Carny

Director: Robert Kaylor Robert Kaylor

Overview

This behind-the-scenes look at the life of carnies features Jodie Foster as a runaway teen who joins the carnival looking for some adventure in her boring life. She first gets involved with the dunking machine taunter, Frankie (Gary Busy), and then with his friend and carny cornerstone, Patch (Robbie Robertson), which causes frustration between the trio of involved parties. Director Robert Kaylor began a documentary of the carnie lifestyle but later decided to make this fictional yet realistic feature.

Product Details

Release Date:	08/04/2009
UPC:	0883316194461
Original Release:	1980
Rating:	R
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:47:00
Sales rank:	17,216

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Gary Busey	Frankie
Jodie Foster	Donna,Gerta
Robbie Robertson	Patch
Kenneth McMillan	Heavy
Elisha Cook Jr.	On-Your-Mark
Theodore Wilson	Nails
John Lehne	Skeet
Tina Andrews	Sugaree
Bert Remsen	Delno
Alan Braunstein	Willie Mae
Bill McKinney	Dill
Woodrow Parfrey	W.C. Hannon
Craig Wasson	Mickey
Tim Thomerson	Doubles
Jordan Cael	Flame
John Cassidy	Harry the Hat
Margaret Jo Lee	Pagan Knight
William S. Bartman	Hi-Striker
Terry Beaver	Trucker
Jerry Rushing	Trucker
Dani Dembrosky	Skinny
Robert DoQui	Jerry
George Emerson	Fat Man
Bob Hannah	Tough #1
Cathi Harrer	Cheryl
Anita Haynes	Waitress
Nancy Hazeltine	Lesbian Girl
Mark Howard Kitchens Jr.	Tough #3
Charles Christian Levy Sr.	Tough #2
Virginia Logan	Ticket Seller
Jerry Lyles	Mark
Randy Patrick	Mark
Noelle Massina	Noelle
Nomi Mitty	Eight-Color Girl
Sirl Nyhand	Carny
Greg Oliver	Cop
Tony C. Petrea	Tough #5
Jeannie Rapp	Twin #2,Anatomical Contortionist/Sword Swallower
Mary Siceloff	Georgene
Albert J. Smith	Old Farmer
Trisha Tiedemann	Trish
Janet Thomas	Twin #1
Fred Ward	Jack
Janet Wieringa	Lesbian #2
E. Devan Young	Tough #4
Emmett Bejano	Alligator Skin Man,Monkey Girl
Elaina Doucet	Anatomical Contortionist
Johann Peterson	Giant
Pete Terhune	Fire-Eating Dwarf/Iron Tongue Act
Albert B. Smith	Actor
Elisha Cook	Actor
Alex North	Composer

Technical Credits

Robert Kaylor

Robbie Robertson

Thomas Baum

Robert Kaylor	Director,Screenwriter
Robbie Robertson	Producer,Screenwriter
Jonathan Taplin	Executive Producer,Producer
Adams Calvert	Special Effects
Thomas Baum	Screenwriter
Arthur Brewer	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

This uneven but frequently compelling film failed to draw a big audience during its original release but has become a cult favorite over time thanks to its unique subject matter and an array of fine performances. Thomas Baum's script effectively captures the atmosphere of the carnival setting down to the last gritty detail while also managing to find the carefully hidden humanity in the carnival denizens. Unfortunately, it gets a bit one-sided when dealing with non-carnival characters, who are all portrayed as rubes or vicious criminals. Director Robert Kaylor wisely avoids stylizing or sentimentalizing the story, instead allowing the setting and characters to carry the film on their own. Carny also benefits from a gifted cast that fleshes out its characters in a believable fashion. Gary Busey gives one of his most memorable performances as Frankie, a man caught between his love of carny life and his feelings of isolation from the "normal" world: The scene where he suicidally taunts a group of rowdy patrons after having his heart broken is scary and moving all at once. Jodie Foster left her child-star image behind with her sexy, assured portrayal of Donna, a frustrated small town girl who finds herself seduced by the con-artist aspect of carnival life. Robbie Robertson, who makes his acting debut here as Patch, isn't as magnetic as the other leads but displays a cool charisma all his own. In the end, Carny may turn off some viewers due to its gritty subject matter, but brave viewers will find it a journey worth taking.