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They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (Serpent's Tail Classics)

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Although this is set some years ago, in many ways events such as these are the precursors of the humiliation and public judgement that is poured out by reality television. Surprisingly, Robert muses much on the loss of the sun, rather than a good night's sleep, but although the characters are obviously exhausted, McCoy does not dwell on this. The omission leaves the reader somewhat unsettled, as those in charge of the event point to the doctor, nurses, and good food available. Yet one dancer is pregnant and others collapse or faint, so you are aware of the toll of this event. The novel is narrated by Robert Syverten, a young man who has come to Hollywood to become a film director. Robert is broke and desperate, and he sees the dance marathon as his only chance to make a living. He partners with Gloria Beatty, a young woman who is also struggling to make ends meet.

They Shoot Horses, Don’t They is very existential; it has a deeper layer of meaning beyond its basis and simple plot. Desperate times call for desperate measures, even if it is in the form of a dance marathon. Failed actress Gloria is hoping to make it big in Hollywood . The realization this is never gonna happen turns her into a cynic . She hates the World and Everyone in it . She just wants to die . Quite literally .

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They Shoot Horses, Don't They?' is a masterful re-creation of the marathon era for audiences that are mostly unfamiliar with it. In addition to everything else it does, "Horses" holds our attention because it tells us something we didn't know about human nature and American society. It tells us a lot more than that, of course, but because it works on this fundamental level as well it is one of the best American movies of the 1970s. It is so good as a movie, indeed, that it doesn't have to bother with explaining the things in my first two paragraphs; they are all there and that's where I found them, but they are completely incorporated into the structure of the film.

They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? is a novel by Horace McCoy about a dance marathon during the Great Depression. The story is set in a seedy dance hall in Hollywood, where contestants compete for a cash prize by dancing for as long as they can. The marathon is a brutal and dehumanizing ordeal, and the contestants are pushed to their physical and psychological limits. How does the influence on Hollywood impact the characters? How are their stories shaped by a failed past – or future prospects – in Hollywood?Another career peak is reached by Gig Young who, as the master of ceremonies, personifies all the dishonesty, cruelty and pathos of the marathon itself. Bonnie Bedelia and Susannah York also score as different kinds of vulnerable innocents. Michael Sarrazin as Fonda's dance partner serves as the passive instrument that allows Fonda to play out her tortured personal drama. His unchanging wounded puppy dog expression speaks for itself. Was this the peak of McCoy’s writing? Did his writing career produced any more such dark and fascinating material? Replies below please. Dance marathons were popular in Depression-era America. In return for undertaking a gruelling and humiliating feat of endurance, the participants received three meals a day and a chance at winning a big money prize.

Turner Classic Movies observed, "By popularizing the title of McCoy's novel, [the film] gave American argot a catch-phrase that's as recognizable today as when the movie first caught on." [8] See also [ edit ]

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Linda McQuaig's 1995 book Shooting the Hippo, about the supposed and actual causes of the large government budget deficit at the time, opens with a chapter entitled "They shoot hippos, don't they?" This was in reference to an influential media piece on Canada's deficit which attempted to draw parallels between the Canadian situation and New Zealand's budget crisis a decade earlier, during which the New Zealand national zoo lost its government subsidy and shot its hippos. While I intend to review the novel on its own merits, I can’t help but remark on some differences between the novel and the 1969 film. The film did not have a murder occur before Robert shoots Gloria that ended the contest and the film also did not emphasize the Morals League and their attempts to get the City Council to shut down the contest. The film made some changes and added a few characters that brought depth and, in some ways, made improvements on the novel. Simels, Steve (June 21, 1996). "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 28, 2018 . Retrieved November 30, 2021.

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