They Shoot Horses Don't They? [DVD] [1969]

The movie motivated me to seek out McCoy's novella upon which it's based, and I would heartily recommend it also. It and Nathaniel West's Day of the Locusts are probably the most hard-edged accounts of life in Hollywood in the 30s that I have come across. As noted, Gig Young won an Oscar for his performance here. The fact that he blew his brains out shortly thereafter is not only sadly ironic, in lieu of the ending of this film, but also understandable. The level of world-weariness that he portrays on the screen must have been close to what he was feeling in real life. But all the characterizations in TSHDT are remarkably vivid. I can't guess why Fonda didn't receive an Oscar for her portrayal of Gloria. It certainly surpasses her performance in Klute. Sure, she is given some of the most priceless lines ever scripted, but her delivery is flawless.

Actually, everything about this movie is flawless. It just couldn't have been done any better. It's one of the finest-paced pieces of filmaking you will ever encounter. Sitting in the theatre, I nearly jumped out of my skin every time that damned siren sounded to get the contestants back on the floor. The movie is relentless. As an audience, we experience viscerally the journey into hell that the contestants are embarked upon. By the end of the picture, we are left emotionally and spiritually drained. I'm sure one of the reasons this picture isn't more "popular" is due to the ending. It's not your typical Hollywood musical gaiety to say the least. But I for one found it cathartic in the same way a Greek tragedy is. It had the same sense of inevitability. Our struggles are sometimes thwarted by cosmic forces over which we have no control, whether it be fate or central-casting.

The soundtrack is an absolutely perfect accompaniment to the action ocurring on the screen. Much of the time it serves as an ironic backdrop, as when "By the Sea, By the Sea, By the Beautiful Sea" is played as the human demolition "derby" is ocurring in the dance-hall. It is also some of the best music ever, flawlessly performed. I bought the soundtrack when it first came out and I recommend it highly also. If there were anything else I could recommend about this film, I would. I can't find enough superlatives to truly express myself here, however, so I'll just say BUY IT!

This is a fascinating look at the dance marathons that really took place in America during the Depression, when people were willing to risk their health (and their lives) for the meals that were provided and a chance at the money. Each of the dancers we meet is unique, sympathetic, and believable. Fonda gives a masterful performance as the hopeless Gloria, and at the end she utters the wonderfull and haunting title line. Sarrazin is good, but doesn't quite have the star quality to match Fonda's. It's a sad film that brings to mind the days of Romans holding their thumbs up or down while bloodied gladiators fought to the death. The story is fittingly left unresolved, just like the bleak lives of the contestants. I recommend this outstanding film, directed by Sydney Pollack.

Kona

The soundtrack is absolutely first-rate. I owned it on vinyl, but can't find it on CD unfortunately. If anyone out there is aware of a CD release, would you please send me mail? I've never known another soundtrack that served as such perfect accompaniment to the action on screen. Sometimes it served as a great vehicle for irony (as if this film needed any more of that!). The second "Derby" sequence is a great case-in-point. As The Sailor (Red Buttons) is literally expiring from exhaustion, the band is playing "By the Sea, By the Sea, By the Beautiful Sea." The dancehall is situated on a pier above the Pacific. The metaphors come fast and furious in this movie. It rewards repeated viewings. McCoy's novel is pretty good too, along the lines of Nathaniel West's Day of the Locust.

...you can't make a better investment if you are any kind of film buff or just want a good kick in the emotional keister. Not for the sentimental type. About as fierce and unflinching a look into the depths of the human spirit as you are likely to come across. One of the finest movies ever.