Trystan Casey
The Electric Horseman is a 1979 comedy-drama film starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. The film follows a former rodeo champion who is hired by a cereal company as its spokesperson but runs away on a $12 million horse after learning that it is being mistreated. The film also features a self-destructive alcoholic character and a reporter who is determined to get her story. With its warm-hearted romance and anti-corporate perspective, the film provides an entertaining watch. However, parents considering watching this film with their children should be aware of the mature themes it portrays, including alcoholism, drug use, and romantic scenes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Leading character | Self-destructive alcoholic |
| Other leading character | Insomnia, uses sleeping pills |
| Police chase | Cars and motorcycles crashing, flying through the air, exploding |
| Romantic scenes | Warm kissing and embracing, sex implied off-camera |
| Genre | Romantic comedy, western comedy-drama |
| Year | 1979 |
| Leading actors | Robert Redford, Jane Fonda |
| Director | Sydney Pollack |
| Music | Composed by Dave Grusin, with Willie Nelson singing five songs |
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What You'll Learn
Leading character's self-destructive alcoholism
The Electric Horseman, a 1979 comedy-drama film, features leading characters with self-destructive tendencies. Sonny Steele, played by Robert Redford, is a former rodeo champion who becomes an alcoholic, struggling with his new role as a spokesperson for a cereal company. His alcoholism is described as self-destructive, with his manager, Wendell, and assistant, Leroy, trying to keep him sober.
Sonny's alcoholism is depicted through his slurred speech, clumsiness, and overall dysfunction. He is shown to be constantly drunk, falling, and misbehaving. This reckless behaviour is a result of his unhappiness with his current situation, having traded his rodeo career for advertising. The film does portray a positive message of redemption, as Sonny eventually cleans up his act and takes a stand against the mistreated horse used for promotion.
The other leading character, Hallie Martin, portrayed by Jane Fonda, also exhibits self-destructive behaviour in the form of insomnia and reliance on sleeping pills. She is an ambitious television newscaster who is curious about Sonny's situation and eventually sympathises with his cause. Hallie's initial drive for a great story leads her to develop a meaningful relationship with Sonny and stand up for justice.
The film addresses the negative consequences of alcoholism and insomnia, highlighting the struggles of the characters and their journey towards positive change. It showcases the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption and the impact it can have on one's functionality. By depicting Sonny's self-destructive alcoholism, the film presents a cautionary tale and emphasises the importance of addressing such issues.
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Romantic kisses and embraces
The Electric Horseman is a 1979 American romantic comedy-drama film starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. The film revolves around Sonny Steele (Redford), a self-destructive alcoholic and former world-renowned rodeo cowboy who becomes the spokesperson for a breakfast cereal company. He wears a comical electric cowboy suit and rides Rising Star, a famous stallion, during sales pitches. When Sonny learns that Rising Star is being mistreated, he escapes with the horse into the desert. Hallie Martin (Fonda), an ambitious newspaper reporter, tracks Sonny and complicates his journey while also falling in love with him.
While the film contains some romantic elements, parents considering allowing their children to watch should be aware of a few scenes involving "romantic kisses and embraces." These scenes depict warm kissing and embracing between Sonny and Hallie, implying that the two lovers have had sex off-camera. The romantic content is limited to these expressions of affection, but parents may want to consider whether their children are old enough to understand and contextualize these displays of intimacy appropriately.
In one particular scene, a 20-second kiss between Sonny and Hallie was interrupted by travelling thunderstorms during production. This kiss is part of a developing relationship between the two leads, who are drawn together by their shared concern for the well-being of Rising Star and their growing attraction. While the kiss itself is not explicit, it contributes to the romantic subplot of the film and may be more meaningful for older audiences who are more familiar with such expressions of affection.
The Electric Horseman also addresses mature themes beyond romance. Alcoholism and insomnia are prominent issues faced by the leading characters, with Sonny's alcoholism causing him to slur his words, stumble, and barely function at the beginning of the film. Additionally, there is an exaggerated police chase scene involving cars, motorcycles, crashes, and explosions, although no injuries are shown. These elements, combined with the romantic kisses and embraces, suggest that the film may be more suitable for older children who can understand the narrative context and distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate behaviours.
