From Oscar and Golden Globe nominated director Sydney Pollack (Tootsie, Out of Africa), I was confused by the meaning of the title which I had heard a number of times, so I was very interested to give it a go and hope for the best. Basically, set in the Depression era of America, a big dance marathon competition is going on in the shabby La Monica Ballroom, located over the Pacific Ocean on the Santa Monica Pier, near Los Angeles. Many couples are competing for a cash prize of $1500, with Master of Ceremonies Rocky (Oscar and Golden Globe winning, and BAFTA nominated Gig Young, he beat Jack Nicholson in Easy Rider) keeping an eye on proceedings, and as time goes by giving no regard for their well being. Couples in the competition include hopeless feeling Gloria (Oscar and Golden Globe nominated Jane Fonda) and new wannabe Hollywood film director dancing partner Robert (BAFTA nominated Michael Sarrazin), middle aged sailor Harry Kline (Golden Globe nominated Red Buttons), delusional Jean Harlow lookalike Alice (BAFTA winning, and Oscar and Golden Globe nominated Susannah York) and her aspiring actor dance partner Joel (Robert Fields), and farm worker James (Bruce Dern, Laura's father) with his pregnant wife Ruby (Bonnie Bedelia). As the competition goes on the weaker couples are eliminated when they either give up or collapse, but Rocky is not concerned as he cares more about entertaining the audience watching them. Weeks pass with most of the contestants remaining to take part in the run included with the dancing, in this run Harry collapses, and Gloria carries his body for victory, and when he is found out to be dead from a heart attack Alice suffers a nervous breakdown. Gloria and Robert had split as dance partners, but without another person for each other they are forced back together as a pair, and they are asked by Rocky to get married for more publicity, including gifts from Mrs. Laydon (Madge Kennedy), but she refuses. It is discovered after this that due to expenses the prize money is being used, meaning there is hardly anything to be won, and shocked the couple drop out of the competition, and Gloria confesses how empty she feels and wants Robert to assist her in suicide, he shoots her in the head with her permission, the winner of the dance marathon is never revealed. Also starring Michael Conrad as Rollo, Al Lewis as Turkey and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes' Severn Darden as Cecil. Fonda as the struggling woman, York as the strange lookalike, and Young as the monstrous competition manager give really good performances, the story has an overwhelming dark side, and baring in mind the time this is set in you can believe it, these competitions really happened, and you can completely sympathise with the characters as they force themselves to carry on dancing, a good dark drama. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Music for Johnny Green and Albert Woodbury and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, it was nominated the BAFTAs for Best Film Editing and Best Screenplay, and it was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Drama. Good!
Review of They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
