Rating: 
Summary: "The Dance of Destiny Continues"
Review: This film is a unique experience. It is a tale set during the Great Depression in the setting of a Dance Marathon where hope and perseverence are seemingly the only factors driving the contestants. Eventually, after days and days, the contestants rise up and plod on more out of a sense of habit and expected exhaustion. Near the end of the story it matters very little who will win but rather who is still dancing. Each couple pushes themselves to the brink of collapse...and beyond. This is a truly fascinating tale about living on through the worst of times even though the best of times is nowhere in sight. As for the acting there are many standout performances, my particular favorites being Jane Fonda and Gig Young. Jane Fonda plays a character cast in iron (in fact, she and her dance partner are sponsored at one point and forced to where jackets advertising "Jonathan's Iron Tonic"), but as she progresses through the competition she slowly begins to break down. Piece by piece is thrown aside; her staunchly moral character at the beginning of the story gradually unravels until she is an empty shell, devoid of hopeful emotions. Gig Young's performance is no less mesmerizing as the Master of Ceremonies selling suffering to the spectators at two bits a head. But just when you think you've pegged the villain of the story he shows that he too is a lost soul trapped on the "merry-go-round" of life and conveys compassion and understanding to those most in need. His performance garnered him a well-deserved Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. The actual filmmaking is edgy and spectacular. With all the dancers struggling to stay upright during a portion of the Dance Marathon called the "Derby" the background music is light-hearted and frollicking while the contestants are gasping for breath, stumbling in pain, all for the sake of entertainment. They are dancing and racing toward a cash prize, but their anguish is on display for all who pay to see it. There are also some flash-forward scenes that are effectively shot on sound stages, with all the surrounding echo in the chamber as the main character speaks, adding to the reflective quality of his remembrance. This film is crammed with many brilliant scenes that make it a remarkable experience to behold. Highly recommended. "The Marathon goes on and on and on."
Rating: 
Summary: Great Early Jane Fonda
Review: This is certainly not an upbeat film, but it gives a glimpse of Jane Fonda's earlier work and she is at her brilliant best. Great supporting performances by Gig Young and Susannah York too. Give this film a try!
Rating:
Summary: An out of control dance contest as metaphor for the 30s
Review: This is one of the most amazing movies i have ever seen. It's packed with young 70s stars and i couldn't stop thinking about it for days after. Check it out, you won't be dissapointed.
Rating:
Summary: Too sad to rewatch
Review: This is the kind of movie we need to make and see, because it conveys how bad the Depression really was, but it's too sad for me to watch twice. Which tells you how utterly dispairing the story is.
Rating:
Summary: People are sick
Review: This movie is outstanding. I only give the dvd 4 stars, but the laserdisc is a keeper. It's a shame they left out the two commentaries. This movie rings just as true now, as it did back in the day. With reality tv and our country's morbid sense to see real people suffering it really puts things into perspective. A definate classic. Thanks to PT Anderson for recommending it.
Rating:
Summary: The microcosmic dance hall
Review: This movie was off-handedly mentioned to me by a friend - I had never heard of it before. I questioned others about it, and they couldn't tell me much, even those who had seen it. I went to the video store, and the clerk had to pull it from the "archive" section... see a pattern?It's sad when a movie this intricate doesn't get longstanding notice. It did win awards and recognition, and even some notoriety, in its time, but it's certainly not discussed alongside other classics these days, and I plan do do my very little part to remedy this by simple word-of-mouth. So buy/rent this movie and see how a Depression-era dance marathon encapsulates the game of life. This is a top-notch story with great direction and acting and an interesting non-linear sequencing that will get your attention. The movie will likely depress you overall, but life doesn't guarantee a happy ending.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but...
