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

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

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

Release Date:

13 August 1970 (Argentina)

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:

Hollywood | Dance Marathon | Dance | Marathon | Contestant

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 7 wins & 20 nominations

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
Art Metrano	...	Max (as Arthur Metrano)
Gail Billings	...	Lillian
Lynn Willis	...	Coley James
Maxine Greene	...	Agnes
Mary Gregory	...	Nurse
Robert Dunlap	...	College Boy
Paul Mantee	...	Jiggs
Tim Herbert	...	Doctor
Tom McFadden	...	Second Trainer
Noble 'Kid' Chissel	...	First Trainer (as Noble 'Kid' Chissell)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ian Abercrombie	...	Male Dancer #74 (uncredited)
Hugh Bell	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Ronnie Bright	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Teddy Buckner	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Hadley Caliman	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Teddy Edwards	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Thurman Green	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Joe Harris	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Marilyn Hassett	...	Dancer #75 (uncredited)
Bobby Hutcherson	...	Band Leader (uncredited)
Ike Isaacs	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Dance Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Peggy Adams Laird	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Harold Land	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Philo McCullough	...	Audience Extra (uncredited)
Beverlee McKinsey	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Cynthia Myers	...	Marathon Dancer (uncredited)
Flower Parry	...	Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Les Robertson	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Sheela Tessler	...	Marathon Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Sydney Pollack

Writing credits
Horace McCoy		(novel "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?")
James Poe		(screenplay) and
Robert E. Thompson		(screenplay)

Produced by
Robert Chartoff	....	producer
Johnny Green	....	associate producer (as John Green)
Theodore B. Sills	....	executive producer
Irwin Winkler	....	producer

Original Music by
Johnny Green		(as John Green)

Cinematography by
Philip H. Lathrop		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Fredric Steinkamp

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster
James Martell		(uncredited)
Jack Roberts		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Harry Horner

Set Decoration by
Frank R. McKelvy		(as Frank McKelvey)

Costume Design by
Donfeld

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair stylist: Miss Fonda (as Sidney Guilaroff)
Frank McCoy	....	makeup
Ina Claire	....	hair stylist: Miss York (uncredited)
Shirley Gilbert	....	hairdresser (uncredited)
Carla Hadley	....	hairdresser (uncredited)
Maggie O'Connor	....	body makeup artist (uncredited)
Lenore Weaver	....	hairdresser (uncredited)
Sherry Wilson	....	hairdresser (uncredited)

Production Management
Edward Woehler	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Al Jennings	....	assistant director
Joel Chernoff	....	second unit director (uncredited)
C.E. Dismukes	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Lynn Guthrie	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Ben L. Goldman	....	property master
Mort Rabinowitz	....	production illustrator
Danny Beneducci	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Norval D. Crutcher	....	sound effects editor (as Norval Crutcher)
Tom Overton	....	sound
Ora Hudson	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Brandon Kellogg	....	recordist (uncredited)
Tex Rudloff	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Blondie Anderson	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Chad Evans	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Duke Callaghan	....	camera operator (as Duke Callahan)
William Classen	....	grip (uncredited)
Richard Doran	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Cliff King	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Craig Novak	....	grip (uncredited)
Art Say	....	stills (uncredited)
Barry Wexler	....	grip (uncredited)
Robert Willoughby	....	special still photographer (uncredited)
Lee Wilson	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael J. Harte	....	costumer: men (as Mike Harte)
Mina Mittelman	....	costumer: women
Vou Lee Giokaris	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)
Violet B. Martin	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Thalia Phillips	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Bob Scott	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Joe Somaruga	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Ronald Wind	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Don Guidice	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Johnny Green	....	orchestrator (as John Green)
Harry King	....	music editor
Randy Ravelen	....	music coordinator
Albert Woodbury	....	orchestrator
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer (uncredited)

Other crew
Herbert DuFine	....	dialogue director (as Herb Dufine)
Mort Heilig	....	production executive (as Morty Heilig)
Phill Norman	....	titles
Tom Panko	....	marathon dancers supervisor
Emily Torchia	....	unit publicist
Joyce Webb	....	script supervisor
Noble 'Kid' Chissel	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
• Palomar Pictures (I)

Distributors

• Cinerama Releasing Corporation (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1970) (France) (theatrical)
• ABC Pictures International (????) (USA) (all media)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1975) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Buena Vista Pictures (1995) (worldwide) (all media)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Transvídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes (uncredited)
• Cinefx  titles
• National Screen Service  opticals
• Solters & Digney  publicity (uncredited)

Also Known As:

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 | Argentina:13 | Sweden:15 | 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:

Received the most competitive Academy Award nominations (9) without being nominated for Best Picture.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Shadow of camera and operator on Derby contestants.

Quotes:

Rocky:It isn't a contest. It's a show.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Ally McBeal: They Eat Horses, Don't They? (#2.2)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

I Got Rhythm

Hard To Watch, But A Memorable Story

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.