‘They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?’ is a 1969 American psychological thriller film directed by Sydney Pollack, featuring Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, Susannah York, Red Buttons, Bruce Dern, Bonnie Bedelia, and Gig Young. The film is based on Horace McCoy’s 1935 novel of the same name. The film focuses on a diverse group of disparate individuals to win a Depression-era dance marathon and an opportunistic emcee who urges them on.
The film was released in the United States on December 10, 1969, and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 1970. It became a critical, commercial success, grossing $12.6 million on a $4.86 million budget, becoming 1969’s seventeenth-highest-grossing film.
Reviewers praised its direction, screenplay, depression, and success (especially Fonda, York, and Young). At the 42nd Academy Awards, it won nine nominations, including; Best Director, Best Actress (for Fonda), Best Supporting Actress (for York), Best Adapted Screenplay, with Young winning Best Supporting Actor. By 2021, it holds the record for most Oscar nominations without one for Best Picture.
Below are some vintage pictures of Jane Fonda during The Shoot Horses filming in 1969.
