They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

Horace McCoy (novel)
James Poe (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

10 September 1970 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

People are the ultimate spectacle

Plot:

The lives of a disparate group of contestants intertwine in an inhumanely grueling dance marathon.

Plot Keywords:

Marathon | Hollywood | Dance Marathon | Dance | Contestant

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 6 wins & 20 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 22

4:45 AM

TCM

Cast

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

Runtime:

129 min (original version) | USA:120 min (current version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | UK:15 | USA:M (original rating) | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California, USA

Company:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Trivia:

Holds the record for the movie with the most Academy Award nominations without a nomination for Best Picture: 9.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Robert tells Gloria about a film he saw starring Anita Louise and Richard Cromwell in which Anita Louise's character has a brain tumor. However, Louise and Cromwell only made two films together, The Most Precious Thing in Life (1934) and The Villain Still Pursued Her (1940). The depression-era dance marathon, which is the subject of the film, presumably takes place in 1932. Earlier in the movie, we hear Mrs. Layton tell Robert and Gloria that they are her favorite couple because they are number 67, the same year that she was born (1867). Shortly thereafter, Gloria tells Robert that she's figured out Mrs. Layton is 65-years-old. Sixty-five years after 1867 is 1932, which is prior to either of the Louise/Cromwell films.

Quotes:

Rocky: I may not know a winner when I see one, but I sure as hell can spot a loser.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "ER: They Treat Horses, Don't They? (#5.3)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Caisson Song (The Caissons Go Rolling Along)

Deeply unsettling and emotionally draining

During the Depression, many had nothing... and the few that did were almost equally as miserable. This movie displays a dance marathon, held for the entertainment of the latter, and the expense of the former. The contestants dance for daily meals and a place to sleep, and the weak hope of a prize, if they are the last couple standing. The rules are cruel, and whilst the many dancers fight to remain standing, the audience is served snacks and fast-food. The film shows how callous people can be, sometimes. The plot is magnificent, the story-telling excellent. Acting(Sarrazin can exude an extraordinary amount of emotion through his eyes), casting, editing(with extremely few slightly weak moments), pacing, direction, cinematography, lighting, music, production design, everything, it's all amazing. This is a very difficult film to watch(which is by no means to say that I regret doing so). It is not entertainment, nor is it something to escape one's everyday life with. It is brutal and uncompromising, a window into an era and an event, both of which show humanity at its worst. A masterpiece. I intend to look for other films by Pollack, there is no doubt about that... fortunately, my fiancée has told me that he has done lighter fare(I would prefer watching something less bleak than this for the next of his movies I view). This is a very important movie, particularly in today's world, where reality shows are all over TV. I recommend this to anyone certain that they can sit through it. 8/10