Poster
Watch

Carny

Carny

  • Status: Released
  • 23-05-1980
  • Runtime: 107 min
  • Score: 6.4
  • Vote count: 37

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.

Gary Busey

Frankie

Jodie Foster

Donna

Robbie Robertson

Patch

Meg Foster

Gerta

Kenneth McMillan

Heavy St. John

Elisha Cook Jr.

On-Your-Mark

Tim Thomerson

Doubles

Teddy Wilson

Nails

John Lehne

Skeet

Bill McKinney

Marvin Dill

Bert Remsen

Delno Baptiste

Craig Wasson

Mickey

Fred Ward

Jack

Woodrow Parfrey

W. C. Hannon

Alan H. Braunstein

Willie Mae

Tina Andrews

Sugaree

Jordan Cael

Flame

John Cassidy

Harry the Hat

Margaret Jo Lee

Pagan Knight

William S. Bartman

Hi-Striker

Terry Beaver

Trucker

Dani Dembrosky

Skinny

George Emerson

Fat Man

Bob Hannah

Tough #1

Cathi Harrer

Cheryl

Anita Haynes

Waitress

Nancy Hazeltine

Lesbian Girl

Robert Kent

Cook

Jack Howard Kitchens Jr.

Tough #3

Charles Christian Levy Sr.

Tough #2

Virginia Logan

Ticket Seller

Jerry Lyles

Mark

Noelle Massina

Noelle

Nomi Mitty

Eight Color Girl

Sirl Myhand

Carl

Greg Oliver

Cop

Randal Patrick

Mark

Tony C. Petrea

Tough #5

Jeannie Rapp

Twin #2

Elijah Perry

Trucker

Mary Siceloff

Georgene

Albert Smith

Old Farmer

Trisha Tiedemann

Trish

Janet Thomas

Twin #1

Janet Wieringa

Lesbian #2

E. Devan Young

Tough #4

Emmett Bejano

Alligator Skin Man

Percilla Bejano

Monkey Girl

Elaina Doucet

Contortionist

Jimmy Rapp

Contortionist / Sword Swallower

Johann K. Petursson

Giant

Pete Terhune

Fire Eater Dwarf and Iron Togue Act

Robert DoQui

Jerry

Richard Kaufman

Carnival Goer (uncredited)

Oldmoviegal

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.