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

M  -  Drama  -  13 August 1970 (Argentina)
7.8
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Ratings: 7.8/10 from 9,067 users  
Reviews: 91 user | 38 critic

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

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(novel), (screenplay), 1 more credit »
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Title: They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) on IMDb 7.8/10

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Won 1 Oscar. Another 10 wins & 20 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Michael Conrad ...
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Robert Fields ...
Severn Darden ...
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Shirl
Madge Kennedy ...
Jacquelyn Hyde ...
Felice Orlandi ...
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Storyline

Gloria is a young woman of the Depression. She has aged beyond her years and feels her life is hopeless, having been cheated and betrayed many times in her past. While recovering from a suicide attempt, she gets the idea from a movie magazine to head for Hollywood to make it as an actress. Robert is a desperate Hollywood citizen trying to become a director, never doubting that he'll make it. Robert and Gloria meet and decide to enter a dance marathon, one of the crazes of the thirties. The grueling dancing takes its toll on Gloria's already weakened spirit, and she tells Robert that she'd be better off dead, that her life is hopeless - all the while acting cruelly and bitterly, alienating those around her, trying to convince him to shoot her and put her out of her misery. After all, they shoot horses, don't they? Written by alfiehitchie

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

People are the ultimate spectacle

Genres:

Drama

Certificate:

M | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

13 August 1970 (Argentina)  »

Also Known As:

El baile interminable  »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (original) | (current)

Sound Mix:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Screenwriter James Poe planned to make his directing debut with this film, seeing it as a low-budget movie without stars. He had planned to use Shirley Knight as Gloria, Lionel Stander as Rocky, Allen Jenkins as Sailor and his own wife Barbara Steele in another role. The deal fell through, the film became much more expensive, Poe's script was rewritten (and, he claimed, softened) and stars were cast in the leading roles - some of them former clients of ex-agent Martin Baum, who was involved in producing the film. See more »

Goofs

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). See more »

Quotes

Policeman: Why'd you do it, kid?
Robert: Because she asked me to.
Policeman: Obliging bastard. Is that the only reason you got, kid?
Robert: They shoot horses, don't they?
See more »


Soundtracks

"Easy Come, Easy Go"
(1934)
Lyrics by Edward Heyman
Music by Johnny Green (as John Green)
Music played often during the film
Played on piano and Sung by Lynn Willis (uncredited)
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Frequently Asked Questions

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User Reviews

 
"I've got my eye on you!" ... "Which one?"
6 July 2002 | by (las vegas, nv) – See all my reviews

This is the movie that "The Day of the Locust" might have aspired to be. It captures the tone of desperation and helplessness of Depression-era characters (would-bes, wanna-bes, and fade-outs) like few films I've seen. It's a fascinating downer, ripe with interesting losers and gritty drama. Jane Fonda's performance as a marathon-entry at the end of her rope ranks with her very best work, and Oscar-winner Gig Young is smashing as the M.C. Also superb: Susannah York as a glamor girl who gets her clothes (and sanity) dirty, and Red Buttons as an over-the-hill sailor. There's not a happy or hopeful moment in sight, but for gripping human drama you could do no better. James Poe and Robert E. Thompson adapted their screenplay from Horace McCoy's novel; Sydney Pollack directed, impeccably. ***1/2 from ****


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