Baile de ilusiones

This is the movie that "The Day of the Locust" might have aspired to be. It captures the tone of desperation and helplessness of Depression-era characters (would-bes, wanna-bes, and fade-outs) like few films I've seen. It's a fascinating downer, ripe with interesting losers and gritty drama. Jane Fonda's performance as a marathon-entry at the end of her rope ranks with her very best work, and Oscar-winner Gig Young is smashing as the M.C. Also superb: Susannah York as a glamor girl who gets her clothes (and sanity) dirty, and Red Buttons as an over-the-hill sailor. There's not a happy or hopeful moment in sight, but for gripping human drama you could do no better. James Poe and Robert E. Thompson adapted their screenplay from Horace McCoy's novel; Sydney Pollack directed, impeccably. ***1/2 from ****

Viewing "They Shoot Horses, Don't They" is like rubbernecking a horrific traffic accident, or watching a train wreck. The images, no matter how painful, are too disturbing to turn away. This movie documents the depression era pathos by showing us a glimse of a group of dance-marathon contestants battling it out for a winner-take-all purse. Their lives become symbolic of their efforts in the marathon: inexorable pain, constant cramping, and a constant questioning of just "why live in all this misery?" Eventually, the lead performances, especially those of Susanna York and Jane Fonda, show at once characters strong-willed but overcome by simple animal survival. The rest of the stellar cast captures this bleakness as well (watch a young Bonnie Bedelia sing for thrown pennies!!!). Eventually the movie painfully climaxes to let one realize the issues raised by the movie title. The film is stunning in capturing the simple struggle of humanity; it's a must-see, but only once!!!

When I saw this movie in the theater over 35 years ago, I found it very interesting and one of those movies you don't forget about an hour after you leave the theater. This was a haunting type of story, especially when my folks, who went with me, informed me that these marathon type of dance contests really did happen. The characters might have been fictional, but not story of these awful contests.

Jane Fonda plays the central character, "Gloria Beatty," an angry-at-the-world and profane woman who certainly has a cynical attitude. It almost echoed her real-life persona at the time, but I won't go there. I was more fascinated with Gig Young's performance in this film as the ruthless dance promoter - emcee "Rocky." To me - and Academy Award voters - his performance stands out among all the others, even though everyone does an outstanding job. That includes director Sydney Pollack, who had only made a few movies until this one.

The deep cast in this film did not include big-name stars but they were known celebrities: actors like Michael Sarrazin, Susannah York, Red Buttons, Bonnie Bedalia, Bruce Dern and Al Lewis.

This is a sad tale of desperate people in desperate times trying to make a few extra bucks during the Great Depression years. Dancing in pairs, they literally risked their health by trying to stay on their feet by dancing longer than every other couple. One became mentally exhausted just watching these poor people on screen trying to survive these "marathons."

Like a lot of movies which deal with unpleasant topics, this is a haunting film that will leave you thinking about it for a long time afterward. I can't say I enjoyed watching it the second time around, on VHS - Fonda's nastiness too much to take - but I certainly wouldn't discourage anyone from watching this movie. It's a story about an unique event in American history guaranteed to be one you won't forget.

THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY? is a superb evocation of the Depression Era that gave us the harrowing dance marathon. It also boasts superb work by Jane Fonda, Gig Young, Susannah York, and Red Buttons.

Plot set in 1932 has a drifter (Michael Sarrazin) wandering into a seaside pavilion where a dance marathon is about to begin. He gets paired with Fonda and quickly learns the ropes about marathon dancing. As the couples swing and sway for weeks (with short rest periods for food and sleep) we learn the stories of several couples ... all desperate for the grand prize. Of course, during the contest, they also get fed and housed.

The dancing is grueling but the "sprints" are harrowing. The couples have to "heel and toe" around the perimeter of the floor for ten minutes, with the last three couples eliminated. After 1,000 hours of dancing, few people would want to sprint, but the sprints really draw the crowds, and even Helen Twelvetrees and Ross Alexander show up to watch. So does Mervyn LeRoy.

This was Fonda's follow-up movie after BARBARELLA. Talk about a sea change. Her Gloria is a dour, pessimistic smart ass. She's been knocked around by life and has few expectations. Among the other dancers are the dust bowl couple (Bruce Dern, Bonnie Bedelia), the show biz couple (York and Robert Fields), and the "old" couple (Buttons and Allyn Ann McLerie). There's also Young's partner (Al Lewis), a referee (Michael Conrad), a stern nurse (Mary Gregory). and an avid fan (silent star, Madge Kennedy). Also look quick for Art Metrano and Ian Abercrombie.

Gig Young won a supporting Oscar as the world-weary marathon host; Jane Fonda won her first Oscar nomination (of 7), and Susannah York scored her only Oscar nod as the tragic Alice. It's hard to believe that Red Buttons and Bonnie Bedelia didn't get nominated.

Great film, directed by Sydney Pollack and based on a novel by Horace McCoy. Great use of music of the day, and many Hollywood stars are mentioned or shown on posters: Marion Davies, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Myrna Loy, Jean Harlow, Gary Cooper, Joan Crawford, and Ramon Novarro.

During the Depression, many had nothing... and the few that did were almost equally as miserable. This movie displays a dance marathon, held for the entertainment of the latter, and the expense of the former. The contestants dance for daily meals and a place to sleep, and the weak hope of a prize, if they are the last couple standing. The rules are cruel, and whilst the many dancers fight to remain standing, the audience is served snacks and fast-food. The film shows how callous people can be, sometimes. The plot is magnificent, the story-telling excellent. Acting(Sarrazin can exude an extraordinary amount of emotion through his eyes), casting, editing(with extremely few slightly weak moments), pacing, direction, cinematography, lighting, music, production design, everything, it's all amazing. This is a very difficult film to watch(which is by no means to say that I regret doing so). It is not entertainment, nor is it something to escape one's everyday life with. It is brutal and uncompromising, a window into an era and an event, both of which show humanity at its worst. A masterpiece. I intend to look for other films by Pollack, there is no doubt about that... fortunately, my fiancée has told me that he has done lighter fare(I would prefer watching something less bleak than this for the next of his movies I view). This is a very important movie, particularly in today's world, where reality shows are all over TV. I recommend this to anyone certain that they can sit through it. 8/10