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They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

  • 19691969
  • MM
  • 2h 9m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
20K
YOUR RATING
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
Home Video Trailer from Anchor Bay Entertainment
Play trailer3:04
1 Video
54 Photos
Drama
The lives of a disparate group of contestants intertwine in an inhumanely grueling dance marathon.The lives of a disparate group of contestants intertwine in an inhumanely grueling dance marathon.The lives of a disparate group of contestants intertwine in an inhumanely grueling dance marathon.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
20K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Sydney Pollack
  • Writers
    • Horace McCoy(novel "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?")
    • James Poe(screenplay)
    • Robert E. Thompson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jane Fonda
    • Michael Sarrazin
    • Susannah York
  • Director
    • Sydney Pollack
  • Writers
    • Horace McCoy(novel "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?")
    • James Poe(screenplay)
    • Robert E. Thompson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jane Fonda
    • Michael Sarrazin
    • Susannah York
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 125User reviews
    • 67Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 10 wins & 25 nominations total

    Videos1

    They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
    Trailer 3:04
    Watch They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

    Photos54

    Jane Fonda and Michael Sarrazin in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
    Jane Fonda and Sydney Pollack in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
    Susannah York and Gig Young in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
    Jane Fonda and Michael Sarrazin in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
    Susannah York in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
    Sydney Pollack in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
    Jane Fonda in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
    Jane Fonda, Paul Mantee, and Michael Sarrazin in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
    Jane Fonda, Bruce Dern, and Michael Sarrazin in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
    Jane Fonda and Michael Sarrazin in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
    Jane Fonda and Michael Sarrazin in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
    Jane Fonda, Michael Conrad, Art Metrano, and Michael Sarrazin in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jane Fonda
    Jane Fonda
    • Gloria
    Michael Sarrazin
    Michael Sarrazin
    • Robert
    Susannah York
    Susannah York
    • Alice
    Gig Young
    Gig Young
    • Rocky
    Red Buttons
    Red Buttons
    • Sailor
    Bonnie Bedelia
    Bonnie Bedelia
    • Ruby
    Michael Conrad
    Michael Conrad
    • Rollo
    Bruce Dern
    Bruce Dern
    • James
    Al Lewis
    Al Lewis
    • Turkey
    Robert Fields
    Robert Fields
    • Joel
    Severn Darden
    Severn Darden
    • Cecil
    Allyn Ann McLerie
    Allyn Ann McLerie
    • Shirl
    Madge Kennedy
    Madge Kennedy
    • Mrs. Laydon
    Jacquelyn Hyde
    Jacquelyn Hyde
    • Jackie
    Felice Orlandi
    Felice Orlandi
    • Mario
    Art Metrano
    Art Metrano
    • Max
    • (as Arthur Metrano)
    Gail Billings
    • Lillian
    Lynn Willis
    • Coley James
    • Director
      • Sydney Pollack
    • Writers
      • Horace McCoy(novel "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?")
      • James Poe(screenplay)
      • Robert E. Thompson(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Holds the record for the movie with the most Academy Award nominations without a nomination for Best Picture: 9.
    • Goofs
      When Sailor (Red Buttons) is passed out, two referees take his pants off him to dunk him into a tub of ice water; Buttons lifts up his hips so they can easily remove his pants.
    • Quotes

      Policeman: Let's go.

      Policeman: Why did you do it, kid?

      Robert: She asked me to.

      Policeman: [smirking] Obliging bastard. Is that the only reason you got, kid?

      Robert: They shoot horses, don't they?

    • Connections
      Featured in The Moviemakers (1969)
    • 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)

    User reviews125

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    "I've got my eye on you!" ... "Which one?"
    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 ****
    helpful•43
    12
    • moonspinner55
    • Jul 6, 2002

    FAQ1

    • Location of shoot

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 20, 1970 (Netherlands)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nur Pferden gibt man den Gnadenschuß
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California, USA(carousel scenes)
    • Production companies
      • ABC Pictures
      • Palomar Pictures (I)
      • Palomar Pictures International
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $12,600,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 9 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • 4-Track Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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