They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1935 |
| Founder | Horace McCoy |
| Products | Novel |
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? is a 1935 novel authored by Horace McCoy that revolves around a dance marathon set during the hardships of the Great Depression. This story was later adapted into a 1969 film directed by Sydney Pollack, sharing the same title.
Plot
The narrative is presented by Robert Syverten, an inexperienced young man in Hollywood with ambitions of becoming a film director. The novel begins with Robert facing a murder sentence; he confesses to killing Gloria Beatty and offers no defense. Their relationship is revealed gradually alongside segments from the judge's sentencing speech, which concludes with the solemn statement: "And may God have mercy on your soul."
Robert and Gloria meet after both fail to obtain minor film roles. Gloria convinces him to participate in a demanding dance marathon on a Santa Monica pier, hoping it will catch the attention of movie studios. The competition extends over several weeks, with couples dancing for nearly two hours followed by short rest periods. Initially, 144 couples—mostly unemployed young people attracted by prize money and free meals—enter the grueling contest, with Robert and Gloria among them.
Gloria frequently voices her wish to die; orphaned and escaping abuse along with previous suicide attempts, she holds tightly to her Hollywood aspirations despite continual rejection. Robert views her as plain and unlikely to succeed as an actress, while she admits she lacks the resolve to end her own life.
Event promoters increase audience interest through sensational methods such as publicizing arrests, organizing elimination derbies, and manipulating results. Media attention intensifies as Hollywood personalities attend, and some couples secure sponsorships from local businesses. Gloria encourages Robert to approach director Frank Borzage, while Mrs. Layden, a regular spectator, becomes their sponsor.
As time passes, contestants either collapse or withdraw from the event. Robert battles claustrophobia; Gloria grows weaker but persists. She criticizes another participant regarding his pregnant partner’s refusal to have an abortion and reveals her involvement with a promoter, feeling undeserving of better treatment. Local moral reformers threaten to terminate the marathon; Gloria condemns them as hypocrites.
After 879 hours and with only 20 couples remaining, a murder occurs at the dance hall bar, claiming Mrs. Layden’s life. The contest is suddenly halted; each remaining dancer receives $50. Upon stepping outside for the first time in weeks, Gloria requests Robert to shoot her. He complies, recalling his grandfather’s act of putting down a lame horse. When questioned by police, Robert simply states: "Because she asked me to." As questioning continues, he delivers his final line: "They shoot horses, don't they?"
Critical reception
During the Depression era, McCoy’s novel found greater acclaim internationally than in the United States, particularly resonating within French existentialist circles. Although it circulated clandestinely during World War II, its first official French edition was published only in 1946.
Lee J. Richmond regards it alongside Nathaniel West’s writings as one of the finest illustrations of absurdist existentialism in American literature. In 2011, Anita Sethi of The Guardian praised the novel’s harsh yet lyrical storytelling and noted its renewed significance in an age preoccupied with transient fame. The book has remained continuously available in print since its initial publication in 1935.
Adaptations and Impact
The novel They Shoot Horses, Don't They? was transformed into a motion picture in 1969 under the direction of Sydney Pollack, featuring performances by Michael Sarrazin, Jane Fonda, and Gig Young. This film garnered nine nominations at the Academy Awards.
The book's title served as inspiration for Patrick McManus's 1982 anthology of short stories titled They Shoot Canoes, Don't They?
In 1983, Ray Herman adapted the narrative into a theatrical production that debuted in South Melbourne, Australia. The play saw further revivals across the United Kingdom during the 1990s and 2000s. A subsequent adaptation crafted by Rick Sparks and Gary Carter in 2001 earned 17 theatre accolades in Los Angeles; this version was also staged at Harvard University in 2016.
Fashion designer Alexander McQueen incorporated the theme of dance marathons into his spring 2004 ready-to-wear collection.
The Welsh musical group Racing Cars found international acclaim in 1977 with their song titled "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?", which drew inspiration from the film adaptation. Additionally, Joe Jackson alluded to the novel in his 1984 track "Cha Cha loco."
Linda McQuaig’s 1995 publication Shooting the Hippo, which examines governmental budget deficits, begins with a chapter named "They shoot hippos, don't they?"—making a metaphorical connection to New Zealand's fiscal challenges.
Furthermore, the phrase was initially chosen as the title for Kevin Abstract's second studio album before it was changed to American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story.