They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

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They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

PG

Released Dec 10, 1969

2h 1m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

82%

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34 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In the midst of the Great Depression, manipulative emcee Rocky (Gig Young) enlists contestants for a dance marathon offering a $1,500 cash prize. Among them are a failed actress (Jane Fonda), a middle-aged sailor (Red Buttons), a delusional blonde (Susannah York) and a pregnant girl (Bonnie Bedelia). Days turn into weeks as the competition drags on and people either drop out or expire. Rocky, however, will do anything for publicity and initiates a series of grueling derbies.

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

The material is simple and irresistible, and Sydney Pollack stages it well (though without transcending the essential superficiality of his talent).

May 26, 2008

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Variety Staff

Variety

A sordid spectacle of hard times, a kind of existentialist allegory of life.

May 26, 2008

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Time Out

The acting is strident and overblown, the narrative technique gimmicky and obvious, and the implication that the competitors' situation is a microcosm of a wider-reaching American malaise rather pretentious.

Jun 24, 2006

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Elizabeth Hardwick

Vogue

In They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, agony, pain, endurance are not in the bodies of the actors nor somehow mysteriously evoked by their images. Instead, they remain locked in the camera, mechanical, the product not of human knowledge but of technology.

Jun 20, 2023

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Ernesto Diezmartinez

Cine Vértigo

What has happened to Hollywood cinema that it seems impossible that a movie like this could be produced today? Spoiler: Hollywood infantilism.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 10, 2021

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

To this day, They Shoot Horses, Don't They? holds the record for the most Oscar nominations (9) received by one film without Best Picture being among them.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 22, 2021

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CodyZamboni Z

Movie is brutal and bleak, Staged so you feel the pain of the marathon dance contestants, You are there, in all its' sweaty claustrophobic realism as the couples dance for months, Residing in disgusting conditions and getting little sleep, The pain and exhaustion is forefront, especially during the grueling derby sequences. To the movie's credit, it goes all in on the cynicism angle, There is no let up. Stellar performances by all,

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/16/24

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Julie E

Although the dance marathon of the movie is a dated kind of activity, the characters, their interactions, their reactions, and the revelations of their lives stand the test of time.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/12/24

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William A

This was the first movie that opened my eyes to human suffering in "modern industrialized societies", and started me on a life long path of fighting for human rights and pushing against corruption in the upper strata of society.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/06/24

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Blu B

A Classic Drama. The acting is amazing and just gets better and better as the madness ramps up and the cracks show in everyones mental psyche. Everything else is really well done with my only complaint being it is a bit slow and probably could've sped things up to build tension a bit more franticly more consistently. IT's a very memorable setting and one of the most original ideas I've seen. The competition builds the tension slowly but this really isn't about that in a literal sense and much more of a character study on pride, fame, and ones own dignity and self respect and at what cost we are willing to degrade ourselves to acheive money and fame. This never really feels jumpy either going between all the different characters which is very impressive also. I will say as good as this is this isn't for everyone. Anyone who is a fan of Pollack, any actors in this, or Dark Dramas will like this a lot.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/08/24

Full Review

Vrstar V

Surviving the 1933 crisis by joining an austere dance contest.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/05/24

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Jack V

Timeless classic. The movie perfectly accomplishes what it set out to do. It's incredibly depressing, even nihilistic though.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/02/24

Full Review

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Sydney Pollack

Director

Jane Fonda

Gloria

Michael Sarrazin

Robert

Susannah York

Alice

Gig Young

Rocky

Red Buttons

Sailor

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Synopsis

In the midst of the Great Depression, manipulative emcee Rocky (Gig Young) enlists contestants for a dance marathon offering a $1,500 cash prize. Among them are a failed actress (Jane Fonda), a middle-aged sailor (Red Buttons), a delusional blonde (Susannah York) and a pregnant girl (Bonnie Bedelia). Days turn into weeks as the competition drags on and people either drop out or expire. Rocky, however, will do anything for publicity and initiates a series of grueling derbies.

Director: Sydney Pollack
Producer: Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff, Sydney Pollack
Distributor: Cinema Releasing Corporation
Production Co: Palomar Pictures, American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 10, 1969, Limited
Release Date (DVD): Oct 19, 2004
Runtime: 2h 1m