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45 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MASTERPIECE RESTORED, October 8, 1999
I was overjoyed to receive a gift of the reissue of this video in 1995, that is until I watched it in all its "pan & scan" desecration. It is truly a joy to watch this DVD (VHS is now available in widescreen as well) in the right format with all the extras. But all that aside, this is a towering, neglected masterpiece of American cinema that virtually put director Sydney Pollack on the map and established Jane Fonda as the premier American actress of the Sixties and Seventies. Who else could have captured the tragic essence of the bitter, beaten Gloria but Fonda? Watch her especially in the final elimination round as she desperately (and literally) carries her ailing partner around the floor in a final attempt to win the big prize and (symbolically) maybe give life one more try. Fonda never sentimalizes this great character as a lesser actress would have been tempted to; no simple answers or easy forgiveness will do for Gloria--she is too important to be trivialized. Red Buttons, Susannah York, and Gig Young are also superb in supporting roles; the cinematography and music also deserve kudos. If you haven't seen it, do not miss this American classic and one of the century's greatest actresses just entering her prime. How we do miss Jane.
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28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Carnival of Souls, December 22, 2006
In this age of "Reality" TV shows like "Survivor", in which "The Most Devious and Unscrupulous Person Wins" for a grand prize of a million dollars, the grim reality of the Great Depression makes inconsequential dreck like this look like a walk in the park. Sydney Pollack's "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?", based on the novella by Horace McCoy, is a harrowing heartbreaking , and unforgettable experience. Set in Southern California in 1932, "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" is the tale of a marathon dance, and the desperate people who participate in it. For those of you who don't know what a marathon dance was, couples had to dance for 2 hours, take a 10 minute break to sleep or eat, and then dance again....and again...and again. These grueling endurance contests went on for weeks, and the last remaining couple on the dance floor would win the Grand Prize...if they were still alive and/or still conscious enough to claim it....while spectators watched the whole grotesque show.
Jane Fonda (in the performance of her career, IMO) plays Gloria Beatty, an embittered young woman who has had more than her fair share of hard knocks. Her dance partner is the dreamy-eyed and naïve country boy Robert Syverton (Michael Sarrazin), Among the other contestants are a flinty, middle-aged sailor (Red Buttons), aspiring actress Alice LeBlanc (Susannah York) and her partner Joel (Robert Fields), and hayseed couple James and Ruby (Bruce Dern and Bonnie Bedelia). Presiding over the dance is the cynical emcee Rocky (Gig Young, in an Oscar-winning performance) The action of the film covers the weeks that transpire during the dance, and the physical, emotional, and mental toll that it takes on the contestants is, quite simply, horrifying. These people were struggling for their lives, when just the prospect of having a meal was a very precious thing, not to mention a job, a home, some self-respect. Dreams are shattered, someone dies during this hellish dance (Red Buttons' death scene, from a massive heart attack during "The Derby", a grueling track race, is unforgettable), and Alice LeBlanc, whose somewhat fragile grip on reality finally gives way, finally loses her mind. And there's still more to come, folks!
The performances are top-notch and disturbingly believable. Jane Fonda's performance isn't merely a performance...it's a fist in your face. Gig Young isn't merely smarmy, he's just someone who has seen it all, and who probably cant muster up any sorrow anymore. The supporting cast is great, including Allyn Mclerie , Michael Conrad, Al "Grandpa Munster" Lewis, Madge Kennedy, and Paul Mantee. Director Pollack wisely shot the film in sequence, and the actors look like they've been to Hell (and not necessarily back) by the film's end. The production and costumes are very accurate, (tho the men's hairstyles belie the year in which the film was made, 1969, they're not quite accurate for the 1930s), the music is not only correct, but the choice of songs is quite poignant indeed ("The Best Things in Life are Free", "I Found a Million Dollar Baby in a Five and Ten Cent Store").
The picture and sound quality on the DVD are excellent, and the film is presented in its correct widescreen format. Sadly, there are no extras on the DVD, which is a pity.
This is a must-see film for people seeking to see true-to-life drama, and it is also a reminder of how fortunate we are these days. My parents lived through the Depression as children, and they were not easy times. This is definitely not a "feel good" film...but then, we can't always be happy idiots, can we?
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the most overlooked classics from the 60's., October 17, 2000
Sydney Pollack has given the world some of most memorable and engrossing films ever such as "The Way We Were," "Out of Africa," "Tootsie", and "The Firm." However, most seem to forget about this little masterpiece he helmed back in 1969, about a dance marathon that causes more disillusionment that being told your life is a worthless shame. Jane Fonda heads out the cast as a struggling actress who seeks out the dance marathon as a means of survival during the Great Depression. Marathons of this type were popular, luring in poor folks to see who would be willing to go so far to win a cash prize. Susannah York is another actress from Hollywood who has had her share of bad luck and it gets worse and worse as the marathon wears on. Red Buttons is a sailor who has seen his share of human loss and heartache but matters to almost nothing when he sees what this marathon will do to its contestants. Gig Young is well-cast as the scheming marathon promoter who loves to sit back and watch the people collapse and give up. He puts the show on soley for human spectacle and idiotic display. What he does to select contestants will have you loathing and seething with hatred for his character. He is so convincing in the role it won him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Young, who was a major comedy star back in the 1940-50's, was sinking into deep melancholy over life and his work and the Oscar did little to nothing to help him. In 1978 he shot his wife and then himself, always convinced that he was the result of an accidental pregnancy. However, despite this pitiful knowledge, he has given the entertainment world some of the best work we've ever seen, including his own TV show in the 50's in which he went behind the scenes of movies in production. This film was shot entirely in sequence and Pollack had his cast rehearse and dance for 12 straight hours before he put them in front of the camera, so you are basically seeing it as it was filmed. The editing makes it look more frenzied and more grueling to watch, especially those derby scenes. Human cruelty never looked more artistic or more disheartening. Dance marathons were eventually banned by law and this film shows just why that happened. Nominated for nine Academy Awards---Best Director (Pollack), Actress (Fonda), Supporting Actor (Gig Young, who won the Oscar), Supporting Actress (York), Screenplay Adaptation from the novel by Horace McCoy, Art Direction, Costume Design, Music Score Adaptation, and Film Editing. It is a travesty that it was not nominated for Best Picture. This is one of those little known films from the dusk of Hollywood's Golden Age and should not be missed. It should be revived for a whole new generation to discover and be mesmerized by.
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