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Carnivale: The Complete First Season [6 Discs][Widescreen Dubbed] - DVD

SKU: 6840831 | Release Date: 12/7/2004

Rating: NR

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Rating: NR
Format: DVD
Length: 720 minutes
Screen Formats: Enhanced Widescreen for 16x9 TV
Genre: General Television
Studio: Hbo Home Video
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Synopsis

Includes:

Carniv�le: Milfay (2003)

Carniv�le: The River (2003)

Carniv�le: Tipton (2003)

Carniv�le: Insomnia (2003)

Carniv�le: Day of the Dead (2003)

Carniv�le: Pick a Number (2003)

Carniv�le: Babylon (2003)

Carniv�le: The Day That Was the Day (2003)

Carniv�le: Hot and Bothered (2003)

Carniv�le: After the Ball is Over (2003)

Carniv�le: Lonnigan, Texas (2003)

Carniv�le: Black Blizzard (2003)

Carniv�le: Milfay
When the traveling carnival comes upon Ben Hawkins (Nick Stahl), out in the Oklahoma dust in 1934, he's trying to bury his recently departed mother, while a man from the bank threatens to bulldoze their little house. Jonesy (Tim DeKay) helps out, gathering a group of carnies together to dig a grave. He notices the broken chain on Ben's leg, and when they pull out, with police sirens in the distance, the carnival takes Ben with them. Samson (Michael J. Anderson), the dwarf who runs the carnival, later tells Jonesy that "Management" had been expecting the mysterious stranger. Soon, Ben meets Lila (Debra Christofferson), the bearded lady; Lodz (Patrick Bauchau), the blind mentalist who peers into Ben's frightening dreams; and Sofie (Clea Duvall), a young woman who reads tarot cards and has a telepathic link with her mother, Apollonia (Diane Salinger). Ben isn't particularly friendly, and, though he has no prospects, isn't interested in joining the carnival when Samson offers to take him on, at Management's behest. After rescuing Sofie from some ruffians in town, she does a tarot reading for him, and nearly scares him off, speaking to him of his "hidden talent." Ben has an inkling of what that terrible power might be. Meanwhile, out in California, Brother Justin Crowe (Clancy Brown) preaches to his flock with the help of his devoted sister, Iris (Amy Madigan). Crowe, like Ben, plagued by mysterious and horrific visions, reveals a strange power of his own when he confronts a destitute woman who stole from the church's collection plate. The premiere episode of Carniv�le was written by the show's creator, Daniel Knauf, and directed by Rodrigo Garc�a (Things You Can Tell Just By Looking at Her). ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Carniv�le: The River
As the show opens, Justin (Clancy Brown) is standing on a bridge, apparently contemplating suicide. He jumps off, and washes up on shore, where he's found by two strange Russian children, Alexsei (Jordan Orr) and Irina (Erin Sanders), brother and sister. Justin is badly injured, and begs them to help him, but they claim they are being pursued by their father, "an evil man," and treat Justin with suspicion. The boy turns out to have a mysterious and deadly power. Iris (Amy Madigan) is visited by Tommy Dolan (Robert Knepper), who uses his radio show to take on the local politicians who opposed Justin's church. Meanwhile, Lila (Debra Christofferson) tells Ben (Nick Stahl) about Ruthie's (Adrienne Barbeau) past relationship with Scudder. Ben angrily confronts Ruthie, and gets into a scuffle with her son, Gabriel (Brian Turk), who falls and breaks his arm. Later, Ben secretly takes Gabriel to a nearby lake and demonstrates his frightening power. Libby (Carla Gallo) is desperate to leave the show, and Stumpy (Toby Huss), distraught over Dora Mae's death, agrees to drive her to Hollywood in the hopes that she'll be "discovered." Sofie (Clea Duvall) decides to leave Apollonia (Diane Salinger) and go with them, but Rita Sue (Cynthia Ettinger) is not willing to let her husband and daughter leave. This episode was directed by Alison Maclean (Jesus' Son). ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Carniv�le: Tipton
