IMDb > They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
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They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 2)
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) -- The lives of a disparate group of contestants intertwine in an inhumanely grueling dance marathon.
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.9/10   5,489 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Horace McCoy (novel)
James Poe (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for They Shoot Horses, Don't They? on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 September 1970 (West Germany) more
Genre:
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
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)

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
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Additional Details

Runtime:
129 min (original version) | USA:120 min (current version)
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

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
Quotes:
Alice: Somebody screamed.
Rocky: That was you, Alice.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Paradise more

FAQ

Location of shoot
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65 out of 80 people found the following comment useful.
A memorable, tragic story with roots in reality, 21 November 2002
Author: mufeedah from Washington, DC

"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.

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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
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Gig Young/Jane Fonda sylvia67
the pregnant woman? lauradarkspot_metalgoddess
What are your top 10 most depressing movies? Vergilya
This movie makes me ask myself a question... sylvia67
With all due respect to Klute.... momphone
Please explain Alice shower scene? edunn91
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