The Electric Horseman (1979)

Sonny Steele used to be a rodeo star, but his next appearance is to be on a Las Vegas stage, wearing a suit covered in lights, advertising a breakfast cereal. When he finds out they are ... See full summary »

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

Robert Garland (screenplay), Paul Gaer (screen story),

Stars:

Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Valerie Perrine

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Redford	...	Sonny
Jane Fonda	...	Alice 'Hallie' Martin
Valerie Perrine	...	Charlotta
Willie Nelson	...	Wendell
John Saxon	...	Hunt Sears
Nicolas Coster	...	Fitzgerald
Allan Arbus	...	Danny
Wilford Brimley	...	Farmer
Will Hare	...	Gus
Basil Hoffman	...	Toland
Timothy Scott	...	Leroy
James Sikking	...	Dietrich (as James B. Sikking)
James Kline	...	Tommy
Frank Speiser	...	Bernie
Quinn K. Redeker	...	Bud Broderick (as Quinn Redeker)

Storyline

Sonny Steele used to be a rodeo star, but his next appearance is to be on a Las Vegas stage, wearing a suit covered in lights, advertising a breakfast cereal. When he finds out they are going drug the horse in case its too frisky, he rides off into the desert...

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Plot Keywords:

horse | cowboy | breakfast cereal | love | reference to albert schweitzer | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Western | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 December 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

El jinete eléctrico

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Wildwood Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie marked the first lead role in a movie after a three year hiatus for star Robert Redford who had put himself into semi-retirement and reclusive retreat at his mountaintop Utah ranch. Redford's return to the big-screen in this movie was much publicized.

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Goofs

When Sonny rides the horse out of Caesars Palace and up the Las Vegas strip past neighboring hotels, he passes at least one casino (famous Vegas Vic cowboy sign outside of Pioneer Club) that is miles away in downtown Las Vegas.

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Quotes

Hallie Martin: Mr. Steele, why were you 45 minutes late to the press confrence?
Sonny Steele: Well, I'd like to aplogize for that. I was giving mouth to mouth resuscitation to a bottle of tequila. And, we lost her too.

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Teri Garr/The B-52's (1980)

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Soundtracks

"My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys"
(uncredited)
Composed by Sharon Vaughn

User Reviews

Redford And Fonda, Together Again!

Saddle up! for this Excellent romantic-comedy, Robert Redford stars as Sonny Steele who once was a world class Rodeo star, but is now a washed up drunkard reduced to advertising breakfast cereal on TV for the shady AMPCO corporation,whose latest Publicity campaign features prize winning race horse Rising Star,

AMPCO's next junket takes place at Las Vegas where Redford is to Launch the campaign ,Behind a backdrop of glamor and corporate greed, Redford discovers that the horse has been drugged with an abundance of steroids,Redford saddles up and literally takes off with the horse in protest,

Jane Fonda plays Hallie, a news reporter who might just get an exclusive, follows Redford on his quest to release Rising Star into the wild to roam free.

Sydney Pollack, always with a great eye for casting, even has country and western favorite Willie Nelson, Valerie Perrine has an appearance as An old flame of Redford's, Wilford Brimley has a small role as kindly farmer who helps Redford on his way, Usual Pollack regular Composer, Dave Grusin Contribute's Greatly,