The carnival rolls into Tipton, where they find themselves less than welcome. The town is in bad shape, and the sheriff, Lyle Donovan, knows Samson (Michael J. Anderson), and his business, and warns him not to set up shop. Jonesy (Tim DeKay) takes Ben (Nick Stahl) into town for supplies, where Ben sees a truck with "Big Sky Farms" written on the side, just like in the old photo he found of his mother. Before he can pursue it, he's recognized by the grandmother of the little girl he healed in the first episode, and swarmed by a crowd. This gives Jonesy the idea to present the carnival to Tipton as a revival, with Ben as a faith healer. Samson gets the endorsement of a local preacher by promising him a cut of the gate. The show goes off pretty well, with Ruthie (Adrienne Barbeau) posing as a cancer victim whom Ben lays hands on. Apollonia (Diane Salinger) gets Sofie (Clea Duvall) to give Ben a lift into town so he can look for the farm truck. This leads him to Becca Donovan (Deborah Strong), a sick old woman who was friends with Scudder (John Savage), and knows that Ben has the same gift. Before she can tell him more, her son, the sheriff, shows up and throws Ben out. On the way back to the show, Sofie gets into an argument with Ben over his secretiveness, and Ben is late for his faith healing show, which Lyle interrupts to demand that Ben heal his dying mother. Meanwhile, Justin Crowe (Clancy Brown) is making great progress turning Chin's into a church for the migrants. But the local city council tries to stop him, incurring his supernaturally powerful wrath. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Carniv�le: Insomnia
Ben (Nick Stahl), tormented by his dreams, won't sleep. This troubles Lodz (Patrick Bauchau). "He doesn't sleep; he doesn't dream," he explains to Lila (Debra Christofferson). "He doesn't dream; he can't be reached." Sophie (Clea Duvall) shares a vision with Apollonia (Diane Salinger) of a tattooed man (Don Swayze) raping her mother. Sophie knows, intuitively, that she's witnessing her conception, and realizes that Apollonia is losing control of what she shares with her. With the carnival struggling financially, Samson (Michael J. Anderson) announces that they're putting on a "fireball" show, a no-holds-barred festival of scams including fake freaks, pickpockets, and the infamous "Man Eating Chicken." Lodz warns Ben that he'll have to learn to control his gift, or he'll endanger everyone he knows. Samson, losing his place at Management's side to the mentalist, gives Ben Scudder's watch fob and a bit of information about his father, and warns him not to trust Lodz. Sophie, worried about her mother's sanity, goes to Jonesy (Tim DeKay) for comfort. Jonesy tries to tell Rita Sue (Cynthia Ettinger) that their night of passion was a mistake, but their lust for each other won't abate. During Lodz's performance, Samson capriciously passes up the watch fob with the mysterious seal, and when the mentalist touches it, he has a seizure and horrifying visions. Ben begins assisting Ruthie (Adrienne Barbeau) with her snake-charming act. Meanwhile, Dolan (Robert Knepper) tries to get romantic with Iris (Amy Madigan), and she responds with horror. Justin (Clancy Brown) is released from the mental hospital, seemingly in full control of his terrifying powers. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Carniv�le: Day of the Dead
Ben (Nick Stahl) has a dream in which he rejects Justin's (Clancy Brown) offer of a Communion razor blade (in place of a holy wafer). He leaves Ruthie (Adrienne Barbeau) in a state, telling her of their activities, "It's a sin." He goes to confession for the first time, where he says of his mother, "I let her die." The priest responds, "Your mother chose to die," and Ben realizes that he's talking to Scudder (John Savage), who quickly vanishes. Sophie (Clea Duvall) gets drunk, and is shocked to have an erotic vision of Libby (Carla Gallo), which ends with the image of a bloody gash across her own hand. She then sees the worm in her bottle of mescal moving, and later blames it on Apollonia (Diane Salinger). Sophie also goes to Rita Sue (Cynthia Ettinger) for advice about Jonesy (Tim DeKay), because he's been spurning her advances. Rita Sue is no longer encouraging, telling Sophie, "Sometimes it just ain't meant to be." Jonesy wants to try to have a relationship with Sophie, but Rita Sue is not prepared to give him up. Later, in a fit of pique, Rita Sue upstages Catalina (Valeria Hernandez) in the middle of her dance routine. Catalina drags Stumpy to see Apollonia, who has nothing but bad news for him. Apollonia also reveals Jonesy's secret to Sophie. Lodz (Patrick Bauchau), who is quickly taking Samson's (Michael J. Anderson) place as Management's right-hand man, goes into town to buy a deadly snake, seeking to eliminate an obstacle between himself and Ben. With Reverend Balthus (Ralph Waite) and Dolan (Robert Knepper) both threatening to expose Justin's (Clancy Brown) strange powers, Iris (Amy Madigan) makes a shocking confession of her own to her brother. