Robbie Robertson a member of the famous roots rock group, The Band sang rural, pastoral country folk/rock with a touch of pessimism.Carny co-written and starring Roberson is a rather plot less and meandering film that needed a better and sharper director. However it carries on the themes of The Band as you enter the world of a travelling carnival in the south filled with strange people, the tallest, shortest, the bearded and the contortionist.Frankie (Gary Busey) is a twisted clown in the carnival, always winding up the punters as he sits on a dunk tank taunting them.Patch (Robbie Robertson) is a fixer at the carnival, he works the dunk tank with Frankie and smooths things over with locals and the carnival operators.Frankie hooks up with Donna (Jodie Foster) a rather bored young woman whose boyfriend Frankie humiliates. She joins Frankie at the circus although Patch is not too pleased about it and she initially works on the strip show before finding out that she is a natural conning the punters on the rigged games of skill.Patch and Frankie have to deal with one of the gangsters who is extorting money from the circus boss and whose henchman takes a shine to Donna.Foster is very sexy, she gives another mature performance and to think she was only 18 years old at the time. Just watch the scene when she hustles two lesbians, very sensual and natural!

"Carny" doesn't really feature exemplary storytelling, but it's still a striking look into a world to which many of us are not privy. That would be the behind-the-scenes dealings in travelling carnivals. With story credit going to co-star Robbie Robertson - member of The Band and a real life former carny himself - director Robert Kaylor and Kaylors' wife Phoebe, it's an amazing display of sights and sounds in this sometimes seamy environment. Ultimately, the heaviest asset is the incredible atmosphere that Kaylor and his crew create.Gary Busey and Robertson are front and centre as members of this carnival troupe. Busey is a clown who sits in a dunk tank and taunts passers by. Into their lives comes a sexy teenager, Donna (Jodie Foster), who's tired of her humdrum small town existence and job as a waitress. So she joins them on the road, becoming part of their "family". Busey is very welcoming, but Robertson has his misgivings about her presence.There's a wonderful, star studded cast here, although some of the actors inevitably end up rather under utilized. Among them are Meg Foster, Kenneth McMillan, Elisha Cook Jr. (in one of his best latter day roles), Tim Thomerson, Teddy Wilson, Bert Remsen, Craig Wasson, Robert DoQui, and Fred Ward. Bill McKinney and John Lehne are perfectly hate worthy as a shady businessman and his henchman who cause problems for our heroes. (Not content to rely on actual law enforcement, Busey, Robertson and company enact their own form of justice.) Busey is very likable, in one of his better film roles, and Foster very appealing. Robertson, of course, looks completely at home.The production design (by William J. Cassidy) and cinematography (by Harry Stradling Jr.) are first rate, and this film also makes use of some real sideshow attractions. The tale actually gets a little twisted towards the end; coupled with some profanity and some T & A, "Carny" does earn its R rating. It also has an excellent music score by Alex North.Overall, an interesting film worthy of discovery or re-discovery.Eight out of 10.

Frankie (Gary Busey) and Patch (Robbie Robertson of The Band) are two carnival hustlers traveling from town to town in the South. In one spot Frankie picks up Donna (Jodie Foster), an 18-year old who literally runs away with the circus. Naturally, things tense up between Frankie and Patch as Donna tries to learn the carny lifestyle. Man, back in the day one could make a movie about the life of carnival workers and it didn't have to be profound or condescending. CARNY just tells it like it is, showcasing the carnival folk and their life. What is so interesting about the film (outside of Busey's maniac performance) is how Robert Kaylor deviates from expectations. One would expect Busey and Robertson to fight over who gets the girl but they don't. Instead, they act normal as Foster is the one who gets emotional over it. The supporting cast is incredible and features Tim Thomerson, Kenneth McMillan, Elisha Cook, Jr., Meg Foster and Teddy Wilson.

A real unsung movie from the early 80s. Jodie Foster literally runs away and joins the carnival where she hooks up with smooth Robbie Robertson and his crony...carny clown Gary Busey. They're both womanizing cads who nonetheless give Foster an education she may very well not want. CARNY is a depressing, enthralling, and extremely well-made film. Director Robert Kaylor infuses the film with a lot of melancholy touches...from the desperate fights with local politicos to the desperate lives the carnies lead. The story is perhaps a bit too depressing, but it is still great movie making. Meg Foster (creepy eyes and all) appears as one of the carnival barkers. The great Bert Remsen and Elisha Cook are in it too as is Craig Wasson in an early role as a jock who gets his comeuppance. Whatever happened to Robert Kaylor?