Abstract
They shoot horses, don't they ? is a testimony of how far people can be controlled by poverty, and their struggle for success. The purpose of the marathon is not really to make a couple winning the 1500$, it's more to entertain the public. The public wants to see the couples fail one after another, and the more spectacular the show is, the better it is.
The dancing marathons were famous in the US at that time of economical crisis. It appears unbelievable today, but people signed up to dance for almost 1000 hours. They just had a few rest, and had to keep moving, until one couple is remained alone standing. These marathons were basically torture. But at a time when people were very poor, and basically didn't have enough money to eat, these marathons were providential, and a form of hope to have a better future.
Sydney Pollack shows how hard it was for the candidates with genius. He succeeded in catching the horror, the pain, and the tiredness in the faces of the dancers. He also captures with success the particular nature of each dancer. I was particularly impressed by the two main characters, Gloria and Robert. They are really different, but at the same time, they are going through the same difficulties, the same poverty, and then the same pain. Gloria embodies the strong woman, that doesn't need anybody. She is tough, intelligent, and independent. But she also has a dark face because she has lost all the hope, all the pleasure to live. Gloria is particularly cynical, and always keeps the reality in mind. Whereas Robert is more hopeful, he seems to be very naive, and really impressed by Gloria. Their mental state is really different, maybe that's why they were able to go so far in the marathon.