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Carniv�le: Pick a Number
In the aftermath of Dora Mae's (Amanda Aday) murder, the show is packing up and leaving Babylon, but first, Samson (Michael J. Anderson) insists, someone must pay for the crime. Jonesy (Tim DeKay), convinced that Management doesn't exist, has a falling out with Samson, who implores him to trust him. "I trusted you, even when no one else would," Samson tells him. Ben (Nick Stahl) is still stuck in the abandoned mine dream world, which is soon transformed into a WWI bunker, where he comes upon a dead soldier being eaten by an unseen beast. As Ben cautiously approaches the beast, a German soldier creeps up on Ben. The beast is revealed to be a huge bear, wearing a fez. Ben manages to get away and runs into a younger, sighted incarnation of Lodz (Patrick Bauchau), who is looking for his bear. Shortly thereafter, Ben wakes up to find Lodz standing over him, demanding to hear about his dream. An armed group of men from the troupe go into town, where they find Babylon deserted. But eventually, they run into Stangler (John Hannah). As he's the only townsperson available, they take him prisoner and mete out their strange traditional punishment on him. Samson learns that the town of Babylon was cursed when they tried to lynch Scudder over the death of a miner. He also learns the horrible reason why Dora Mae was murdered. Meanwhile, Justin (Clancy Brown), still mourning over the church fire that killed several children, removes his collar and hits the road. He finds a campfire, where he reluctantly tells his tale of woe to an inquisitive Tommy Dolan (Robert Knepper). As it turns out, Dolan is not a hobo, but a radio personality, and he tells of Justin's plight on his show. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Carniv�le: Babylon
The show approaches Babylon, and there's a lot of tension in the air. They pass a man in the road, Stangler (John Hannah), who's leaving town. "Been waitin' for you folks a long time," he says mysteriously, before walking off. Samson (Michael J. Anderson) begs Management to tell him something to tell the troupe, to placate them, but walks away unhappy. Ben (Nick Stahl) tells a sickly Lodz (Patrick Bauchau) that he's figured something out -- "You don't know half as much as you claim to." Ruthie (Adrienne Barbeau) warns Lodz not to mess with Ben. Sofie (Clea Duvall), worried she might be pregnant, confides in Libby (Carla Gallo) and the two strike up an unlikely friendship, of which Apollonia (Diane Salinger) quickly expresses her disapproval. The troupe sets up outside Babylon. Jonesy (Tim DeKay), disgruntled from his attempt to talk to Management, warns Samson that several of the roustabouts are planning to bolt. Samson offers to treat everyone to a night on the town after they're set up. In town, they find Stangler tending an empty bar. Drinking and dancing ensue. Sophie and Libby wander over to the movie theater, which is also deserted. Ben wanders off. Jonesy asks Sophie to dance, but she turns him down. The next night, the carnival opens. A large group of townsfolk, apparently out-of-work miners, wander in, zombie-like. Samson gets spooked and warns Stumpy (Toby Huss) not to let Dora Mae (Amanda Aday) get fully naked in front of these men, but Stumpy doesn't listen, and the night ends in horror. Meanwhile, Ben wakes up in (or dreams he's in) a collapsed mine, where he has his first face-to-face encounter with Scudder (John Savage), finds the corpse of a murder victim, and reads a cryptic message. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Carniv�le: The Day That Was the Day
