The cynical undertones director Mike Nichols hinted at in The Graduate are fully matured in this thought-provoking study of the developing sexual attitudes of two men from their student days to middle-age, celebrated at the time of its release for its sexual frankness in language and gesture. A fine performance, as you would expect, is given by Jack Nicholson as the maverick, uncaring bachelor; less expected at the time was the warmth and emotion projected by Ann-Margret, hitherto just a sexy musical-comedy star, as the girl whose voluptuous sexuality brings her only despair. She was deservedly nominated for an Academy Award and was unlucky to lose to one of the best-ever performances in that category - Cloris Leachman's in The Last Picture Show.

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