From the Bookshelf of Point Blank…

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

Horace McCoy

Start date: February 7, 2019

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What Members Thought

Jun 07, 2017 Dave rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-borrowed, crime-fiction-all, crime-fiction-pulp, 100-top-crime-fiction

"They Shoot Horses, Don't They" is such an incredible title that I knew I would eventually have to find a copy and read it. It was written in 1935 by Horace McCoy, who wrote a handful of hardboiled novels and worked on screenplays. "They Shoot Horses, Don't They" was not actually made into a movie until after McCoy's death. It came out in 1969, directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Jane Fonda and Michael Sarazin. Although fairly short as a novel and not widely read at the time it was published "They Shoot Horses, Don't They" is such an incredible title that I knew I would eventually have to find a copy and read it. It was written in 1935 by Horace McCoy, who wrote a handful of hardboiled novels and worked on screenplays. "They Shoot Horses, Don't They" was not actually made into a movie until after McCoy's death. It came out in 1969, directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Jane Fonda and Michael Sarazin. Although fairly short as a novel and not widely read at the time it was published, it is an incredibly powerful book.

It brings to mind the scene in Bonnie and Clyde where Faye Dunaway says, "Baby, I've got the blues." And, this book is about the blues. It takes place during the depression and two young kids meet on the street in Hollywood, seeking their fortune as actors, but getting nowhere fast. Gloria is from West Texas and, as crappy as life is in Hollywood without a dime to your name, it's better than living with her aunt and uncle in Texas with him making passes at her and the aunt yelling at her. She first went to Dallas and found that dull and boring and empty. California is no better. Gloria is bitter and unhappy and wishes she had the courage to end it all.

After they meet on the street in Hollywood, they join what was popular at the time: a dance marathon on the Santa Monica pier. These marathons go on for days and days and the promoters use every trick in the book to publicize them. Robert hopes maybe some producer or star might discover them. They have to dance one hour and fifty minutes to get ten minutes of rest and start all over. Every night, they also have to race around the track to entertain the crowds. It's grueling and painful, but at least they get food and maybe, just maybe, if they are the last couple standing, they can win a prize. Most of the story takes place at the dance contest and McCoy actually takes what should be a dull event and makes it interesting.

The story really isn't about dancing. It is about hopelessness and bitterness and ennui. This book was a hit in France long before it became popular in America. Gloria constantly talks about wishing she could end it all because it is all pointless. The story foreshadows the disaffection and alienation of later generations, but maybe it gives an honest portrayal of what it felt like in the depression with no money, no family, no future.

Interspersed with the dance contest narrative are scenes from Robert's trial and, since its revealed at the beginning, its no secret, he eventually gave in and helped Gloria end it all just as she always said she wanted. "They shoot horses, don't they," he explained as the police took him into custody.

This is not just another hardboiled novel. It is a powerful work of literature that captures quite extraordinarily Gloria's descent into depression and hopelessness and Robert's annoyance and later grudging understanding of her pain. ...more

27 likes · Like · see review

Dec 12, 2019 Jake rated it really liked it

Shelves: noir

First things first to any concerned animal lovers, no horses are harmed in this book. Or animals. Only people.

Secondly, this is considered one of the great works of American noir and I definitely get why. It is bleak as heck.

I don’t know Horace McCoy’s story but apparently the dude had it in for Hollywood. The only other book I’ve read of his is I Should Have Stayed Home and that was another Hollywood-is-bad tale.

This one takes on the world of exploitation of Hollywood wannabes through these exh First things first to any concerned animal lovers, no horses are harmed in this book. Or animals. Only people.

Secondly, this is considered one of the great works of American noir and I definitely get why. It is bleak as heck.

I don’t know Horace McCoy’s story but apparently the dude had it in for Hollywood. The only other book I’ve read of his is I Should Have Stayed Home and that was another Hollywood-is-bad tale.

This one takes on the world of exploitation of Hollywood wannabes through these exhausting dance marathons that apparently culled a lot of gullible actor-types, promising exposure to studio big shots.

Reading this book, I was reminded of a scene from Party Down, one of my favorite tv shows. Ryan Hanssen’s blonde character is not unlike Robert, the narrator of the book. He works for a catering company staffed with Hollywood dreamers and flameouts. At an Eyes Wide Shut themed party, he runs into a woman he once worked with. She’s doing the dehumanizing job of being a topless model carrying a box of condoms. He tries to convince her in his own upbeat way to keep the dream alive but she, stuck in this demeaning job that she has to take to make rent, has no time for his obliviousness.

The show is played for laughs but there’s nothing funny about They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? Robert’s counterpart Gloria is not just cynical but depressed, beaten down by what life has for her both before and during her time in Hollywood. Their dynamic is one of someone who knows better and another who refuses to learn. I’ve never seen the movie but I can imagine how this would have been a star making role for Jane Fonda. Gloria has seen it all, heard it all and has no time for games.

I’m not sure how I feel about the ending, even if it’s alluded to from the beginning of the novel. It made one character seem like a sacrifice and nothing more, which took some of their agency in the end. I think it’s why I prefer I Should Have Stayed Home. Still, McCoy makes his point. This earns its place as some of the best of noir tales. ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Nov 13, 2014 Paul rated it it was ok

Shelves: hard-boiled

Clearly, I'm in the minority. I made 2 attempts to read this. First time i made it to page 50-ish. Second time, page 100-ish. Just couldn't get into it. I don't think I've ever abandoned a book 100 pages in, much less one barely 160 pages in length.

It's not that it was badly written. I just thought it boring. Like watching paint dry, only not as fascinating.
I don't need to like the main characters to enjoy a book, in fact some of my favourite books have had main characters I've neither liked no ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Feb 08, 2019 Jay Gertzman rated it it was amazing

This is a novel where the state itself is the "bad guy." One indication is the pronouncement on the life of Robert, which grows larger and more disgusting as the novel proceeds. Robert is summarily sentenced to death for daring to sympathize with Gloria. Meanwhile, the derby itself, the fake marriage, the penny-anti sponsorships, the self-appointed moralists who do not like bad words while people starve by the thousands--all this is considered entertainment. The phrase "entertaining ourselves to ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 17, 2018 Tom Britz rated it it was amazing

They Shoot Horses, Don't They by Horace McCoy is a story about depression era Hollywood and what a mismatched couple do to "get by". Robert Syverten is a down on his luck wanna be movie director who haunts the studios hoping to get an inside look and an opening. On his walk home from another unsuccessful attempt he happens to meet Gloria Beatty, also a down on her luck actress. The difference between these two are Robert is hopeful and forward looking, Gloria is angry at the world and wishes she ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 05, 2021 Joshster142 rated it it was ok

Shelves: noir

This book was a major disappointment for me, it’s viewed as a classic but that certainly isn’t how I would describe it! I don’t think the main aspect of the novel has aged well as it revolves around a “dance marathon” competition. Now whether these were actually prominent in the 1930s I’m unsure but certainly the closest I’ve come to encountering a dance marathon is when consecutive Rihanna songs play on the radio! It just isn’t engaging, none of the characters are interesting and the constant r ...more

1 like · Like · see review