In the middle of the night, Ben (Nick Stahl) brings Ruthie's (Adrienne Barbeau) body back to the carnival, hides her in her trailer, and tells Gabriel (Brian Turk) to stand guard. Then he goes to Lodz (Patrick Bauchau) for help. Lodz brings him to Management, who seems to know an awful lot about Ben and his gift. He explains that Ben can only bring Ruthie back to life by taking the life of another, and he must choose the life he takes. Rita Sue (Cynthia Ettinger) and Stumpy (Toby Huss) discuss each other's indiscretions, and agree to try to make their marriage work. Sophie (Clea Duvall) argues with Apollonia (Diane Salinger) again, and tells her she's leaving that night. She later makes flirtatious plans to meet both Jonesy (Tim DeKay) and Libby (Carla Gallo) after the show. A state trooper comes looking for Ben. Samson (Michael J. Anderson) protects him, but after hearing about his meeting, he tells him that, to Management, people are "pieces moving around on a board," and warns him not to bring harm to anyone connected to the carnival. Ben goes into town to look for a potential victim, but he can't bring himself to murder anyone. He sits down in a local graveyard and slashes his own throat. Scudder (John Savage) suddenly appears beside him, telling him, "It doesn't work that way. You're meant for greater things." Ben will have to make a choice. Meanwhile, Justin (Clancy Brown) makes a deal with Dolan (Robert Knepper) to get his message out to the world. Norman (Ralph Waite) confronts Justin, and in attempting to reveal Norman's greatest sin, Justin makes a shocking discovery about his own nature. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Carniv�le: Hot and Bothered
Jonesy (Tim DeKay) and Rita Sue (Cynthia Ettinger) continue their affair. Libby (Carla Gallo) spies them together, and several other carnies are growing suspicious. Samson (Michael J. Anderson) takes Ben (Nick Stahl) into town, where they visit the Benevolent Order of Templars, a lodge with the same insignia as that of Scudder's (John Savage) watch fob. They don't learn much there, but Samson tells Ben that Management bought out the carnival after Scudder left, and has been looking for Scudder ever since. Something terrible happened between Scudder and Management back in "the old country." Sophie (Clea Duvall), increasingly distraught over Apollonia's (Diane Salinger) mental state, turns to Jonesy for support again. Stumpy (Toby Huss), despondent over the state of his relationship with Rita Sue, goes into town, gets drunk, fights, and finds new talent for the cootch show in the form of Catalina (Valeria Hernandez), a pretty Mexican woman. Ruthie (Adrienne Barbeau) offers comfort, and more, to the sleep-deprived Ben, but when she's lured away from their bed, Lodz (Patrick Bauchau) sneaks in and gets a glimpse of Ben's terrifying dream. Lodz is surprised to find himself addressed directly by Scudder, who warns him, referring to Ben, "He's mine." Back in California, Justin (Clancy Brown) returns home to Iris (Amy Madigan), who tells him, "You have a destiny, and now is the time to fulfill it." Justin doesn't seem interested in appearing on Dolan's (Robert Knepper) radio show, despite Iris' encouragement. Iris invites Dolan along to church, where Justin interrupts Reverend Balthus' (Ralph Waite) sermon to preach his own, psychically enumerating the congregants' sins, and offering them an eerily bloody baptism. "Evil exists," he tells them. "We cannot hide from it. It is part of who we are." ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Carniv�le: After the Ball is Over
Ben Hawkins (Nick Stahl) and Brother Justin Crowe (Clancy Brown) share a strange dream of a man in a tuxedo (John Savage) and a WWI German officer. Apollonia (Diane Salinger) silently pressures Sofie (Clea Duvall) to convince Ben to return to their tent, perhaps for another Tarot reading. As the troupe prepares to move on, Ben goes to clean out the "baggage trailer," as ordered by Jonesy (Tim DeKay). Amid the clutter he finds a trunk that contains the same tux the man in his dream was wearing, and a yellowed photograph of a young woman. He pockets the photo and leaves, only to have Samson (Michael J. Anderson) tell him that Jonesy was playing a prank on him. There is no "baggage trailer," and sure enough, when Ben looks again, it's