Karen And The Carpenter

In Karen and the Carpenter, Bob fixes Karen’s T-bird and, in returns, Karen fixes Bob’s wee bird. The plot thickens to a hair’s breadth when Karen¹s girlfriends show up and take turns adjusting Bob’s spark plug. The Deviate’s penchant for All-American-Girl-Next-Door-types was more than satisfied here when he recognized Karen as LINDA YORK, the wholesome but horny star of The Love Garden. For the more sophisticated among us, there are profound bits of dialogue like: "When it comes right down to it, I want a strong man with a hard sensitive area." Don’t they all.

Directed by —, Karen And The Carpenter leans on a strong ensemble — Chesley Noone, Linda York, Alice Friedland — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1972.