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

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

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

Release Date:

10 September 1970 (West Germany)

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:

Marathon | Hollywood | Dance Marathon | Dance | Contestant

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 6 wins & 20 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 22

4:45 AM

TCM

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 Calliman	...	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)
Peggy Adams Laird	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Harold Land	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Philo McCullough	...	Audience Extra (uncredited)
Beverlee McKinsey	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Cynthia Myers	...	Undetermined Role (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		(music) (as John Green)

Cinematography by
Philip H. Lathrop

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	....	make up
Ina Claire	....	hair stylist: Miss York (uncredited)
Carla Hadley	....	hairdresser (uncredited)
Shirley Kirby	....	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)
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	....	orchestral arrangements (as John Green)
Harry King	....	music editor
Randy Ravelen	....	music coordinator
Albert Woodbury	....	orchestral arrangements
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer (uncredited)

Other crew
Herbert DuFine	....	dialogue coach (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

Distributors

• Cinerama Releasing Corporation (1969) (USA) (theatrical)
• ABC Pictures International (????) (USA) (all media)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1975) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Buena Vista Pictures (1995) (worldwide) (all media)
• Transvídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

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

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 | 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:

Two of the couples are sponsored by Winkler's Travel Agency and Sills Collection Agency. Irwin Winkler and Theodore B. Sills are among the producers of the film.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Robert tells Gloria about a film he saw starring Anita Louise and Richard Cromwell in which Anita Louise's character has a brain tumor. However, Louise and Cromwell only made two films together, The Most Precious Thing in Life (1934) and The Villain Still Pursued Her (1940). The depression-era dance marathon, which is the subject of the film, presumably takes place in 1932. Earlier in the movie, we hear Mrs. Layton tell Robert and Gloria that they are her favorite couple because they are number 67, the same year that she was born (1867). Shortly thereafter, Gloria tells Robert that she's figured out Mrs. Layton is 65-years-old. Sixty-five years after 1867 is 1932, which is prior to either of the Louise/Cromwell films.

Quotes:

Rocky: It isn't a contest. It's a show.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

I Cover the Waterfront

"I've got my eye on you!" ... "Which one?"

This is the movie that "The Day of the Locust" might have aspired to be. It captures the tone of desperation and helplessness of Depression-era characters (would-bes, wanna-bes, and fade-outs) like few films I've seen. It's a fascinating downer, ripe with interesting losers and gritty drama. Jane Fonda's performance as a marathon-entry at the end of her rope ranks with her very best work, and Oscar-winner Gig Young is smashing as the M.C. Also superb: Susannah York as a glamor girl who gets her clothes (and sanity) dirty, and Red Buttons as an over-the-hill sailor. There's not a happy or hopeful moment in sight, but for gripping human drama you could do no better. James Poe and Robert E. Thompson adapted their screenplay from Horace McCoy's novel; Sydney Pollack directed, impeccably. ***1/2 from ****