I need to know if anyone else was terrified by this film

It really seems that the double tragedy of your father's premature death and your own premature exposure to that trauma are largely responsible for the extreme nature of your reaction. However, the film certainly provides a lot of grist for that subconscious mill. After all, the little boy runs away to the most faraway place he knows because of his fear and guilt over having "killed" his brother. Young children sometimes, even if subliminally, feel both anger and guilt over the death of a parent. My own parents often told me I was "killing" them when I was difficult or defiant.

And, Coney Island (and carnivals in general) do indeed have a Dantesque, hellish aspect. The crowds, the funhouses, shooting galleries, scary rides, and particularly the calliope music of the merry-go-round are a bit scary. Not to mention the freak shows featuring severely deformed people that were part of the scene till the late 60s. The 50s beatnik poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti wrote a collection of poetry called "Coney Island of The Mind". It was popular when I was in college, but I never read it so I don't know whether it was directly about Coney Island.

I first saw the movie when I was middle-aged. BUT my grandmother lived in Manhattan Beach and I lived in Sheepshead Bay till I was 8. So I went to Coney Island frequently in the 1950s. This movie was set only a year or two before my remembered life. The place was starting to become run down by then, and even as a kid I remember seeing lots of drunks, weirdos and women that I now understand were streetwalkers. It was a bit of a scary adventure to go there, even with my parents and brothers.

In short, your reaction is entirely understandable to me. Since this movie bothered you so much, DON'T EVER see Carnival of Souls (1960). Also a low budget independent film with nonprofessional actors. I normally recommend this film to people. No gore, not a drop of blood----but terrifying. From what you say about yourself and your reactions to this movie, avoid it!

The Old Coney Island will soon be History. The Russian Mob has bought up much of the property and plan to make it a modern amusement park. They are also lobbying for a casino.

Sorry for rambling. But Coney Island has a definite and somewhat sinister place in my psyche as well. All the best!

I too was terrified by this film primarily because I've been to Coney Island in the 1960's AND again in the 1990's.

MAJOR DIFFERENCE between the decades!!!
Watching Little Fugitive, I was terrified to the point of NUMBness by the prospect by this kid running around unescorted by an adult.

BUT... I caught myself getting scared and thought: "Weren't things better back then? Weren't they safer? Were people kinder and more decent? Or were people and situations the same as today but you just didn't hear about the horrors of crime because there was no internet."

Anyway, the movie was a delight and masterpiece in many ways.


B

I can totally understand your reaction to this film, given the tremendous loss you suffered. I was born in 1944; my brother in '47. Our parents took us to see it when it was first released. I remember my/our reactions to this very day. I was just old enough to be frightened for him out there by himself; not sure if my brother was or not. But I do remember that the film stayed with us for a long time. We talked about it a lot, even when adult friends and family came to visit. We must have driven our parents crazy because we just couldn't stop talking about the little boy and the film. I remember that we talked about it excitedly, but there was something more behind our constant chatter - and I knew this even as a kid, deep down somewhere. Maybe we were trying to release the tension (or terror?) that must have engulfed us while we were in the theatre.

I'm so glad I found your post. Just happened to check to see what was going on at the NYC public libraries this week, and found that this is being screened today (8/4/08) at 6 pm at the Mid-Manhattan branch at 5th Ave and 40th St. I immediately went on IMDB to make sure it was the same film, then decided to read thru the comments. This branch of the NYPL is right across the street from "the big library". This is only a suggestion, but if you happen to live in NYC, it might be helpful to see it again. I'm getting ready to travel into the city from NJ as I type - mainly to see this film.

I know the chances of you seeing this post today before 6 pm are slim, but I'm trying anyhow. If you see this post later, and want to see the film again, I'm sure the library can assist you. Also, I'm wondering what triggered your post on 2/2/08? Did you see it again recently?

Best to you,
Sandra

I was not terrified by this movie, at all. Of course I did not encounter the circumstances that you did. I didn't see it until 6 years ago, either. However, as a boy who spent every summer at Steeplechase Pool and Park during the 50's until it closed in '63 I loved this movie. I did and rode everything that the boy did at Coney Island, and the scenes brought back a flood of memories of family and friends that I miss so. I especially loved the Parachute Jump and I also collected bottles to get 2 cents for the small ones and a nickle for the large ones. I would not trade my youth in Brooklyn and my times living on Bay 26 Street in Bensonhurst and going to Coney every day every summer for anything in the world.
It's funny how as a child you were terrified of this movie and as an adult I was moved to tears by it!

I wasn't terrified by this film (I just saw it for the first time and I'm 51).

But I think I would have been horribly terrified of it had I seen it as a kid.

I lived in sunny California - and ALL B&W "dubbed" movies that showed life in NYC in the 50s scared the hell out of me.

All those people, all that gray, all those old, old buildings.

I even hated that Cracker Jack commercial of the early 60s that showed the two kids running down the boardwalk at Coney Island and then being approached by Jack Gilford for some CrackerJack!

(I got over my fear, however, I ended up spending 18 of the best years of my life in that city!)

"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"

NO.

Yours is an extremely neurotic reaction. I found this film delightful. There are many really terrifying things in this world that have nothing to do with cinema. I'd suggest you seek professional help before seeing any more movies.

So now you know. I hope this helps to satisfy your curiosity.

Watching this film brought back great memories of a childhood so different from that kids experience today. I was born the year this film was made. I remember roaming around free with other kids. No one bothered us, and we had a lot of fun.


His woman and his best friend, in bed and having fun

I saw it as an adult so it didn't scare me but you know what I saw as a child that did scare me? The Red Balloon. I think it was supposed to be whimsical, this balloon following a child around but I thought it was utterly creepy for this inanimate object to be stalking a child!

Sorry you lost your father so soon. I lost mine when he was 83 and it still hurt so much!