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

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)

Trailer

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• Hitoribocchi (1969)
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• You Don't Shoot Jerks (1969)