Carnal Knowledge

Mike Nichols directed "Carnal Knowledge," working from a script by Jules Feiffer. The 1971 American comedy-drama charts the sexual and emotional lives of two men, Jonathan Fuerst (Jack Nicholson) and Sandy (Art Garfunkel), from their college years at Amherst in the late 1940s into adulthood in the 1970s. Sandy, romantic and sensitive, begins dating Susan (Candice Bergen), but Jonathan, more cynical and aggressive, seduces her, leading to the end of their relationship. After college, Sandy marries Susan, but their marriage proves unsatisfying. Jonathan enters a relationship with Bobbie (Ann-Margret), an attractive but emotionally unstable woman, resulting in her depression and a suicide attempt. Over the years, Jonathan becomes increasingly detached, incapable of emotional intimacy, and ultimately resorts to scripted role-play with a prostitute (Rita Moreno) to achieve arousal. The film sparked controversy for its candid depiction of sexuality and was subject to legal challenges for obscenity, but in 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it did not violate community standards. Ann-Margret received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, while Jack Nicholson and Art Garfunkel earned Golden Globe nominations.