IMDb >
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThey Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos (see all 2) |
|
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
10 September 1970 (West Germany)
more
Tagline:
People are the ultimate spectacle
Plot:
The lives of a disparate group of contestants intertwine in an inhumanely grueling dance marathon. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Marathon
|
Hollywood
|
Dance Marathon
|
Dance
|
Contestant
more
Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 6 wins
&
20 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Sydney Pollack Dies at 73
(From IMDb News. 27 May 2008, 4:12 AM, PDT)
Red Buttons Dead at 87
(From WENN. 14 July 2006)
(From IMDb News. 27 May 2008, 4:12 AM, PDT)
Red Buttons Dead at 87
(From WENN. 14 July 2006)
User Comments:
A memorable, tragic story with roots in reality
more (72 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Jane Fonda | ... | Gloria |
 | Michael Sarrazin | ... | Robert |
| Susannah York | ... | Alice |
| Gig Young | ... | Rocky |
 | Red Buttons | ... | Sailor |
 | Bonnie Bedelia | ... | Ruby |
| Michael Conrad | ... | Rollo |
| Bruce Dern | ... | James |
| Al Lewis | ... | Turkey |
| Robert Fields | ... | Joel |
| Severn Darden | ... | Cecil |
| Allyn Ann McLerie | ... | Shirl |
| Madge Kennedy | ... | Mrs. Laydon |
| Jacquelyn Hyde | ... | Jackie |
| Felice Orlandi | ... | Mario |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
129 min (original version) | USA:120 min (current version)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:12 |
Australia:M |
Finland:K-16 |
UK:15 |
USA:M (original rating) |
USA:PG-13 |
West Germany:12 |
Singapore:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Barbara Parkins was offered, but turned down, a role in this film.
more
Goofs:
Continuity: When they're 'jogging' around the dance floor, Gloria's shirt is soaked with sweat. The next shot it has only one sweat spot, and in the next it's all drenched again.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in 'Silent Running': A Conversation with Bruce Dern, 'Lowell Freeman' (2002) (V)
more
Soundtrack:
Paradise
more
FAQ
Location of shootmore
more (72 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Valentino | Mr. & Mrs. Bridge | Die Blechtrommel | Come See the Paradise | Slaughterhouse-Five |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |
"They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" is such a fascinating film that it made worthwhile a little research into the dance marathon craze of the 1920s and early 1930s. According to the DVD extra, the set was modeled on the old Aragon Ballroom, built in the 1920s on the Lick Pier at Santa Monica, California. The once-elegant ballroom had grown seedy by the early 1950s, at which time it enjoyed a brief revival as the location of early Lawrence Welk show broadcasts. In the 1960s, the Aragon was again revamped under a different name as a short-lived rock concert venue - with appearances by Alice Cooper (is his pre-Cooper days) and Jim Morrison of the Doors. It was destroyed by fire shortly afterward.
Marathon dancing was, according to most historians, as brutal and exploitive as it is depicted in "Horses." It was for that reason that this early 20th century variety of Roman coliseum culture was banned in much of the country by the late 1930s.
This movie uses fictitious characters to tell a story that appears to be remarkably accurate from a historical point of view. Jane Fonda's ultra-cynical, sharp-tongued character, Gloria, along with ruthless manager/promoter Rocky (played by Gig Young), contrast perfectly with the eerily-resigned and unpretentious Robert (Michael Serrazin). The casting and dialogue are brilliant. The visual effects are haunting.
This film is not for everyone. But for those interested in the social pathology that allows human suffering to become a form of amusement, the malicious ill-treatment of the poor, or the harsh realities of the depression era, this is multifaceted cinema that can be watched again and again, each time yielding new subtleties. It is a morbidly fascinating character study that reflects a truly desperate time.
For those watching on DVD, it is advisable to see the short background feature before the movie in order to fully appreciate its context. The movie is unforgettable, a true classic.