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The Electric Horseman (1979)

PG   |    |  Comedy, Drama, Romance

The Electric Horseman (1979) Poster

A rodeo star past his prime steals his company's horse and rides into the desert, with a feisty reporter accompanying him.

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6.3/10
6,986
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64 Metascore

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  • Robert Redford in The Electric Horseman (1979)
  • Robert Redford in The Electric Horseman (1979)
  • Jane Fonda and Robert Redford in The Electric Horseman (1979)
  • Jane Fonda and Robert Redford in The Electric Horseman (1979)
  • Robert Redford and Sydney Pollack in The Electric Horseman (1979)
  • Robert Redford in The Electric Horseman (1979)

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Awards

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Another 1 win.

Reviews & Commentary

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User Reviews
15 December 2004 | ejb4501
9
| Seen this movie 100 times
OK, first, to the reviewer that suggested "too much Fonda" and would have liked to see Susan St. James or Jennifer Warren in the role of Alice, you are forbidden from ever reviewing again. Fonda was perfect, and more on that later.

Second, this is not about a cowboy freeing a horse who is about to be drugged, as some reviewers have said. The horse was drugged from the beginning. Sonny noticed it, and that was a contributing factor to his subsequent actions.

This movie is about a man who strayed far from who he was, and who sought to find himself again. The horse is metaphoric: it is drugged, exploited, and broken, just like the man. So, the man attempts to find himself, as he helps the horse find itself again, so to speak. And, in the process of trying to report the story, the Fonda character attempts to find herself as well, for she has become neurotic, pill-popping, and uptight in her quest to become a star reporter. And, of course, as they travel the countryside, we find America.

Back to Fonda. Fonda's casting has always been that of the strong but flawed "career" woman, from "Barbarella", to "Klute", to "Electric Horseman". She is independent, doesn't need a man. As the tough and aggressive reporter in personal crisis, she is cast perfectly. St. James has neither the strength nor the necessary equal dose of vulnerability that Fonda can muster. This is about chemistry as well. Redford and Fonda have teamed up before, and the chemistry is proved.

So this brilliant and simple story illustrates and creatively reinforces the the idea of straying from true nature, and the need to find it again.

VERY good film.

Metacritic Reviews

Critic Reviews

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Debut as an actor in a film for Willie Nelson. Nelson also sang five songs for the film's soundtrack.

Quotes

Hallie Martin: I'm just trying to be pleasant. You get so worked up about everything.
Sonny Steele: What have I got to be worked up about? I've only got a stole horse; everybody except the Coast Guard is after me; I've got nothin' but miles of open country to cross; and now I'm...

Goofs

The white splotch on Rising Star's face reverses itself in subsequent shots when Sonny releases him near the end of the movie. The splotch moves from Rising Star's right eye to left eye and then back again.

Alternate Versions

The film's original soundtrack has been changed in different ways for its two DVD releases:

  • The Image DVD replaces Dave Grusin's beautiful "Freedom Epilogue" score music (where the horse is set free) with a reprise of "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" by Willie Nelson, originally heard during the opening credits. This actually works well, though one wonders why a piece of original score had to be changed.
  • The newer Universal release goes a step further, removing "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" from the opening credits (and in fact from the film completely) as well as "Freedom Epilogue" and replaces them both with a very inappropriate generic harmonica-driven instrumental which is meant to sound like a Willie Nelson song.

Soundtracks

Midnight Rider
(uncredited)
Written by Gregg Allman and Robert Payne
Performed by Willie Nelson

Storyline

Plot Summary

Genres

Comedy | Drama | Romance | Western

Details

Release Date:

21 December 1979

Language

English

Country of Origin

USA

Filming Locations

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$12,500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$61,801,971

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$61,801,971

User Polls

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