In the midst of the Great Depression, manipulative emcee Rocky enlists contestants for a dance marathon offering a $1,500 cash prize. Among them are a failed actress, a middle-aged sailor, a delusional blonde and a pregnant girl.

Jane Fonda
as Gloria Beatty

Michael Sarrazin
as Robert Syverton

Susannah York
as Alice LeBlanc

Gig Young
as Rocky Gravo

Red Buttons
as Sailor

Bonnie Bedelia
as Ruby Bates

Michael Conrad
as Rollo

Bruce Dern
as James Bates

Al Lewis
as Turkey

Robert Fields
as Joel
CinemaSerf
Despite the constant streams of sweat on display here, there is something physically and emotionally arid about this two hours of cinematic torture. With the depression in full swing, the down-at-heart “Gloria” (Jane Fonda) heads to California in the hope of becoming a starlet. Meantime, equally dis...