They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
Seen it?1969 | 120 min | Drama
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It won an Oscar, it earned strong reviews (82% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Made in 1969: an older pace and style.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
82% on Rotten Tomatoes, 72 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.6 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 1 Oscar: Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor. Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture. Won 1 BAFTA: British Academy Film Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Also nominated for 8 more Oscars, 4 more Golden Globes and 4 more BAFTAs. Plus 6 other awards.
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 213K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Sydney Pollack
- Jane FondaGloria Beatty
- Michael SarrazinRobert Syverton
- Susannah YorkAlice LeBlanc
- Gig YoungRocky Gravo
- Red ButtonsSailor
- Bonnie BedeliaRuby Bates
- Michael ConradRollo
- Bruce DernJames Bates
- Al LewisTurkey
- Robert FieldsJoel