They Shoot Horses, Don't They? | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Sydney Pollack |
Screenplay by | Robert E. Thompson James Poe |
Based on | They Shoot Horses, Don't They? by Horace McCoy |
Produced by | |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Philip H. Lathrop |
Edited by | Fredric Steinkamp |
Music by | Johnny Green |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Cinerama Releasing Corporation |
Release date |
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Running time | 120 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $4.86 million[1] |
Box office | $12.6 million[2] |
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? is a 1969 American psychological drama film directed by Sydney Pollack, from a screenplay written by Robert E. Thompson and James Poe, based on Horace McCoy's 1935 novel of the same name. It stars Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, Susannah York, Gig Young, Bonnie Bedelia, and Red Buttons. It focuses on a disparate group of individuals desperate to win a Depression-era dance marathon and an opportunistic emcee who urges them on.
The film was released theatrically in the United States on December 10, 1969, and also premiered at the 1970 Cannes Film Festival. Reviewers praised its direction, screenplay, depiction of the Depression era, and performances (especially of Fonda, York, and Young). It received nine nominations at the 42nd Academy Awards including: Best Director, Best Actress (for Fonda), Best Supporting Actress (for York), Best Adapted Screenplay, with Young winning for Best Supporting Actor. As of 2024, it holds the record for obtaining the most Oscar nominations without receiving one for Best Picture.