Carny

1980

1h 47m

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

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Drama

Tired of being a small-town waitress, Donna departs with the latest carnival show, living with entertainers Frankie and Patch in a tense, emotional triangle.

Directors

Robert Kaylor

Writers

Thomas Baum(screenplay by)

Robert Kaylor(writer by)

Robbie Robertson(writer by)

Stars

Gary Busey

Jodie Foster

Robbie Robertson

See production, box office & company info

Top cast

Frankie

Donna

Patch

Gerta

Heavy St. John

On-Your-Mark

Doubles

Nails

Skeet

Marvin Dill

Delno Baptiste

Mickey

Jack

W. C. Hannon

Willie Mae

Sugaree

Flame

Harry the Hat

Directors

Robert Kaylor

Writers

Thomas Baum(screenplay by)

Robert Kaylor(writer by)

Robbie Robertson(writer by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Carny is like a documentary inside a film. The movie revolves around the carnies and their day to day operations and personal lives. Jodie Foster stars as Donna, a bored 18 year old small town waitress who dreams of more excitement. One night while attending the local carnival with her jock boyfriend (played by character actor Craig Wasson), she is singled out in the crowd while her boyfriend is engaging in a game of Dunk The Bozo. The Bozo in question is Frankie,played by Gary Busey, who sits in a dunk tank waiting for the 'marks' (victims of hustlers) to throw the balls that hit the spot so that he falls into the water. There are other hustlers too that each run their own game. Keeping everything under control is Patch,played by legendary guitarist and songwriting musician Robbie Robertson,who as his character's name suggests,patches things over from everything to paying off city officials to organizing plans with the local crime boss. Problems arise when Frankie tells Patch that Donna will be accompanying them along the circuit. Patch is not pleased and organizes a plan to get Donna out of the picture. A series of mishaps ensue,which Patch blames on Donna. Patch then tries to tell the man running the strip tent that Donna can 'work strong ' meaning take her clothes off rather than be a back up dancer for the strippers,as Donna thinks she will be that evening. A riot breaks out and Patch realizes that he went too far after Donna gets hurt. Further tensions arise when Frankie catches Donna and Patch in flagrante one night. Patch and Frankie are at odds but not for long. A surprise ending rounds out this film but it is left wide open with room for a sequel that didn't ever materialize. All in all, Carny is a good depiction of the lives of carnival workers and their respective con artist attitudes.

Oldmoviegal24 Mar, 2016