I was watching this movie before i had to go to work today and i was at the part where the sheriff was just about to bust up the carnival. Tyrone's character stopped him by tell him a lot of personal information, basically predicting everything that went on in the Sheriff's life. I had to leave soon after that and so I'm completely mystified as to how Tyrone's character knew what to say to the Sheriff. Can someone give me some insight?
shareHe didn't know anything about the sheriff, it was all a trick. Earlier in the film, the other magician tells Stan (Powers' character) that there are some things that are always true - boys having dogs, for example. The sheriff having a gold pocketwatch, for example.
Does that help?
Kinda....but he was getting really specific. Like the Sheriff having a daughter and also being in love with a woman who was not his wife and could sing beautifully. I think it was rather random. I'm pretty sure he must have gotten some information from somebody!
Thanks for the reply!
It's kind of the same thing that palm readers use, they make statements and look for a facial reaction to verify. The main character in this movie is a combination of Sherlock Holmes who used reasonable logical deductions and a mystic palm reader who actually reads the reactions of people instead of the palm.
The daughter comment probably could have been deduced by the first reaction the sheriff had to the scandely clad young girl. A sheriff without one might have been as offended by her dress.
Most people have been in love with someone who they didn't marry, so that is a high percentage deduction. As for the knowing that she sings beutifully, ya got me! A bit of dramatic hollywood license perhaps.
"You sent us to guard the wrong man Mr. Chalmers."
The guy John Edwards does the same thing.That's why I 'm surprised people still fall for that stuff today.And that psychic fakery.They say a bunch of random things that can apply to almost anyone.You hear one or two things that applies to you and your hooked.Not to mention their voices always sound hypnotic.The only thing I thought was iffy was the greay haired mother.As a kid most children don't have a mother with grey hair.Grandmother yes.
shareIt's called a "cold reading' in the trade - tossing out vague things and watching the mark's reactions. If you're good, you can get more and more specific.
shareThere's not a carny worth his salt who doesn't know the basics. It's like fishin.
Hey Ya'll, Mama's Fryin' Taters!
Yes, cold readings. People can get very good at it. As for "sings beautifully", if the sherrif loved the girl - any girl - the reader would assume the sherrif thought everything about her was beautiful, even her voice. Also, back then, more people (families) sang and played instruments themselves for entertainment. Women in the family often took music lessons if they could afford it. Today it might be, "She always wanted to be on American Idol."
Sometimes life is like asking strangers for directions to the Susquehanna Hat Company.