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They Shoot Horses, Don't They (1969)

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Videos & Photos

  • Trailer 1

Movie Info & Cast

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Producer:

Sydney Pollack, Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff

Release Date:

Dec 10, 1969

Runtime:

2hr 9m

Synopsis

The lives of a disparate group of contestants intertwine in a grueling and inhumane dance marathon.

Cast

  • Jane Fonda
  • Michael Sarrazin
  • Susannah York
  • Gig Young
  • Red Buttons
  • Bonnie Bedelia
  • Bruce Dern
  • Michael Conrad
  • Al Lewis
  • Robert Fields

Letterboxd User Reviews

4.2
44.3K
28.2K
15.3K
RATINGS 708 FANS
4.2
  • Jul 22, 2024

    we cannot let mr beast ever see this film

    1.4K Likes
    Jay
    Jay
    Feb 9, 2021

    Capitalism /ˈka-pə-tə-ˌliz-əm/ -noun Running around in circles for money and really getting nowhere.

    1.3K Likes
    CinemaVoid 🏴‍☠️
    CinemaVoid 🏴‍☠️
    Jan 5, 2022

    the gilmore girls episode, they shoot gilmores, don’t they?, did not prepare me for this

    664 Likes
    Laura
    Laura
  • Jan 16, 2018

    Trivia - Holds the record for the movie with the most Academy Award nominations without a nomination for Best Picture. Nine! Kino Lorber put this disc out. Scan is pretty good. Good extras. Two track of commentary!

    514 Likes
    Sean Baker
    Sean Baker
    Sep 20, 2024

    “But…why?” “For the good of the show! That’s what we’re all interested in, isn’t it? The show?” “No, it’s a contest! Isn’t that what it’s supposed to be?” Ok, I can’t say I’ve had the EXACT same experience as these folks, what with contestants sweating their way through…

    426 Likes
    Matt!
    Matt!
    Sep 24, 2022

    boomer hunger games is good, actually

    405 Likes
    Frances Meh
    Frances Meh
  •
    Mar 2, 2013

    This 1969 film from Sydney Pollack has to be one of the most harrowing heart breaking watches of my life. It is nothing short of brilliant and like I recently said about 10 Rillington Place, there just aren't enough stars for me to rate this effectively. Based on the…

    396 Likes
    Mark Cunliffe 🇵🇸
    Mark Cunliffe 🇵🇸
    Mar 3, 2024

    This has to be the best title drop in history, right?

    377 Likes
    Griffin
    Griffin
    Nov 25, 2017

    "I'm tired of losing..." YOWZA! Perhaps a bit heavy-handed in its symbolism, but They Shoot Horses, Don't They? is nevertheless a truly devastating, nihilistic and gripping work from start to finish. Hundreds of poor people compete in a dance marathon spanning over…

    318 Likes
    Dirk Diggler
    Dirk Diggler
See All Reviews on Letterboxd.com

Queue Community Reviews

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Top Reviews
  • Vogue Italia
    Vogue Italia loved
    They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

    I am terrified of how prescient this is. The life we are in today has been created by the generations before us, yet the current standing we are in is because those before us and us ourselves didn’t understand the reality of the past. This movie is so cerebral and perturbing. We invented the Hunger…

    7M
    Trevoe
    Trevoe liked
    They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

    This movie is sad and exciting as hell. A very interesting story of the depression era the unfolds itself to be a well rounded and shocking movie. 7.5/10

    3Y
    Lukas Paltanavicius
    Lukas Paltanavicius liked
    They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

    Love it

    1Y
View More Popular They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Reviews on Queue

Atom Users Reviews

No one has posted a user review yet.

Metacritic

72
metacritic
Based on 8 Critics
7.2

USER SCORE (9)

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Reviews
78

Bleak but exquisitely fashioned microcosm of American life during the Depression.

View full review
Metacritic review by Marjorie Baumgarten
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
70

The material is simple and irresistible, and Sydney Pollack stages it well (though without transcending the essential superficiality of his talent).

View full review
Metacritic review by Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
88

The movie's delicately timed pacing and Pollack's visual style work almost stealthily to involve us; we begin to feel the physical weariness and spiritual desperation of the characters.

View full review
Metacritic review by Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
RogerEbert.com
See All Critic Reviews on Metacritic.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Is They Shoot Horses, Don't They (1969) (1969) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as R, meaning that Under 17 requires an adult accompaniment.
How long is They Shoot Horses, Don't They (1969) (1969)?
The movie is 2hr 9min long.
What's They Shoot Horses, Don't They (1969) (1969) about?
The lives of a disparate group of contestants intertwine in a grueling and inhumane dance marathon.
Who's the cast of They Shoot Horses, Don't They (1969) (1969)?
  • Jane Fonda as Gloria
  • Michael Sarrazin as Robert
  • Susannah York as Alice
  • Gig Young as Rocky
  • Red Buttons as Sailor
  • Bonnie Bedelia as Ruby
  • Bruce Dern as James
  • Michael Conrad as Rollo
  • Al Lewis as Turkey
  • Robert Fields as Joel
Who's the director behind They Shoot Horses, Don't They (1969) (1969)?
Sydney Pollack directed They Shoot Horses, Don't They (1969) (1969).
Who produced They Shoot Horses, Don't They (1969) (1969)?
Sydney Pollack, Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff produced They Shoot Horses, Don't They (1969) (1969).