Two hours dancing then a ten minute break. Over and over and over again in excess of a 1,000 consecutive hours. That’s 40 to 50 days.
Hey, nobody forces them right? Just like nobody forces thousands of working class men and women to volunteer to serve in the Army when being “warriors” are the only decent “jobs” in town.
This is capitalism at its most creative: turning human misery for some into entertainment for others. The folks in the stands actually throw pennies out to the contestants they like. Or companies “sponser” them.
Lots of folks entered because they were fed. Of course, even when you were eating you had to be dancing. But: You can’t have the circus without bread, right?
Here’s a more in depth snapshot of them:
historylink.org/index.cfm?Di … le_id=5534
These marathons were eventually outlawed. But maybe if the economy today really does collapse, they’ll make a comeback:
sfgate.com/news/article/Oakl … 726865.php
IMDb
Holds the record for the movie with the most Academy Award nominations without a nomination for Best Picture: 9.
wiki
When Sydney Pollack signed to direct the film, he approached Jane Fonda with the role of Gloria. The actress declined because she felt the script wasn’t very good, but her then-husband Roger Vadim, who saw similarities between the book and works of the French existentialists, urged her to reconsider.
THEY SHOOT HORSES DON’T THEY?
Directed by Sydney Pollack
[b]Sailor: What I mean is when you think about it, cattle ain’t got it much worse than us.
Gloria: They got it better. There’s always somebody feeding them.
Sailor: Sure. Stuffin’ 'em up good for the slaughter pen. Right down the chute and some big dumb bohunk is standing there with a sledgehammer.
Gloria: But they don’t know what’s gonna happen. That puts 'em one up on us, don’t it?
…
Rocky: Yowza! Yowza! Yowza!
…
Rocky: Tough rules but these are tough times. In the words of our great leader, Herbert Hoover, prosperity is just around the corner.
…
Robert: So why California?
Gloria: You don’t freeze while you’re starving.
…
Gloria: What’s the use of having a kid unless you got enough dough to take care of it?
Ruby: Folks can’t stop having babies 'cause they don’t got no money.
Gloria: You intend to keep it?
Ruby: I could never get…Jimmy wants the baby.
Gloria: Yeah. Why not drop another sucker into this mess.
…
Robert: You wanna sleep some?
Gloria: I’m too tired to sleep.
Robert: Sailor says you gotta go a long time, maybe 500 hours, before you can get so you can sleep while you’re still moving.
…
Rocky: You know something, Turkey, my father never made it out of the fourth grade. He knew people. But he didn’t know his ass from his elbow. You know what he was? He was a faith healer. I used to travel the circut with him. I was the one he healed. I was the shill, to set the crowd up. “Walk, my boy. When I lay my hands on you, you will walk.” You will walk. Sodden old bastard. He thought it was him they believed in, but it was me.
…
Dancer [watching men paint white lines on the floor]: What are they doing it for?
Partner: It’s not for fun. You can bet on that.
…
Rocky: We’ll have the doctors and the nurses on the floor, so no one has to worry. Now, you kids who are pros already know how this works. I’m sure the rest of you all heard about it.
…
Rocky: The derby! Ten solid minutes of rack and ruin!
…
Rocky: Oh, Nelly! There’s a pileup. There’s a pileup in the far corner!
…
Rocky: …these wonderful folks deserve your cheers because each one of them is fighting down pain, exhaustion, weariness, struggling to keep going, battling to win, and isn’t that the American way?!
…
Rocky: No, it isn’t a contest. It’s a show.
…
Rocky: Do you think our customers are laying out two bits a throw just to watch you poke your head up into the sunlight? Or Alice look like she just stepped out of a beauty parlor? They don’t give a damned who wins…they just want to see a little misery out there so they can maybe feel a little better.
…
James: I just hope it was worth it to ya.
Ruby: We need the money.
…
Nurse: Can I get you something for your feet?
Gloria: How about a saw.
…
Alice: Someone screamed.
Rocky: That was you, Alice.
…
Gloria: What are you going to to do, put us in cages and let them throw peanuts at us.
Rocky: Now, all kidding aside.
Gloria: Who’s kidding?
…
Rocky: I may not know a winner when I see one, but I sure as hell can spot a loser.
…
Robert: [standing outside looking at the ocean] I used to love to look at he ocean, walk by it, just sit and listen to it. Now I don’t care if I ever see it again.
Gloria: That, or anything else.
Robert: What are you gonna do know? Try in the movies again?
Gloria: No. I’d never make it. And maybe it wouldn’t make no difference, even if I did. Maybe it’s just the whole damn world is like central casting: They got it all rigged before you ever show up.
Robert: I know what you mean. I know just what you mean.
Gloria: Do you?
Robert: What are you gonna do?
Gloria: I’m gonna get off this merry-go-round. I’m so sick of all sticky things.
Robert: What thing?
Gloria: Life. And don’t give me no sunshine lectures!
Robert: I wasn’t going to.
Gloria: Then what were you looking at me that way for?
Robert: I wasn’t. I was just tryin to see you face.
Gloria: Well keep looking. And stick around for the end.
[She takes out a gun and tries to shoot herself but is not able to do it]
Gloria: Help me! Oh please, please!
Robert: [He takes the gun] Tell me when.
Gloria: I’m ready.
Robert: [He holds the gun to her temple] Now?
Gloria: Now.
[He shoots her]
…
Policeman: Why’d you do it, kid?
Robert: Because she asked me to.
Policeman: Obliging bastard. Is that the only reason you got, kid?
Robert: They shoot horses, don’t they?
…
Rocky: Yowsa! Yowsa! Yowsa! Here they are again, folks! These wonderful, wonderful kids! Still struggling! Still hoping! As the clock of fate ticks away, the dance of destiny continues! The marathon goes on, and on, and on! HOW LONG CAN THEY LAST?![/b]