They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969)

Kernel Score: 85% · 355 TMDB ratings · Rated PG

Genres: Drama

Released: 1969-12-10

Runtime: 120 minutes

Overview

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.

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? parents' guide: ages 11+

Parents need to know that this Depression-era drama follows desperate dance-marathon contestants, including a bleak assisted-suicide ending.

  • Violence & scariness: Moderate — Includes an assisted suicide and depicts the physical and emotional torture of an endurance dance competition.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

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Director

Sydney Pollack

Cast

  • Jane Fonda as Gloria Beatty
  • Michael Sarrazin as Robert Syverton
  • Susannah York as Alice LeBlanc
  • Gig Young as Rocky Gravo
  • Red Buttons as Sailor
  • Bonnie Bedelia as Ruby Bates
  • Michael Conrad as Rollo
  • Bruce Dern as James Bates
  • Al Lewis as Turkey
  • Robert Fields as Joel

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? FAQ

Is They Shoot Horses, Don't They? good?

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? has an 85% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels, our own critic-informed editorial score.

Is They Shoot Horses, Don't They? OK for kids?

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that this Depression-era drama follows desperate dance-marathon contestants, including a bleak assisted-suicide ending.

What movies are like They Shoot Horses, Don't They??

If you liked They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, try Peaceful Warrior, Awakenings, The Prestige and If I Stay.