Review: This was a very good movie, a classic, but it is slow moving and a bit depressing...not a good date movie. The performances were riveting and the story was an interesting one to be told. If you want to learn more about dance marathons, or like a good drama without a happy ending...then this one is for you.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Most Stunning Cinematic Achievments Ever
Review: To me Pollack & company perfectly realized Horace McCoy's saturnine vision. This is the most relentless, hard-knuckled, diabolically-paced piece of filmmaking ever. There is not a dishonest moment in the movie. It's also the greatest example of ensemble acting I've ever seen on screen as well. Everyone involved in the production gave every ounce of themselves and it shows. It may have finished off Gig Young. His portrayal of the "Yowzer, Yowzering" MC is the most cynical, world-weary characterization ever expressed on celluloid. It doesn't surprise me that he checked out in real life shortly after winning an Oscar for his supporting role. Jane Fonda gives the performance of her life as Gloria. She would have won an Oscar here if she hadn't recently received one for Klute. There's no use in singling out anyone else, though Suzannah York truly deserved her Oscar as well. Everyone in this movie deserved an Oscar. I would have given one to the second-grip, if there were an award for that. The soundtrack is absolutely first-rate. I owned it on vinyl, but can't find it on CD unfortunately. If anyone out there is aware of a CD release, would you please send me mail? I've never known another soundtrack that served as such perfect accompaniment to the action on screen. Sometimes it served as a great vehicle for irony (as if this film needed any more of that!). The second "Derby" sequence is a great case-in-point. As The Sailor (Red Buttons) is literally expiring from exhaustion, the band is playing "By the Sea, By the Sea, By the Beautiful Sea." The dancehall is situated on a pier above the Pacific. The metaphors come fast and furious in this movie. It rewards repeated viewings. McCoy's novel is pretty good too, along the lines of Nathaniel West's Day of the Locust. For $14, you can't make a better investment if you are any kind of film buff or just want a good kick in the emotional keister. Not for the sentimental type. About as fierce and unflinching a look into the depths of the human spirit as you are likely to come across. One of the finest movies ever.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Most Stunning Cinematic Achievments Ever
Review: To me Pollack & company perfectly realized Horace McCoy's saturnine vision. This is the most relentless, hard-knuckled, diabolically-paced piece of filmmaking ever. There is not a dishonest moment in the movie. It's also the greatest example of ensemble acting I've ever seen on screen as well. Everyone involved in the production gave every ounce of themselves and it shows. It may have finished off Gig Young. His portrayal of the "Yowzer, Yowzering" MC is the most cynical, world-weary characterization ever expressed on celluloid. It doesn't surprise me that he checked out in real life shortly after winning an Oscar for his supporting role. Jane Fonda gives the performance of her life as Gloria. She would have won an Oscar here if she hadn't recently received one for Klute. There's no use in singling out anyone else, though Suzannah York truly deserved her Oscar as well. Everyone in this movie deserved an Oscar. I would have given one to the second-grip, if there were an award for that. The soundtrack is absolutely first-rate. I owned it on vinyl, but can't find it on CD unfortunately. If anyone out there is aware of a CD release, would you please send me mail? I've never known another soundtrack that served as such perfect accompaniment to the action on screen. Sometimes it served as a great vehicle for irony (as if this film needed any more of that!). The second "Derby" sequence is a great case-in-point. As The Sailor (Red Buttons) is literally expiring from exhaustion, the band is playing "By the Sea, By the Sea, By the Beautiful Sea." The dancehall is situated on a pier above the Pacific. The metaphors come fast and furious in this movie. It rewards repeated viewings. McCoy's novel is pretty good too, along the lines of Nathaniel West's Day of the Locust. For $14, you can't make a better investment if you are any kind of film buff or just want a good kick in the emotional keister. Not for the sentimental type. About as fierce and unflinching a look into the depths of the human spirit as you are likely to come across. One of the finest movies ever.
Rating:
Summary: An important film
Review: To the "one-star" viewer who said the movie was historically inaccurate, where did you get the impression that it depicts the depression era as a "time of great prosperity"? Did you see the movie? And to the other "one-star" viewer who said we could go ahead and rate his review as "unhelpful", well yeah. You said you couldn't "pinpoint" why the movie was bad. To others, whose interest in film extends past 1990, They Shoot Horses, Don't They? is very fine film.
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