They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) starring Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, Susannah York, Gig Young. Directed by Sydney Pollack. A Depression-era dance marathon is the backdrop for drama, and one shocking act of violence. Young won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as the slimy emcee of the proceedings. Fonda and Sarrazin star as contestants who go up against about 50 other couples to try to "dance" the longest without passing out. It's a pretty entertaining movie, with several separate plot lines going on simultaneously. It's one of those movies that makes you wonder, "Did people ever really live this way?" (The supplied subtitles are adequate; closed captions are also available.) Grade: B