History Film / TheyShootHorsesDontThey

* DancingIsSeriousBusiness

A 1969 film based on [[Literature/TheyShootHorsesDontThey the Horace McCoy novel of the same name]], directed by Creator/SydneyPollack, '''''They Shoot Horses, Don't They?''''' focuses on the participants in a grueling dance marathon in 1932, at the height of TheGreatDepression.

Would-be director Robert Syverton (Creator/MichaelSarrazin) wanders into the La Monica Ballroom in Santa Monica as contestants are being signed in for a dance marathon with a cash prize of $1,500. When the partner of cynical aspiring actress Gloria Beatty (Creator/JaneFonda) is disqualified for having a cough that could be a sign of tuberculosis, Rocky (Creator/GigYoung), the fast-talking MC of the marathon, recruits Robert as Gloria's new partner. Other contestants include middle-aged sailor Harry Kline (Creator/RedButtons), aspiring actress Alice (Creator/SusannahYork) and her partner Joel (Creator/RobertFields), and farm worker James (Creator/BruceDern) and his heavily pregnant wife Ruby (Creator/BonnieBedelia).

The rules are simple: they dance round the clock with ten minute breaks every two hours (contestants have to learn to "sleep" standing up), and the last couple standing wins the cash prize. The marathon drags on for days, then weeks, and the contestants' tempers quickly fray. Gloria and Robert attract the attention of local widow Mrs. Laydon (Creator/MadgeKennedy), who persuades a local ironmonger to sponsor them in exchange for wearing [[ProductPlacement sweatshirts advertising their business]]. However, Gloria becomes jealous of the attention Robert is giving Alice, and exchanges partners with her. This proves short-lived as Joel receives a job offer and Gloria pairs off with Harry.

The film was a hit with critics and audiences, though it holds the dubious distinction of receiving the highest number of Academy Award nominations without being nominated for Best Picture, with nine (it won just one: Best Supporting Actor for Gig Young as Rocky). The film's title is perhaps more widely known than the film itself, with many works named by variants of "They Shoot ____, Don't They?", whether or not the plot bears any resemblance to that of the film.

* QuestioningTitle: The answer, it seems, is "Yes, they do, but that's no excuse to shoot people."

A 1969 film based on [[Literature/TheyShootHorsesDontThey the Horace McCoy novel of the same name]], directed by Creator/SydneyPollack, '''''They Shoot Horses, Don't They?''''' focuses on the participants in a gruelling dance marathon in 1932, at the height of TheGreatDepression.

[[quoteright:349:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/michael-sarrazin-2011-a-p_3625.jpg]]

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A 1969 film based on [[Literature/TheyShootHorsesDontThey the Horace McCoy novel of the same name]], directed by Creator/SydneyPollack, ''They Shoot Horses, Don't They?'' focuses on the participants in a gruelling dance marathon in 1932, at the height of TheGreatDepression.

A 1969 film based on [[Literature/TheyShootHorsesDontThey the Horace McCoy novel of the same name]], directed by Sydney Pollack, ''They Shoot Horses, Don't They?'' focuses on the participants in a gruelling dance marathon in 1932, at the height of TheGreatDepression.

Would-be director Robert Syverton (Michael Sarrazin) wanders into the La Monica Ballroom in Santa Monica as contestants are being signed in for a dance marathon with a cash prize of $1,500. When the partner of cynical aspiring actress Gloria Beatty (Creator/JaneFonda) is disqualified for having a cough that could be a sign of tuberculosis, Rocky (Gig Young), the fast-talking MC of the marathon, recruits Robert as Gloria's new partner. Other contestants include middle-aged sailor Harry Kline (Red Buttons), aspiring actress Alice (Susannah York) and her partner Joel (Robert Fields), and farm worker James (Bruce Dern) and his heavily pregnant wife Ruby (Bonnie Bedelia).

The rules are simple: they dance round the clock with ten minute breaks every two hours (contestants have to learn to "sleep" standing up), and the last couple standing wins the cash prize. The marathon drags on for days, then weeks, and the contestants' tempers quickly fray. Gloria and Robert attract the attention of local widow Mrs. Laydon (Madge Kennedy), who persuades a local ironmonger to sponsor them in exchange for wearing [[ProductPlacement sweatshirts advertising their business]]. However, Gloria becomes jealous of the attention Robert is giving Alice, and exchanges partners with her. This proves short-lived as Joel receives a job offer and Gloria pairs off with Harry.

The film was a hit with critics and audiences, though it holds the dubious distinction of receiving the highest number of Academy Award nominations without being nominated for Best Picture, with nine (it won just one: Best Supporting Actor for Gig Young as Rocky). The film's title is perhaps more widely known than the film itself, with many television series having episodes titled "They ____, Don't They?", whether or not the plot bears any resemblance to that of the film.

