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They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
10 September 1970 (West Germany)
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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
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Hollywood
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Dance Marathon
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Dance
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Contestant
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Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 6 wins
&
20 nominations
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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:
Hard To Watch, But A Memorable Story
more (73 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:
Sydney Pollack shot some of the frightening derby sequences himself, donning a pair of roller skates to get right in the action with the frantically heel/toe-ing actors.
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Goofs:
Anachronisms: The Edward Heyman/Johnny Green song "Easy Come Easy Go", which is used as the film's title theme and is performed by a singer at the fictional dance marathon, was not published until 1934 (two years after the film's 1932 setting).
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Quotes:
Gloria Beatty:
Maybe it's just the whole world is like central casting. They got it all rigged before you ever show up.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Due South: They Eat Horses, Don't They? (#1.4)" (1994)
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Soundtrack:
The Best Things in Life Are Free
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FAQ
Location of shootmore
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When I saw this movie in the theater over 35 years ago, I found it very interesting and one of those movies you don't forget about an hour after you leave the theater. This was a haunting type of story, especially when my folks, who went with me, informed me that these marathon type of dance contests really did happen. The characters might have been fictional, but not story of these awful contests.
Jane Fonda plays the central character, "Gloria Beatty," an angry-at-the-world and profane woman who certainly has a cynical attitude. It almost echoed her real-life persona at the time, but I won't go there. I was more fascinated with Gig Young's performance in this film as the ruthless dance promoter - emcee "Rocky." To me - and Academy Award voters - his performance stands out among all the others, even though everyone does an outstanding job. That includes director Sydney Pollack, who had only made a few movies until this one.
The deep cast in this film did not include big-name stars but they were known celebrities: actors like Michael Sarrazin, Susannah York, Red Buttons, Bonnie Bedalia, Bruce Dern and Al Lewis.
This is a sad tale of desperate people in desperate times trying to make a few extra bucks during the Great Depression years. Dancing in pairs, they literally risked their health by trying to stay on their feet by dancing longer than every other couple. One became mentally exhausted just watching these poor people on screen trying to survive these "marathons."
Like a lot of movies which deal with unpleasant topics, this is a haunting film that will leave you thinking about it for a long time afterward. I can't say I enjoyed watching it the second time around, on VHS - Fonda's nastiness too much to take - but I certainly wouldn't discourage anyone from watching this movie. It's a story about an unique event in American history guaranteed to be one you won't forget.