Granted it gets the look of 1930s depression era America down convincingly, but more importantly it brings to the screen the emotions that were all too deeply felt by many struggling Americans at the time and, better still, makes us go through these emotions, in turn a glimmer of hope, overwhelming exhaustion and finally hopelessness (each brought to the screen with the context needed to rile and anger us at how the world works). Grim and desperate.

It's kind of like Woman in the Dunes but with dancing instead of sand. In all seriousness, though, I thought this was quite good. The performances and the direction both go a long way towards making you empathize with these desperate people (the frenzy of the racing scenes, my god). True-to-life dread and unease, especially during the climax. Bleak and satisfying.

Interesting characters, very well acted and directed and quite depressing.

Slightly disappointing given my ridiculously high expectations. A good movie though - and bolstered by impressive performances.

Was surprised by how bleak this was, but in a good way. Made years before the boom in reality TV, it's clear that exploitation of suffering and desperation for laughs and excitement is not a new concept. While the film is at times a little silly, I don't think a film about a months long dance marathon can avoid that, it really taps into the world of the various participants in an impressively humanistic way.

Captures the desperation and hopelessness of depression era 1932. Hooray for Roosevelt/

Watched it once before very long ago and it really stuck with me - it didn't have quite the same effect this time, but still good. Very depressing.

good story from the depression

I watched this dog tired, my bleary eyes entranced as the surreal narrative shifted into metaphor before my eyes. The film begins whimsically, but that fades as it progresses, revealing the hard edges of its characters sharpening against the oppressive grind of indignity. The end hit me right in the gut, not because it was unexpected, but rather because it was inevitable, a sad grasp for pride long since spent.

There's always a sickening tension to this contest with its highly questionable logistics and far more questionable morals. Flawed and sometimes a bit boring and droning, but that doesn't lessen its emotional punch.

A moving, tragic, beautiful film. There are moments from this that, more than a year after I saw it, still haunt me.

Righteous movie, even with Hanoi Jane in it. Precisely the sort of mean, cynical movie NOT allowed during the Hays Code days

A reminder that Pollack was a rock-solid director at one point. Horses isn't precisely brimming with the edgy envelope pushing that was dawning in American cinema at the time it was made, but it's wholly satisfying. Gig Young is pretty great in his Oscar-winning role as the event's emcee and a young, vibrant Jane Fonda emanates star quality and real acting chops as a participant with a ready supply of pithy, snappy comments.

Besides being a bleak study of Depression-era desperation, not to mention the callous indifference of the entertainment industry, I also found the mechanics of marathon dancing to be fascinating. I didn't know much about the subject, I figured the competitions went on for 15, 30, maybe 100 hours. I had no idea they sometimes went on for WEEKS. None of the cast are truly outstanding, but they're all pretty good. Jane Fonda pulls off hard-nosed cynicism well. The ending is quite a stunner.

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Wonderfully directed by Pollack--and his words on the difficulties are well-known (one place--one activity--slower and slower!). Jane starts off being a brittle Bette Davis knockoff, but she ups the ante quite a bit as things progress (no more Barbarella for this chick). Interesting casting of Sarrazin the innocent (as I recall, in the book the narrator was quite a bit more gritty)--but it works. Very well-edited, and it looks sumptuous. Final shot may be a bit too laden with Meaning though.

Probably the most depressing movie I've ever seen. This isn't a complaint, though, as over the course of the film I was drawn into the story and worn down with the characters. I don't think I could watch it again, but as a summary of despair and desperation during the Great Depression it works remarkably well.

Great film.

The event is sinister and difficult to watch at certain points. I have some problems with the ending, and the scenes that don't take place inside the dance marathon aren't the strongest, but the film is anchored by some stunning performances, Fonda excluded, who is merely okay next to the rest.

There's no business like sports business. Jane Fonda shines in a role of sarcastic bitch. Movie is located actually inside of a house. The inserts out of it are pretty lame. The shower scene in the very end (with Susannah York) was toutching and the best part of the story. The ending makes some sense with the highly underlining opening scene.

Such an unusual movie. I don't know what I was expecting but this wasn't it; probably needs further viewing. The ending is a memorable one, for sure.