They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

Horace McCoy (novel)
James Poe (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 August 1970 (Argentina)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

People are the ultimate spectacle

Plot:

The lives of a disparate group of contestants intertwine in an inhumanely grueling dance marathon.

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood | Marathon | Dance | Dance Marathon | Depression

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 7 wins & 20 nominations

Cast

Jane Fonda	...	Gloria
Michael Sarrazin	...	Robert
Susannah York	...	Alice
Gig Young	...	Rocky
Red Buttons	...	Sailor
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Ruby
Michael Conrad	...	Rollo
Bruce Dern	...	James
Al Lewis	...	Turkey
Robert Fields	...	Joel
Severn Darden	...	Cecil
Allyn Ann McLerie	...	Shirl
Madge Kennedy	...	Mrs. Laydon
Jacquelyn Hyde	...	Jackie
Felice Orlandi	...	Mario
Art Metrano	...	Max (as Arthur Metrano)
Gail Billings	...	Lillian
Lynn Willis	...	Coley James
Maxine Greene	...	Agnes
Mary Gregory	...	Nurse
Robert Dunlap	...	College Boy
Paul Mantee	...	Jiggs
Tim Herbert	...	Doctor
Tom McFadden	...	Second Trainer
Noble 'Kid' Chissel	...	First Trainer (as Noble 'Kid' Chissell)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ian Abercrombie	...	Male Dancer #74 (uncredited)
Hugh Bell	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Ronnie Bright	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Teddy Buckner	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Hadley Caliman	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Teddy Edwards	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Thurman Green	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Joe Harris	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Marilyn Hassett	...	Dancer #75 (uncredited)
Bobby Hutcherson	...	Band Leader (uncredited)
Ike Isaacs	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Dance Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Peggy Adams Laird	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Harold Land	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Philo McCullough	...	Audience Extra (uncredited)
Beverlee McKinsey	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Cynthia Myers	...	Marathon Dancer (uncredited)
Flower Parry	...	Marathon Spectator (uncredited)
Les Robertson	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Sheela Tessler	...	Marathon Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Sydney Pollack

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

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

Original Music by
Johnny Green		(as John Green)

Cinematography by
Philip H. Lathrop		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Fredric Steinkamp

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster
James Martell		(uncredited)
Jack Roberts		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Harry Horner

Set Decoration by
Frank R. McKelvy		(as Frank McKelvey)

Costume Design by
Donfeld

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair stylist: Miss Fonda (as Sidney Guilaroff)
Frank McCoy	....	makeup
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
Edward Woehler	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Al Jennings	....	assistant director
Joel Chernoff	....	second unit director (uncredited)
C.E. Dismukes	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Lynn Guthrie	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Ben L. Goldman	....	property master
Mort Rabinowitz	....	production illustrator
Danny Beneducci	....	props (uncredited)

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

Special Effects by
Blondie Anderson	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Chad Evans	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Duke Callaghan	....	camera operator (as Duke Callahan)
William Classen	....	grip (uncredited)
Richard Doran	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Cliff King	....	first assistant camera (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
Michael J. Harte	....	costumer: men (as Mike Harte)
Mina Mittelman	....	costumer: women
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)

Editorial Department
Don Guidice	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Johnny Green	....	orchestrator (as John Green)
Harry King	....	music editor
Randy Ravelen	....	music coordinator
Albert Woodbury	....	orchestrator
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer (uncredited)

Other crew
Herbert DuFine	....	dialogue director (as Herb Dufine)
Mort Heilig	....	production executive (as Morty Heilig)
Phill Norman	....	titles
Tom Panko	....	marathon dancers supervisor
Emily Torchia	....	unit publicist
Joyce Webb	....	script supervisor
Noble 'Kid' Chissel	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
• Palomar Pictures (I)

Distributors

• Cinerama Releasing Corporation (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1970) (France) (theatrical)
• ABC Pictures International (????) (USA) (all media)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1975) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Buena Vista Pictures (1995) (worldwide) (all media)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Transvídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes (uncredited)
• Cinefx  titles
• National Screen Service  opticals
• Solters & Digney  publicity (uncredited)

Also Known As:

"El baile interminable" - Argentina, Venezuela
"A Noite dos Desesperados" - Brazil
"A lovakat lelövik, ugye?" - Hungary
"Ammutaanhan hevosiakin" - Finland
"Atlari da vururlar" - Turkey (Turkish title) (TV title)
"Baile de ilusiones" - Mexico (imdb display title)
"Czyz nie dobija sie koni?" - Poland
"Danzad, danzad, malditos" - Spain
"Hem Yorim Gum B'Susim" - Israel (Hebrew title)
"I konje ubijaju, zar ne?" - Serbia
"Jamen, man skyder da heste?" - Denmark
"Kone se také strílejí" - Czechoslovakia
"Maratondansen" - Sweden (video title)
"När man skjuter hästar så..." - Sweden (imdb display title)
"Non si uccidono così anche i cavalli?" - Italy
"Nur Pferden gibt man den Gnadenschuß" - West Germany
"On achève bien les chevaux" - France
"Os cavalos Também Se Abatem" - Portugal
"Skotonoun t' aloga otan gerasoun" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"Son gerçek" - Turkey (Turkish title)

Runtime:

129 min (original version) | USA:120 min (current version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Argentina:13 | Sweden:15 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | UK:15 | USA:M (original rating) | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California, USA

Company:

American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Trivia:

Barbara Parkins was offered, but turned down, a role in this film.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The Edward Heyman/Johnny Green song "Easy Come Easy Go", which is used as the film's title theme and is performed by a singer at the fictional dance marathon, was not published until 1934 (two years after the film's 1932 setting).

Quotes:

[last lines]
Rocky:Here they are again, folks! These wonderful, wonderful kids! Still struggling! Still hoping! As the clock of fate ticks away, the dance of destiny continues! The marathon goes on, and on, and on! HOW LONG CAN THEY LAST?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Sex and the City: They Shoot Single People, Don't They? (#2.4)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Pop Goes the Weasel

Deeply unsettling and emotionally draining

During the Depression, many had nothing... and the few that did were almost equally as miserable. This movie displays a dance marathon, held for the entertainment of the latter, and the expense of the former. The contestants dance for daily meals and a place to sleep, and the weak hope of a prize, if they are the last couple standing. The rules are cruel, and whilst the many dancers fight to remain standing, the audience is served snacks and fast-food. The film shows how callous people can be, sometimes. The plot is magnificent, the story-telling excellent. Acting(Sarrazin can exude an extraordinary amount of emotion through his eyes), casting, editing(with extremely few slightly weak moments), pacing, direction, cinematography, lighting, music, production design, everything, it's all amazing. This is a very difficult film to watch(which is by no means to say that I regret doing so). It is not entertainment, nor is it something to escape one's everyday life with. It is brutal and uncompromising, a window into an era and an event, both of which show humanity at its worst. A masterpiece. I intend to look for other films by Pollack, there is no doubt about that... fortunately, my fiancée has told me that he has done lighter fare(I would prefer watching something less bleak than this for the next of his movies I view). This is a very important movie, particularly in today's world, where reality shows are all over TV. I recommend this to anyone certain that they can sit through it. 8/10