They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
People are the ultimate spectacle.
1969 • 120 min • Drama
Synopsis
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.
Our family guide
Best from age 14- 100 Reviewers · 1 · 51%
- 76 Audience · 379 · 49%
During the Great Depression, desperate contestants enter a grueling dance marathon, hoping for a cash prize that could change their lives. The competition tests their physical and mental endurance, revealing the harsh realities faced by many at the time.
- Violence & peril
- 5/10
- Language
- 2/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 3/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 2/10
- Scary moments
- 4/10
Heads up
- Themes of despair and hopelessness
- A character experiences mental distress
- Brief, non-graphic violence occurs
- Some characters face tragic ends
What it models well
- Resilience in hardship
- Empathy for others
- The value of perseverance
Talk about it after
- The human cost of poverty and desperation
- Why people make extreme choices
- The importance of compassion
- The historical context of the Great Depression
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for They Shoot Horses, Don't They?. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
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Top billed cast
Director: Sydney Pollack • Crew: James Poe, Robert E. Thompson
Trailers & clips
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Official Trailer #1 - Bruce Dern Movie (1969) HD
Reviewer notes
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersDespite the constant streams of sweat on display here, there is something physically and emotionally arid about this two hours of cinematic torture. With the depression in full swing, the down-at-heart “Gloria” (Jane Fonda) heads to California in the hope of becoming a starlet. Meantime, equally disheartened “Robert” (Michael Sarazin) is frustrated that he can’t make a career at the other end of the camera.…
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Gallery
Details
- TMDB audience
- 7.6/10 (379)
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Released
- IMDb
- tt0065088