vanished. Jonesy is increasingly jealous of the attention that Sofie is paying to Ben, but he can't express his feelings to her. For his part, Ben finds himself drawn to Ruthie (Adrienne Barbeau), the strongman's mother. In her determination to contact Ben, the previously catatonic Apollonia manages to rise from her bed and find him, telling him, "You're the one," before collapsing. Later, Ben learns from Ruthie that the man from his dream was Scudder, who was once billed as "The Gentleman Geek," and that the woman in the photo was Scudder's girl. But Ben recognizes another surprising connection. Meanwhile, Crowe, inspired by Reverend Balthus' (Ralph Waite) words about Babe Ruth, uses his dark power to convince a community leader with a terrible secret to give up his dance hall business, Chin's, and donate the building for Crowe's use as a church for the migrant community. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Carniv�le: Lonnigan, Texas
Ben (Nick Stahl) has another horrible dream of war, and Justin (Clancy Brown) makes an appearance. When Ben wakes up, Lodz (Patrick Bauchau) is watching over him. He knows the dreams are getting worse, but Ben still won't talk to him. Sophie (Clea Duvall) has a falling out with Jonesy (Tim DeKay) when he makes an insinuating comment about her recent friendship with Libby (Carla Gallo). Sophie spends the afternoon dancing with Libby, and when Rita Sue (Cynthia Ettinger) sees them together, she persuades Sophie to join their act, despite the strong disapproval of both Apollonia (Diane Salinger) and Libby, who thinks Rita Sue is manipulating her friend. Samson (Michael J. Anderson) sends Ben on an errand, with cash and the carnival's pickup, to find and hire a new freak. But Ben gets bad directions from a devious rival carnie (John Doe) along the way. When Jonesy complains to Stumpy (Toby Huss) about his problems with Sophie, Stumpy suggests that Jonesy's real problem is that he hasn't been with a woman in too long, and offers the services of his wife, as he's been unable lately to fulfill her needs. Sophie's first night onstage goes badly when Jonesy drunkenly attacks a man who paws her. Meanwhile, Justin is given barbaric treatment at an insane asylum, and explains to a clueless psychiatrist that he's discovered that he is "the left hand of God." Tommy Dolan (Robert Knepper) continues to trumpet Justin's cause on his radio show. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Carniv�le: Black Blizzard
The troupe is heading south, towards Babylon, and rumors about the town's deadly reputation are flying. Everyone is getting antsy, and it doesn't help matters when Samson (Michael J. Anderson), on Management's orders, has them set up shop in the middle of nowhere. Jonesy (Tim DeKay) expresses his reservations, and offers to talk to Management himself, but Samson says no. While the crew sets up, Samson has Osgood (Blake Shields) drive him into town so he can see Miss Jolene (Judith Hoag), a prostitute with whom he has a special relationship. Sofie (Clea Duvall) goes into town herself, despite Apollonia's (Diane Salinger) protestations, and puts on an act, pretending to be a young widow, which earns her the sympathetic ear of Harlan (Gabriel Mann), the handsome proprietor of a local diner. Lodz (Patrick Bauchau) convinces Ben (Nick Stahl) to drive him out into the desert, claiming he wants to show him something that has to do with Scudder. All of them are caught in a deadly dust storm. In the ensuing chaos, Apollonia nearly chokes to death, Samson learns that his relationship with Jolene isn't all he thinks it is, and Sofie gets far more intimate with Harlan than she had intended. Lodz wanders from the safety of the car and into the desert, and when Ben follows him, Lodz demonstrates that Ben is even more powerful than he suspected and offers to help him learn how to use his power, but Ben isn't interested in using it. Meanwhile, Justin (Clancy Brown) gets a visit from Norman (Ralph Waite) who warns him that the church is upset about his continuing to build his ministry for the migrants. Justin passionately explains that he's following direct orders from God, but a deadly tragedy soon ends Justin's dreams. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Version Details

