They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

"People are the ultimate spectacle."

Aug 20 1970 M 2h 9m
Drama

In the midst of the Great Depression, manipulative emcee Rocky enlists contestants for a dance marathon offering a $1,500 cash prize. Among them are a failed actress, a middle-aged sailor, a delusional blonde and a pregnant girl.

Plot

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 1930's. 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

Horace McCoy, James Poe, Robert E. Thompson

Directed by

Sydney Pollack

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Palomar Pictures International

Languages

English

Awards

Won 1 Oscar. 11 wins & 25 nominations total

Scores
# of Votes
21,834
Average Rating
7.8 out of 10
Metascore
72
Popularity
NA