Carny *** (1980, Gary Busey, Jodie Foster, Robbie Robertson) – Classic Movie Review 13,209

Robert Kaylor’s 1980 American drama film Carny stars Gary Busey, Jodie Foster and Robbie Robertson, who also produces and has a hand in the story and music.

Director Robert Kaylor’s 1980 American drama film Carny stars Gary Busey, Jodie Foster and Robbie Robertson, along with Kenneth McMillan, Meg Foster, Elisha Cook Jr, Tim Thomerson, and Fred Ward. It is produced by the Canadian musician Robbie Robertson, who also has a hand in the story and music.

Independently minded 18-year-old small-town waitress Donna (Jodie Foster) joins the Great American Carnival, a a small-time travelling carnival that tours the American South, and threatens to come between weird travelling carnival workers Frankie and Patch (Gary Busey and Robbie Robertson), in an intriguing, dark and frank portrait of outsiders.

Writing (Thomas Baum), playing, photography (Harry Stradling Jr) and music (Alex North) are of an admirably high standard, and there is plenty of satisfying atmosphere and attractively oddball material, though it is not an easy film to watch, nor is it satisfyingly tied up.

It cost $6 million and took only $1,817,720 at the box office.

The cast are Gary Busey as Frankie, Jodie Foster as Donna, Robbie Robertson as Patch, Meg Foster as Gerta, Kenneth McMillan as Heavy St John, Elisha Cook Jr as On-Your-Mark, Tim Thomerson as Doubles, Theodore Wilson [Teddy Wilson] as Nails, John Lehne as Skeet, Bill McKinney as Marvin Dill, Bert Remsen as Delno Baptiste, Woodrow Parfrey as W C Hannon, Alan Braunstein as Willie Mae, Tina Andrews as Sugaree, Craig Wasson as Mickey, Fred Ward as Jamie, and Johann Petursson as Giant.

Robbie Robertson (July 5, 1943 – August 9, 2023) was lead guitarist for Bob Dylan in the 1960s and 1970s, and guitarist and songwriter with The Band.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,209

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