They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? -1969

Director Sydney Pollack

Starring Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, Susannah York

Scott’s Review #474

Reviewed September 6, 2016

Grade: A-

They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969) is a tragic, riveting film, set in the Depression-era 1930s, centering on a group of contestants entering a Dance-athon for an enormous cash prize.

Most of the film is set on and around the dance floor.

Contestants bring themselves to the brink of exhaustion to win the coveted money, and the desperation of the characters is horrific.

Jane Fonda leads the pack as a depressed, sarcastic, aspiring actress who desperately needs the cash prize.

The film’s dark nature is mesmerizing, though it is a difficult to watch. I found the film’s periodic parts that seemed to drag, as the contestants grew wearier with each hour.

It also felt like a precursor to the reality television craze that has swept the nation since the 1990s.

A tragedy, yes, but a practical and worthwhile film about depression and the struggle to survive. And a sad reminder of brutality as a form of entertainment.

Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Director-Sydney Pollack, Best Actress-Jane Fonda, Best Supporting Actor-Gig Young (won), Best Supporting Actress-Susannah York, Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Score of a Musical Picture-Original or Adaptation, Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing