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IMDbPro

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

  • 19691969
  • MM
  • 2h 9m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
19K
YOUR RATING
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
Home Video Trailer from Anchor Bay Entertainment
Play trailer3:04
1 Video
51 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
19K
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
Top credits
  • 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
    • 121User reviews
    • 66Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 10 wins & 25 nominations total

    Videos1

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

    Photos51

    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)
    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)
    "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" Susannah York, Michael Sarrazin, Bruce Dern, Bonnie Bedelia 1969 Palomar Pictures
    "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" Michael Sarrazin, Jane Fonda 1969 Palomar Pictures

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jane Fonda
    Jane Fonda
    • Gloriaas Gloria
    Michael Sarrazin
    Michael Sarrazin
    • Robertas Robert
    Susannah York
    Susannah York
    • Aliceas Alice
    Gig Young
    Gig Young
    • Rockyas Rocky
    Red Buttons
    Red Buttons
    • Sailoras Sailor
    Bonnie Bedelia
    Bonnie Bedelia
    • Rubyas Ruby
    Michael Conrad
    Michael Conrad
    • Rolloas Rollo
    Bruce Dern
    Bruce Dern
    • Jamesas James
    Al Lewis
    Al Lewis
    • Turkeyas Turkey
    Robert Fields
    Robert Fields
    • Joelas Joel
    Severn Darden
    Severn Darden
    • Cecilas Cecil
    Allyn Ann McLerie
    Allyn Ann McLerie
    • Shirlas Shirl
    Madge Kennedy
    Madge Kennedy
    • Mrs. Laydonas Mrs. Laydon
    Jacquelyn Hyde
    Jacquelyn Hyde
    • Jackieas Jackie
    Felice Orlandi
    Felice Orlandi
    • Marioas Mario
    Art Metrano
    Art Metrano
    • Maxas Max
    • (as Arthur Metrano)
    Gail Billings
    • Lillianas Lillian
    Lynn Willis
    • Coley Jamesas 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
    • See more cast details 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 reviews121

    Review
    Top review
    YOWZA! YOWZA! YOWZA!
    This is one of the best movies I have ever seen. Set in the 1930s, it revoleved around a group of people entering/running a depression dance marathon. The group entering the contest(The principle characters being Fonda, Sarrazin, York, Buttons, Bedilia, Fields)Can't pass up the seven meals a day, or the top prize of 1500 dollars, no matter how grueling the dance will be. Fonda, is a drifter looking for money, Sarrazin wanders into the contest by accident, York and Fields are an actor and actress hoping to be "Discovered", and Buttons is also looking for money. The management of the contest is represented by Young, Lewis, and (To a lesser extent)Conrad. While this is not a "Pick me up" movie, it is definitely worth seeing. The cast is excellent, and the movie moves along well. Director Sydney Pollack filmed the movie in sequence, which helps to show the fatigue that the characters are feeling. They Shoot horses was nominated for nine academy awards, inglinging Best actress(Fonda), Best Supporting Actress(York) and Best Director(Pollack).

    However, only Gig Young walked away with the statuette(For best Supporting Actor) and he deserved every inch of it. Playing against typecasting, he knew he was getting the role of a lifetime and he gives one of the best performance of his career. I actually liked Rocky, with his White Tux and his "Yowza!Yowza!Yowza!" I don't know if I would have liked the character if Gig Young had not been in the role.

    Overall, this movie is definitely worth seeing. If you have a chance, give it a look.

    10/10 ***** out of *****
    helpful•35
    14
    • Gunnery Sergeant Hartman
    • Feb 22, 2001

    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
    • 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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