They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
by Horace McCoy
I’ve seen the film adaptation They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? four times. Yes, it’s a heavy drama and difficult to watch, but I love it. Had I read the “novel” (which is practically a leaflet) first, I wouldn’t have wanted to see the movie at all.
So much in the novel was changed for the better in the film script, from start to finish. Within the first page of the book, we learn what happens in the last five minutes of the movie, killing the suspense entirely. The first-person narrator, Robert, describes his relationship with Gloria before they decide to enter the dance contest together, at her suggestion. In the movie, they meet by chance when her dance partner is disqualified during registration, and it wasn’t her idea to join the contest. Screenwriters Robert E. Thompson and James Poe wrote a better story. If the two leads already had a friendship before they were dance partners, it gives a different slant to the ending (or in the novel’s case, the beginning). A total stranger whose mind is slowly distorted due to lack of sleep and exhaustion is liable to make poor choices, choices a friend probably wouldn’t make.
Also, the characters of Sailor and Alice aren’t even in the book. The emcee has an extremely tiny part; where the film combined two characters to create Gig Young’s leading role. The main focus of the story is the seediness of the dance contest and the attraction of criminals to join the crowd for free rent, food, and anonymity. Do me a favor and stick to the movie, even though it would take you less time to read the book.
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the 1969 film adaptation here!
So much in the novel was changed for the better in the film script, from start to finish. Within the first page of the book, we learn what happens in the last five minutes of the movie, killing the suspense entirely. The first-person narrator, Robert, describes his relationship with Gloria before they decide to enter the dance contest together, at her suggestion. In the movie, they meet by chance when her dance partner is disqualified during registration, and it wasn’t her idea to join the contest. Screenwriters Robert E. Thompson and James Poe wrote a better story. If the two leads already had a friendship before they were dance partners, it gives a different slant to the ending (or in the novel’s case, the beginning). A total stranger whose mind is slowly distorted due to lack of sleep and exhaustion is liable to make poor choices, choices a friend probably wouldn’t make.
Also, the characters of Sailor and Alice aren’t even in the book. The emcee has an extremely tiny part; where the film combined two characters to create Gig Young’s leading role. The main focus of the story is the seediness of the dance contest and the attraction of criminals to join the crowd for free rent, food, and anonymity. Do me a favor and stick to the movie, even though it would take you less time to read the book.
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the 1969 film adaptation here!