MovieChat Forums > They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1970) Discussion > Reality Shows and Hardball

Reality Shows and Hardball

posted 19 years ago by cornflakeboy20
14 replies | jump to latest

So, I was curious if anybody thinks this movie reminds people of an early reality show. I mean people humiliating and degrading themselves for the benefit of an audience. It doesn't get any closer a parallel than that.

Also the other night on Chris Matthews' Harball, Chris said he hated the movie, that it was whiny and negative. Jane was a bit caught off guard but defended the movie saying she felt her character had been abused and also she was demoralized from a lack of work. Chris seems to think it's just a case that these people need to pull themselves up by the bootstraps and move on. Increasingly, I think, though, that many people just don't have the resolve to do that. And that this movie is a portrait of their absolute last resort.

At any rate, might be interesting to hear other peoples' thoughts on this.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] lannaheim 19 years ago

Since I don't watch TV I have no idea what you're talking about, but I suspect that this film "depicts more reality" than most people will EVER face. Horace McCoy wrote the book in 1935, when the Depression was more than just a memory. Michael Saracen (sp?) is tremendous, as is Jane Fonda. It's a hard film to watch, because it IS so real. I give it ten stars, myself.

[–] Ai_Amano 18 years ago

While watching the movie, I was specifically reminded of the grim, hopeless reality scenarios imagined by Stephen King in "The Long Walk" and "The Running Man" - I wonder, in fact, if this movie wasn't part of his inspiration.

You know, I thought the exact same thing! I don't remember what year is The Long Walk from, but I do remember it's from the end of the '60s. Because the movie is dated '69 King might have been inspired by the book if not by the movie itself...what do you think? But definitely yes, watching Horses and thinking The Long Walk came just natural!(Sorry for my English! ^^).

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] rhinestone_sunglasses 19 years ago

Wow. The movie kind of gets you thinking if you could do it for money. And then I was kinda drawing parallels between this and Fear Factor. And then it dawned on me....either way you look at it, whether swallowing leaches or dancing for forty days straight this is a sick abuse of public spectacle. The money is not worth your pride or the time spent going through with these ridiculous charades. In regaurds to your question, I think that the point of the movie is that money isn't the answer for everything. I think the fact that everyone was at this dance marathon was an example of them trying to pull their bootstraps up and trying to do what it takes to get some money.

You got me straight trippin, Boo.

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[–] joanbrazas 19 years ago

"Chris seems to think it's just a case that these people need to pull themselves up by the bootstraps and move on."

This statement assumes that they have bootstraps. Some people don't ever have them while others have pulled themselves up from them so darned many times that they (the people and the bootstraps) are worn out.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] heaintloveu 19 years ago

There's a fine line when you're talking about mental health, though. And it's a shame that SOME people use mental health "issues" as a means of getting out of doing certain things, or as a means to get sympathy from other people, or as a means to simply "get" attention.

Depression is a real condition, of course. But I know people that have FAKED having certain mental disorders so they wouldn't have to work, etc. I mean ... my friend's old roommate FAKED being bipolar so he wouldn't have to work and could get money from the government to live. His family and their physician were in on the scheme, of course, and I don't know whether or not he's still doing this.

Tom Cruise said that Brooke just should've taken vitamins or whatever, and we DON'T know Brooke Shields personally, so we can't really say whether or not that's all she needed. The point I'm trying to make is ... there are many little things we can do to make ourselves feel better about ourselves, mentally or physically, whether's it's talking to your priest, going for a walk, kissing your kids goodnight or simply eating more yogurt and broccoli. And doctors are always, it seems, quick to just write you a little prescription for your ailment and that's that. THAT'S the point Tom Cruise was making, I think.

Aside from the fact that he's a mediahound right now FOR SOME REASON.

[–] joanbrazas 18 years ago

Depression is a real condition, of course. But I know people that have FAKED having certain mental disorders so they wouldn't have to work, etc. I mean ... my friend's old roommate FAKED being bipolar so he wouldn't have to work and could get money from the government to live. His family and their physician were in on the scheme, of course, and I don't know whether or not he's still doing this.

This infuriates me, especially because it ruins it for the truly disabled. There is so little government funding for disability as it is.
What was this clown's motivation? Since he was savvy enough to figure out how to do this and that he had some connection with his physician, it sounds like he was a person of resources. With these qualifications, not only could he have worked, he has the potential to be the head of major corporation. (Pardon my cynicism...)

[–] heaintloveu 18 years ago

Well, incidentally, yes, he was very well-off in terms of money, but only because of his family. HE was an a-hole. He was completely lazy and a complete jerk ... the only people that actually "liked" him were his parents, and they didn't care one way or another how he may've managed to cheat the government. It's 2006 and he's been doing this for 8 years now.

[–] Arukae 18 years ago

This is a reality show. I'm sure if you found some TV exec somewhere and showed them this movie today, dollar signs would appear in their eyes.

[–] icemith 18 years ago

Folks, let's get back to the topic, huh?

Somebody mentioned the word "Depression". Relating to the time frame setting of the movie,"They Shoot Horses, Don't They?". It is set in the mid 1930s during the DEPRESSION, not the debilitating human condition, though they may have been affected by the condition. Who wouldn't be surprised at that? In the comments, it was a tangent that I found others followed, and it illustrates how easy it is to be misled.

I have just recently attended a very competent production of this play (version called 'Marathon', don't know if that is original), and only vaguely recall the movie, probably on TV, also a while ago. But I knew what to expect. I was not disapointed.The production was terrific, and the rather short season was all sold out, so there was no real opportunity to encourage others. (It was a major presentation by Newtown Performing Arts High School here in Sydney, Australia).

So now I have to find the Movie version again, and naturally compare it. That it won an Oscar for Gig Young as Best Support is not surprising, beating out actors in the 1969 winning Picture "Midnight Cowboy", (I presume there were noms.).

I, too, see the present link to certain Reality Shows in vogue now, just as there is always someone to take on a challenge, especially for a relatively large payout, or fame, and there is also some entrepreneur, willing to set up a TV, Movie or Recording Deal for the winner as enticement. Things have not changed!

Ivan.