They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)
- Directed by
- Sydney Pollack
- Genre
- drama film, psychological thriller, historical drama
- Country
- United States
- Runtime
- 1h 59m
- Rated
- PG
- Rating
- 7.6 of 10 from 372 voters
- Elsewhere
- IMDb
The catalogue in 3D
The film shelves have a room of their own that you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real films from the same catalogue when you tell them what you feel like watching. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this film is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.
How it feels
During the Great Depression, a group of desperate strangers compete in a grueling dance marathon. The opportunistic emcee exploits their hope and exhaustion to keep them dancing.
tensebleakgrittyexhaustingdesperateclaustrophobicdarkmelancholic
What happens
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? is a 1969 American psychological drama film directed by Sydney Pollack, from a screenplay written by Robert E. Thompson and James Poe, based on Horace McCoy's 1935 novel. It stars Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, Susannah York, Gig Young, Bonnie Bedelia, and Red Buttons. It focuses on a disparate group of individuals desperate to win a Depression-era dance marathon and an opportunistic emcee who urges them on. The film was released theatrically in the United States on December 10, 1969, and also premiered at the 1970 Cannes Film Festival. Reviewers praised its direction, screenplay, depiction of the Depression era, and performances (especially of Fonda, York, and Young). It received nine nominations at the 42nd Academy Awards including: Best Director, Best Actress (for Fonda), Best Supporting Actress (for York), Best Adapted Screenplay, with Young winning for Best Supporting Actor. As of 2025, it holds the record for obtaining the most Oscar nominations without receiving one for Best Picture. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)
More like this
The Arrangement (1969)
Paradise Lost (1971)
The Tree (1969)
Where It's At (1969)
Explosion (1969)
Hitoribocchi (1969)
The Happy Ending (1969)
You Don't Shoot Jerks (1969)- More like this film, on a shelf you can walk up to.It's the lit case on the top shelf.