Sound

stereo

Languages/Sound

Eng/Fre/Spa

Screen Formats

Enhanced Widescreen for 16x9 TV

Subtitle Languages

Eng/Fre/Spa

Additional Features

cc Behind-the-scenes featurette detailing how set and costume designers collaborated to achieve the look of the Dustbowl in the 1930s Three audio commentaries with series creator Daniel Knauf, executive producer Howard Klein, and more

Chapters

Side #1 -- Disc One
2. Don't Touch Me
3. Holy Man of Mintern
4. Dangerous
5. Trust Is Earned
6. No Questions
7. Wasted Ability
2. Unexpected Connections
3. Righteous Path
4. One Man
5. Influence
6. Down Right Queer
7. New Direction
Side #2 -- Disc Two
2. Unwanted
3. Revival
4. Hero of the Hour
5. The Nickel Tour
6. Family Business
7. In Need of Healing
2. Restless
3. Harmless Fun
4. Storm Rolls In
5. Can't Hide
6. It Was the Storm
7. Broken Trust
Side #3 -- Disc Three
2. Road to Babylon
3. Night Out
4. Lend Me Your Eyes
5. Not Right
6. Man Named Scudder
7. Marked
2. Head Count
3. Help Me Understand
4. Clear Purpose
5. Rest in Peace
6. Carnival Justice
7. Stories From the Road
Side #4 -- Disc Four
2. For Brother Justin
3. Snake Hunting
4. Right Wrongs
5. Destined for Greatness
6. Faith and Action
7. With or Without You
2. Torture
3. A Favor
4. The Left Hand of God
5. Hustle
6. Against the Code
7. Unexpected
Side #5 -- Disc Five
2. Night Terrors
3. Important Man
4. What Did It Mean
5. Fireball Show
6. Snake Charming
7. No Rest for the Weary
2. Betrayal
3. No Time for Problems
4. Trip Into Town
5. Bad News
6. Moment of Weakness
7. Mass Baptism
Side #6 -- Disc Six
2. Razor Sharp
3. Touched by Death
4. I Want to Try
5. Dark Dealings
6. Double Trouble
7. Sacrifice
2. The Only Way
3. Deal With the Devil
4. Wanted
5. Greatest Evil
6. Payback
7. Choice

Carnivale: The Complete First Season [6 Discs]: AMG Review
AMG

Includes:

Carniv�le: Milfay (2003)

Carniv�le: The River (2003)

Carniv�le: Tipton (2003)

Carniv�le: Insomnia (2003)

Carniv�le: Day of the Dead (2003)

Carniv�le: Pick a Number (2003)

Carniv�le: Babylon (2003)

Carniv�le: The Day That Was the Day (2003)

Carniv�le: Hot and Bothered (2003)

Carniv�le: After the Ball is Over (2003)

Carniv�le: Lonnigan, Texas (2003)

Carniv�le: Black Blizzard (2003)

Carniv�le: Milfay
No reviews available.

Carniv�le: The River
No reviews available.

Carniv�le: Tipton
No reviews available.

Carniv�le: Insomnia
No reviews available.

Carniv�le: Day of the Dead
No reviews available.

Carniv�le: Pick a Number
No reviews available.

Carniv�le: Babylon
No reviews available.

Carniv�le: The Day That Was the Day
No reviews available.

Carniv�le: Hot and Bothered
No reviews available.

Carniv�le: After the Ball is Over
No reviews available.

Carniv�le: Lonnigan, Texas
No reviews available.

Carniv�le: Black Blizzard
No reviews available.

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