The Electric Horseman

The Electric Horseman is a 1979 American western drama film directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, and Valerie Perrine. The film was produced by Ray Stark and written by Robert Garland, with music composed by Dave Grusin and cinematography by Owen Roizman. The Electric Horseman was released by Columbia Pictures and features a cast of notable actors, including John Saxon, Nicolas Coster, and Wilford Brimley, who have appeared in various films, such as Deliverance, The Appaloosa, and The Thing, alongside Kurt Russell and T.K. Carter.

Plot

The Electric Horseman tells the story of Sonny Steele (played by Robert Redford), a former Rodeo champion who becomes a spokesperson for Amarco, a corporation that produces cereal. Steele's life takes a dramatic turn when he discovers that Amarco is using horses that are being mistreated, leading him to embark on a journey to Mexico with Hallie Martin (played by Jane Fonda), a television reporter from CBS News, to find a horse named Rising Star. Along the way, Steele and Martin encounter various characters, including Charlie (played by Valerie Perrine), a Las Vegas showgirl, and FBI agents, such as those depicted in The Silence of the Lambs, who are searching for Steele. The film features references to various events and locations, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes, as well as the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley.

Production

The Electric Horseman was produced by Ray Stark Productions and Wildwood Enterprises, with Sydney Pollack serving as the director. The film was shot on location in various places, including Nevada, Arizona, and Utah, with cinematography by Owen Roizman, who has worked on films such as The French Connection and Three Days of the Condor. The music for the film was composed by Dave Grusin, who has also worked on films like The Graduate and Tootsie, and features a mix of country music and rock music, with contributions from artists such as Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. The film's editing was handled by Sheldon Kahn, who has worked on films like The Way We Were and Absence of Malice, alongside Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman.

Cast

The Electric Horseman features a cast of notable actors, including Robert Redford as Sonny Steele, Jane Fonda as Hallie Martin, and Valerie Perrine as Charlie. The film also stars John Saxon as Wolf, Nicolas Coster as FBI Agent Tuttle, and Wilford Brimley as Gus. Other notable actors who appear in the film include T.K. Carter as Derrick, James Sikking as Dietrich, and Quinn Redeker as Bud, who have appeared in various films and television shows, such as The A-Team, Hill Street Blues, and Star Trek: The Next Generation, alongside Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes.

Release

The Electric Horseman was released on December 21, 1979, by Columbia Pictures. The film was distributed to various theaters across the United States, including those in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The film's release was accompanied by a marketing campaign that included television commercials and print advertisements in publications such as The New York Times and Variety. The film's soundtrack, which features music by Dave Grusin and Willie Nelson, was also released on vinyl record and cassette tape by Warner Bros. Records and MCA Records, alongside other notable soundtracks, such as those for The Bodyguard and Saturday Night Fever.

Reception

The Electric Horseman received mixed reviews from critics upon its release, with some praising the film's cinematography and performances, while others found the story to be predictable and lacking in depth. The film holds a rating of 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on reviews from critics such as Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel, who have also reviewed films like The Godfather and Chinatown. Despite the mixed reviews, the film has developed a cult following over the years, with many fans praising the film's unique blend of western and drama elements, as well as its commentary on issues such as animal welfare and corporate greed, which are also explored in films like The China Syndrome and Erin Brockovich, alongside Julia Roberts and Albert Finney. The film has also been recognized for its technical achievements, including its cinematography and editing, which have been compared to those of films like The Deer Hunter and Apocalypse Now, directed by Michael Cimino and Francis Ford Coppola.