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They Shoot Horses, Don't They? ()

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The lives of a disparate group of contestants intertwine in a grueling and inhumane dance marathon.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
  • Won 1 Oscar. Another 10 wins & 25 nominations.
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Reviews:

Photos and Videos

55 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

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Gloria
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Robert
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Alice
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Rocky
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Sailor
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Ruby
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Rollo
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James
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Turkey
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Joel
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Cecil
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Shirl
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Mrs. Laydon
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Jackie
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Mario
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Max (as Arthur Metrano)
Gail Billings ...
Lillian
Lynn Willis ...
Coley James
Maxine Greene ...
Agnes
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Nurse
Robert Dunlap ...
College Boy
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Jiggs
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Doctor
Tom McFadden ...
Second Trainer
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First Trainer
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Male Dancer #74 (uncredited)
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Prison Doctor (uncredited)
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Time Study Man (uncredited)
Benjie Bancroft ...
Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Al Beaudine ...
Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Hugh Bell ...
Band Member (uncredited)
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Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Ronnie Bright ...
Band Member (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks ...
Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
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Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
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Band Member (uncredited)
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Nurse (uncredited)
Hadley Caliman ...
Band Member (uncredited)
Dick Cherney ...
Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Robert Cole ...
Marathon Dancer (uncredited)
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Ben Davis (uncredited)
Brent Dunsford ...
Marathon Dancer (uncredited)
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Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
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Band Member (uncredited)
Rudy Germane ...
Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
George Golden ...
Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Jack Gordon ...
Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Thurman Green ...
Band Member (uncredited)
Joe Harris ...
Band Member (uncredited)
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Dancer #75 (uncredited)
Bobby Hutcherson ...
Band Leader (uncredited)
Ike Isaacs ...
Band Member (uncredited)
Peggy Jackson ...
Dancer (uncredited)
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Marathon Worker (uncredited)
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Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Richard LaMarr ...
Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Harold Land ...
Band Member (uncredited)
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Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
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Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
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Dancer (uncredited)
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Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
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Marathon Dancer (uncredited)
Flower Parry ...
Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
John Pedrini ...
Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
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Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Anthony Redondo ...
Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Les Robertson ...
Band Member (uncredited)
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Dance Contestant (uncredited)
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Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Clark Ross ...
Photographer (uncredited)
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Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
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Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
George Simmons ...
Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
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Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Mabel Smaney ...
Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
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Marathon Dancer (uncredited)
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Marathon Dancer (uncredited)
Sheela Tessler ...
Marathon Dancer (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey ...
Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Blaine Turner ...
Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Chalky Williams ...
Marathon Spectator (uncredited)

Directed by

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Sydney Pollack

Written by

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

Produced by

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

Music by

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Johnny Green ... (as John Green)

Cinematography by

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Philip H. Lathrop ... director of photography

Editing by

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Fredric Steinkamp

Editorial Department

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Don Guidice ... assistant film editor

Casting By

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Lynn Stalmaster
James Martell ... (uncredited)
Jack Roberts ... (uncredited)

Production Design by

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Harry Horner

Set Decoration by

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Frank R. McKelvy ... (as Frank McKelvey)

Costume Design by

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Donfeld ... (costumes designed by)

Makeup Department

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Sydney Guilaroff ... hair stylist: Miss Fonda (as Sidney Guilaroff)
Frank McCoy ... makeup artist
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

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Edward Woehler ... production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Al Jennings ... assistant director
Joel Chernoff ... second unit director (uncredited)
Charles Dismukes ... assistant director (uncredited)
Lynn Guthrie ... second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

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Ben L. Goldman ... property master
Mort Rabinowitz ... production illustrator
Danny Beneducci ... props (uncredited)
Frank L. Brown ... set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department

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

Special Effects by

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Blondie Anderson ... special effects (uncredited)

Stunts

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Chad Evans ... stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Duke Callaghan ... camera operator (as Duke Callahan)
William Classen ... grip (uncredited)
Thomas Del Ruth ... additional first assistant camera (uncredited)
Richard Doran ... assistant camera (uncredited)
Cliff King ... first assistant camera (uncredited)
Douglas Kirkland ... still photographer (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

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Michael J. Harte ... costumer: man (as Mike Harte)
Mina Mittelman ... costumer: woman (as Mina Mittleman)
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)

Music Department

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Johnny Green ... orchestral arrangements (as John Green)
Harry King ... music editor
Randy Rayburn ... music coordinator
Albert Woodbury ... orchestral arrangements
Dan Wallin ... score mixer (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Joyce Webb ... script supervisor

Additional Crew

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Herbert DuFine ... dialogue coach (as Herb Dufine)
Mort Heilig ... production executive (as Morty Heilig)
Phill Norman ... titles
Tom Panko ... marathon dancers supervisor
Emily Torchia ... unit publicist
Noble 'Kid' Chissell ... technical advisor (uncredited)
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

Gloria is a young woman of the Depression. She has aged beyond her years and feels her life is hopeless, having been cheated and betrayed many times in her past. While recovering from a suicide attempt, she gets the idea from a movie magazine to head for Hollywood to make it as an actress. Robert is a desperate Hollywood citizen trying to become a director, never doubting he'll make it. Robert and Gloria meet and decide to enter a dance marathon, one of the crazes of the 1930s. The grueling dancing takes its toll on Gloria's already weakened spirit, and she tells Robert that she'd be better off dead, that her life is hopeless - all the while acting cruelly and bitterly, alienating those around her, trying to convince him to shoot her and put her out of her misery. After all, they shoot horses, don't they? Written by alfiehitchie

Plot Keywords
Taglines They Danced Till They Dropped See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Baile de ilusiones (United States, Spanish title)
  • On achève bien les chevaux (France)
  • Nur Pferden gibt man den Gnadenschuß (Germany)
  • Danzad, danzad, malditos (Spain)
  • 孤注一掷 (China, Mandarin title)
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Runtime
  • 129 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Did You Know?

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Trivia The film holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations without a nomination for Best Picture: 9. See more »
Goofs When Sailor (Red Buttons) is passed out, two referees take his pants off to dunk him into a tub of ice water. Buttons lifts up his hips so they can easily remove his pants. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in The Moviemakers (1969). See more »
Soundtracks Easy Come, Easy Go See more »
Quotes Rocky: Look, sweetheart, I've been in this business a long time. I may not know a winner when I see one, but I sure as hell can spot a loser.
See more »
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