This harsh and rather depressing story is nevertheless a fascinating film. It's set in the Thirties and is the story of a dance marathon run by seedy master of ceremonies Gig Young in a Chicago ballroom. The torture and hardship through which people are prepared to put themselves for the $1,500 prize money form a harsh comment on the Depression era and, if director Sydney Pollack's treatment is a little heavy-handed, this is still a powerful drama. Jane Fonda, at that time best known for being Barbarella, has some heartrending moments as one of the contestants, and was rightly nominated for an Oscar. But, cast completely against type, it was Young who won the statuette for Best Supporting Actor. Strong support comes from a cast that includes Michael Sarrazin, Susannah York, Bruce Dern, Bonnie Bedelia, Red Buttons and Michael Conrad, later to win small-screen fame as the first desk sergeant in Hill Street Blues.

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