, an account of the controversies surround the film’s original release, a reprint of a 1972 Sight and Sound article on the film and its place within Nichols’ oeuvre, and full film credits