"Carnal knowledge (noun) - the act of sexual procreation between a man and a woman." That's what this movie is about, especially from the point of view of Jonathan Fuerst, expertly portrayed by Jack Nicholson. The movie begins with voices and a dark screen, Jonathan and his good friend and roommate Sandy (Art Garfunkel, of "Simon and Garfunkel" singing fame) are taking at a college mixer. Jonathan is explaining to Sandy the finer points of seducing women. The immediate object of Sandy's attention is Susan (a young, pretty Candice Bergen) who is sitting alone near a window. Sandy eventually asks Susan out, and they begin dating.
The movie is a tragic story, of these two men, close friends, but worlds apart in how they view the world. Jonathan seems unable to form any bonds with either males or females. He sees each as objects to either facilitate getting what he wants, or obstacles to getting what he wants. And, all he seems to want is 'carnal knowledge.' Every description he gives of a female relates to how she looks and whether he would like to have sex with her. (My college roommate in 1963 was almost like this.) Opposite, Sandy is truly a gentle soul, wanting relationships, and sometimes too eager to follow Jonathan's advice. Over the 20-odd years of this story, it doesn't quite work out for either of them, and we are left wondering if Sandy's outlook became tainted by knowing Jonathan. Ann-Margret, as beautiful as ever, has a key role as Bobbie who becomes Jonathan's girlfriend.
SPOILERS FOLLOW. As we follow the lives of the two men, out of college and into working life, both have successful careers, Sandy as a doctor. Sandy never finds out that in college Jonathan seduced Susan and had an ongoing clandestine carnal relationship with her even while she and Sandy were dating. Sandy and Susan eventually married, had children, but were divorced. Susan never really loves Sandy, and couldn't have Jonathan. No one could. Bobbie tried. After convincing Jonathan they should 'shack up' (live together), she almost went crazy until he married her, but it didn't last. In the end both Jonathan and Sandy are single, dating the wrong kinds of women. Jonathan has become virtually impotent, and the movie ends with his regular prostitute collecting her $100, and going through the ritual they established so that he might become aroused. Tragic story, however perhaps real.
The movie is a tragic story, of these two men, close friends, but worlds apart in how they view the world. Jonathan seems unable to form any bonds with either males or females. He sees each as objects to either facilitate getting what he wants, or obstacles to getting what he wants. And, all he seems to want is 'carnal knowledge.' Every description he gives of a female relates to how she looks and whether he would like to have sex with her. (My college roommate in 1963 was almost like this.) Opposite, Sandy is truly a gentle soul, wanting relationships, and sometimes too eager to follow Jonathan's advice. Over the 20-odd years of this story, it doesn't quite work out for either of them, and we are left wondering if Sandy's outlook became tainted by knowing Jonathan. Ann-Margret, as beautiful as ever, has a key role as Bobbie who becomes Jonathan's girlfriend.
SPOILERS FOLLOW. As we follow the lives of the two men, out of college and into working life, both have successful careers, Sandy as a doctor. Sandy never finds out that in college Jonathan seduced Susan and had an ongoing clandestine carnal relationship with her even while she and Sandy were dating. Sandy and Susan eventually married, had children, but were divorced. Susan never really loves Sandy, and couldn't have Jonathan. No one could. Bobbie tried. After convincing Jonathan they should 'shack up' (live together), she almost went crazy until he married her, but it didn't last. In the end both Jonathan and Sandy are single, dating the wrong kinds of women. Jonathan has become virtually impotent, and the movie ends with his regular prostitute collecting her $100, and going through the ritual they established so that he might become aroused. Tragic story, however perhaps real.