Would-be director Robert Syverton (Michael Sarrazin) wanders into the La Monica Ballroom in Santa Monica as contestants are being signed in for a dance marathon with a cash prize of $1,500. When the partner of cynical aspiring actress Gloria Beatty (Jane Fonda) is disqualified for having a cough that could be a sign of tuberculosis, Rocky (Gig Young), the fast-talking MC of the marathon, recruits Robert as Gloria's new partner. Other contestants include middle-aged sailor Harry Kline (Red Buttons), aspiring actress Alice (Susannah York) and her partner Joel (Robert Fields), and farm worker James (Bruce Dern) and his heavily pregnant wife Ruby (Bonnie Bedelia).

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: In Horace [=McCoy's=] novel, Robert says of Gloria, "I could see why Gloria didn't get registered by Central. She was too blonde and too small and looked too old. With a nice wardrobe she might have looked attractive, but even then I wouldn't have called her pretty." In the film, she is played by JaneFonda, who matches no part of that description.

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: In Horace [=McCoy's=] novel, Gloria is described as blonde, short, looking older than she is, and not at all pretty, and Robert theorises that this makes her unlikely to get any film work. In the film, she is played by JaneFonda, who matches none of those descriptions.

Rocky keenly exploits the dancers' various vulnerabilities for audience amusement, and periodically organises hellish "derbies" in which the contestants must complete several circuits of the ballroom, with the last three couples automatically eliminated from the overall marathon. During once such derby, Harry suffers a fatal heart attack and is dragged across the finish line by Gloria; his dead body falls into Alice's arms, causing her to suffer a nervous breakdown and withdraw from the competition, re-uniting Robert and Gloria as dancing partners.

Rocky tries to persuade Robert and Gloria to be married on the dance floor, with the promise of gifts from local businesses, so that even if they don't win, they will come away with something for their troubles. Gloria refuses, determined to win the marathon, but Rocky explains that the $1,500 cash prize will have various expenses deducted from it, leaving the winners with almost nothing. Despondent, Gloria and Robert drop out of the competition.

As they walk along the pier, Gloria takes a gun out of her purse and decides to commit suicide, but when she cannot bring herself to pull the trigger, she asks Robert to help her. He obliges, and the police arrest him for murder. When asked why he did it, he murmurs, "[[TitleDrop They shoot horses, don't they?]]" Back in the ballroom, there are still seven couples remaining (including James and Ruby); the winners of the marathon are never revealed.

A 1969 film based on [[Literature/TheyShootHorsesDontThey the Horace McCoy novel of the same name]], directed by Sydney Pollack, focusing on the participants in a gruelling dance marathon in 1932, at the height of TheGreatDepression.

* QuestioningTitle: The answer, it seems, is "Yes, they do."

* DownerEnding: Robert and Gloria drop out of the marathon after learning that they would receive almost no money even if they do win. Finally pushed over the brink of despair, Gloria tries to shoot herself, but cannot pull the trigger and asks Robert to do so for her. He does, and is arrested for her murder. It is implied, though not stated, that he is hanged for the crime. Meanwhile, the remaining marathon contestants are almost dead on their feet, none of them aware that the cash prize they are chasing might as well not exist for all they'll see of it.

* CatchPhrase: Rocky is very fond of peppering his speeches to the audience with the word "Yowza!"

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: In Horace [=McCoy's=] novel, Gloria is described as blonde, short, younger than she looks, and plain-looking, and Robert theorises that this makes her unlikely to get any film work. In the film, she is played by JaneFonda, who matches none of those descriptions.

The rules are simple: ten minute breaks every two hours (contestants have to learn to "sleep" standing up), and the last couple standing wins the cash prize. The marathon drags on for days, then weeks, and the contestants' tempers quickly fray. Gloria and Robert attract the attention of local widow Mrs. Laydon (Madge Kennedy), who persuades a local ironmonger to sponsor them in exchange for wearing [[ProductPlacement sweatshirts advertising their business]]. However, Gloria becomes jealous of the attention Robert is giving Alice, and exchanges partners with her. This proves short-lived as Joel receives a job offer and Gloria pairs off with Harry.

* MyNameIsNotDurwood: Within seconds of introducing himself to Rocky, Robert is already being called "Richard" by the indifferent MC.

* DownerEnding: Robert and Gloria drop out of the marathon after learning that they would receive almost no money even if they do win. Finally pushed over the brink of despair, Gloria tries to shoot herself, but cannot pull the trigger and asks Robert to do so for her. He does, and is arrested for her murder. It is implied, though not stated, that he is hanged for the crime.