Viewers on TCMParty and Creepy Cinema are discussing the 1969 film They Shoot Horses, Don't They? ahead of a TCM airing tomorrow at 8 PM ET. Commenters highlighted the film's bleak dance‑marathon premise as a critique of modern economic pressure and the conflation of endurance with success, noting explicit parallels to reality TV. Multiple posts called out the $1,500 prize, equated to about $36,000 in 1932 money in one message, as evidence of the contestants’ exploitation. Several posts singled out performances and characters: Gig Young was compared to Richard Dawson, Hume Cronyn drew praise for his gentle romance, and the pregnant character Ruby was mentioned in comments about the marathon’s cruelty. Viewers described specific moments that stuck with them, including the siren, the contestants being allowed breaks that prolong suffering, and a scene where a character sings "The Best Things In Life Are Free" before taking her life. Some posts also noted the film’s unsettling poster and recommended the movie as a rewatch for anyone who missed it previously on TCM.
