Carnal Knowledge 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Carnal Knowledge 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 28, 2025

Mike Nichols' "Carnal Knowledge" (1971) arrives on 4K Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include archival program with Mike Nichols; archival program with screenwriter Jules Feiffer; new audio commentary by filmmaker and playwright Neil LaBute; vintage trailer; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Roomates

If you take the time to discard all of the meaningless chatter between Jack Nicholson and Art Garfunkel, which is a lot but not overwhelming, you will be left with a list of descriptions that the two sexes believe are universal truths. The descriptions can be placed into three categories: attitudes, preferences, and behavior. They are always about the opposite sex, and virtually all of them are presented as vulgar revelations. Here are a few of them:

All men see women as sex objects. Women like to be pursued by men. All men cheat. All women are willing to cheat if the right opportunity comes along. Men and women are fully aware that their biological clocks are ticking and act accordingly. All relationships between men and women are imperfect arrangements that cause suffering. Men do not understand what women want. Women do not understand what men want.

The descriptions are not presented during a short and fierce debate. They are spread out throughout the entire film and are part of a constantly evolving friendship between Nicholson and Garfunkel. While the two are in college, Nicholson emerges as a cynical philosopher who understands exactly what happens in a woman’s head. Garfunkel is the polished gentleman who needs encouragement to approach a girl. When Nicholson effectively directs Garfunkel into Candice Bergen’s arms, Bergen concludes that Nicholson is the more exciting option, proving Nicholson’s theory that good girls always prefer bad guys. In the real world, an older and wiser Nicholson meets Ann-Margret, and after reading her mind correctly, makes her fall in love with him. However, Nicholson also correctly predicts her intention to marry him and become a mother, and when he outmaneuvers her, their relationship begins to crumble. Meanwhile, Garfunkel begins a relationship with Cynthia O’Neal, who, at the right time, also proves Nicholson’s theory that all women are willing to cheat.

Mike Nichols directed Carnal Knowledge several years after The Graduate, his best film, and it is easy to speculate that the former was supposed to emulate a lot of what made the latter special. Like, for instance, the illuminating frankness and great humor, as well as the easily relatable, unforgettable characters of The Graduate. Unfortunately, Carnal Knowledge is, at best, an amusingly vulgar misfire whose greatest strength is its courage to expose, accidentally, the two sexes as equally manipulative. Why accidentally? Because neither the male nor the female characters are authentic. They are performers in that all too familiar pseudointellectual circus that many ‘modern’ films promoted during the 1970s and certain mainstream critics defended as creations of talented but underappreciated auteurs.

The acting is a mixed bag, too. In a few sequences, Nicholson looks fine, but elsewhere, especially when he begins unloading on Ann-Margret, his emotional swings are terrible. Garfunkel looks odd practically everywhere. Only during his final exchange with Nicholson do his statements sound genuine. Bergen never convinces that her supposedly intelligent character has a rational reason to be in any sort of relationship with Nicholson. Ann-Margret is the only one who makes her disillusioned character appear authentic.

Carnal Knowledge 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Criterion's release of Carnal Knowledge is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K Blu-ray is Region-Free. However, the Blu-ray is Region-A "locked".

Please note that some of the screencaptures included with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc.

Screencaptures #1-20 are from the Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #23-39 are from the 4K Blu-ray.

The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this release:

"This new 4K restoration was undertaken by StudioCanal, and created from the 35mm separation masters, as the original camera negative could not be used because of significant damage and mold. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered from magnetic tracks.

Film scanning and recomposition: Technicolor, Hollywood.
Restoration: VDM, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France.

In native 4K, the new 4K restoration and reconstruction of the film can be viewed with Dolby Vision and HDR grades. I chose to view it with Dolby Vision. Later, I spent time with its 1080p presentation on the Blu-ray.

I did not see any visuals where delineation, clarity, and depth were unconvincing, so you should not be concerned that the original camera negative was not available to prepare the 4K master. However, there are several areas where select visuals, with Dolby Vision turned on, look too dark. Without Dolby Vision, and in 1080p as well, I think that the same areas looked marginally better. There are no traces of any problematic digital corrections. Grain exposure looks natural, and density levels are very good and stable. Colors are stable. The majority of the film looks good, but there are select areas where unnatural greenish and yellowish hues become a tad too prominent. See an example here. Interestingly, on the British 4K Blu-ray release, there are several discrepancies in the color scheme, slightly emphasizing or slightly toning down these hues. I do not know why there are discrepancies since both releases are supposed to be sourced from the same 4K master, but they exist. (The British 4K Blu-ray release displays the StudioCanal logo, while this release displays the MGM logo). Image stability is excellent. The entire film looks spotless.

Carnal Knowledge 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

The film does not have an elaborate soundtrack that creates big and memorable dynamic contrasts. The dialogue is very clear, sharp, and always easy to follow. Occasionally, some organic sounds and noises enter the film, but they do not have a meaningful impact. I did not encounter any encoding anomalies to report in our review.

Carnal Knowledge 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - in this new audio commentary, filmmaker and playwright Neil LaBute describes Carnal Knowledge as "an exceptionally rough ride" and comments on the various themes that overlap in it. LaBute also shares plenty of information about the conception of the film, Mike Nichols' direction and career, the casting choices that were made, and the film's reception and reputation. LaBute also mentions that Ann-Margret "fought" to get her part in the film and has several excellent observations about her performance, which I think is the most convincing.

BLU-RAY DISC

• Commentary - in this new audio commentary, filmmaker and playwright Neil LaBute describes Carnal Knowledge as "an exceptionally rough ride" and comments on the various themes that overlap in it. LaBute also shares plenty of information about the conception of the film, Mike Nichols' direction and career, the casting choices that were made, and the film's reception and reputation. LaBute also mentions that Ann-Margret "fought" to get her part in the film and has several excellent observations about her performance, which I think is the most convincing.

• Mark Harris and Dana Stevens - in this new program, Mike Nichols biographer Mark Harris and critic Dana Stevens discuss Carnal Knowledge and its director's career. The program was produced in 2025. In English, not subtitled. (30 min).

• Mike Nichols and Jason Reitman - in this archival program, Mike Nichols discusses Carnal Knowledge with Jason Reitman after a screening hosted by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. The program was produced in 2011. In English, not subtitled. (36 min).

• Jules Feiffer - presented here is an archival episode of the podcast To Live & Dialogue in LA, hosted by critic Aaron Tracy, screenwriter Jules Feiffer answers questions about his involevelement with Carnal Knowledge. The Q&A session was recorded after a screening of the film in 2019. In English, not subtitled. (44 min).

• Bobbie O'Steen - in this new program, film editing historian Bobbie O'Steen discusses the work of editor Sam O'Steen in Carnal Knowledge. The program was produced in 2025. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Carnal Knowledge. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• Radio Spot - presented here is a vintage radio spot for Carnal Knowledge. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• Booklet - a 42-page illustrated booklet featuring an essay by scholar Moira Weigel and a 1971 piece from American Cinematographer about the look of Carnal Knowledge, as well as technical credits.

Carnal Knowledge 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Both sexes agree that they are defined by various imperfections. They just cannot agree on who should claim the larger share of them. Mike Nichols' Carnal Knowledge attempts to settle the debate while following two college friends whose raging hormones force them into relationships that gradually reveal various unpopular 'truths'. Unfortunately, neither the relationships nor the 'truths' are part of the exciting and provocative film that Carnal Knowledge was undoubtedly meant to be. Criterion's combo pack introduces an imperfect but satisfying new 4K restoration of it. A separate Blu-ray release is available for purchase as well.