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

Film debut of Willie Nelson. Nelson also sang five songs for the film's soundtrack.

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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

Sonny Steele: I wanna thank you again for your help. There's not many people you'd trust $50,000 worth.
Farmer: [pauses] You'd better get up over the mountain 'fore it comes to me what I'm passing up.

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Connections

Referenced in The Directors: The Films of Sydney Pollack (2000)

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Soundtracks

"Hands on the Wheel"
(uncredited)
Composed by Bill Callery

User Reviews

pretty good

This movie stars Robert Redford as an five time rodeo champion who is now a has-been promoting a breakfast cereal. Jane Fonda is a reporter who wants to interview Redford, but he just blows her off. Redford is basically upset always being told what to do and he steals a 12 million dollar horse that they're mistreating and he's going to take it out and set it free. The company that owns the horse wants to keep it quiet and then wants to send in the police. Fonda tracks him down and joins up with him so she can get a bigger story and of course, they have to fall in love. This movie seems to be a cross between It Happened One Night and Lonely Are The Brave. This was directed by Sydney Pollock who has worked with Redford several times before and also with Fonda.