They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Movie Poster

A total of nine Academy Award nominations went to this wildly acclaimed, allegorical drama set amongst the contestants in a marathon dance contest during the Great Depression. Gig Young stars as Rocky, the obnoxious emcee for a dance marathon that offers prize money of $1,500, a small fortune during hard economic times that brings out the worst in several participants. Among them are Gloria Beatty (Jane Fonda), a malcontent who's partnered with a drifter, Robert Syverton (Michael Sarrazin); a pregnant farm girl (Bonnie Bedelia) and her husband (Bruce Dern); a sailor (Red Buttons); and an aspiring actress (Susannah York). As the marathon winds into a staggering second month, suspicion, doubt and insecurity rages among the competitors and even the decaying and increasingly manipulative Rocky, leading to a shocking crime.

Director: Sydney Pollack
Producer(s): Robert Chartoff, Sydney Pollack, Irwin Winkler
Cast: Susannah York, Jane Fonda, Bruce Dern, Bonnie Bedelia, Red Buttons, Gig Young, Allyn McLerie, Felice Orlandi, Michael Conrad, Jacquelyn Hyde, Al Lewis, Severn Darden

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