Overall, while The Electric Horseman features romantic kisses and embraces, it also presents a range of adult themes that parents may want to consider before allowing younger children to watch. The film's depiction of self-destructive behaviour, substance abuse, and intense action sequences might be better understood and processed by more mature audiences. Parental guidance and discretion are recommended to ensure that children are not exposed to content that may be confusing, misleading, or inappropriate for their age group.
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Exaggerated police chase
The Electric Horseman is a 1979 American comedy-drama film starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. The film is about a self-destructive alcoholic, Sonny Steele, a former rodeo champion who becomes a spokesperson for a breakfast cereal. The film contains an exaggerated police chase, which may be unsuitable for children.
During the chase, cars and motorcycles crash, fly through the air, and even explode. However, no injuries are shown. This scene is one of the more action-packed moments in the film, which mostly proceeds at a "galloping pace".
The exaggerated nature of the police chase may be a cause for concern for parents considering whether to allow their children to watch The Electric Horseman. While the film does not depict any injuries or graphic content during the chase, it is important to note that it involves intense and potentially frightening imagery.
In addition to the police chase, parents may also want to consider other elements of the film that could influence their decision. The leading character's alcoholism and self-destructive behaviour, as well as the other leading character's insomnia and use of sleeping pills, are all themes that may not be suitable for younger audiences.
Overall, while The Electric Horseman is a well-regarded film with a great story and strong performances, it is important for parents to use their best judgment and consider the maturity and sensitivity of their children before allowing them to view the film.
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Insomnia and sleeping pills
The Electric Horseman features a leading character who struggles with insomnia and relies on sleeping pills. At the outset of the film, the male protagonist, Sonny Steele, is introduced as a self-destructive alcoholic who struggles with basic functions due to his excessive drinking. The female lead, on the other hand, faces sleep challenges and turns to sleeping pills for aid.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing non-restorative sleep. Those with insomnia may experience one or a combination of these symptoms, resulting in inadequate sleep that impairs daytime functioning. It can be acute, lasting for a few days or weeks, or chronic, persisting for months or even years.
Sleeping pills, also known as hypnotics or sedative-hypnotics, are a class of medications designed to induce sleep or improve sleep quality. They work by enhancing the effects of a neurotransmitter in the brain that promotes sleep. While they can be effective in the short term, they are typically recommended for short-term use due to the risk of developing tolerance and dependence.
When considering the suitability of "The Electric Horseman" for children, it is important to note that the film addresses adult themes and depicts behaviours that may not be appropriate for younger audiences. The prominent portrayal of alcohol abuse and insomnia, along with the use of sleeping pills, could be concerning for parents or caregivers.
It is worth mentioning that the film does showcase a character arc for the male protagonist, as he eventually overcomes his alcoholism and transforms into a more functional individual. However, the presence of other elements, such as romantic scenes and an intense police chase, should also be factored into the decision-making process when determining the appropriateness of the film for children.
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Mild violence
The Electric Horseman features some mild violence. The film contains an exaggerated police chase with cars and motorcycles crashing, flying through the air, and even exploding. However, no injuries are shown. The film also depicts a character who is a self-destructive alcoholic, with his alcoholism portrayed through slurred speech and difficulty functioning. Additionally, there is a scene where the mistreatment of a horse is implied, which may be upsetting for some viewers. Overall, while there is no explicit violence, the film does contain some intense action sequences and sensitive themes that parents may want to consider before allowing younger children to watch.
The film centres on Sonny Steele, a former rodeo champion who becomes a spokesperson for a cereal company. Sonny struggles with alcoholism and is often shown drunk or barely functioning due to his addiction. His manager, Wendell, and assistant, Leroy, try to keep him sober, but Sonny's performance declines, disappointing his corporate sponsors.
When Sonny learns that the $12 million horse he is promoting is being mistreated, he makes a daring escape, galloping out of a Las Vegas casino into the surrounding desert to save the horse. This triggers a high-speed chase involving cars and motorcycles, with plenty of crashes and explosions adding excitement to the scene. However, the film refrains from showing any injuries or graphic content, keeping the intensity at a mild level.
The depiction of alcoholism in the film is worth noting, as it portrays the negative consequences of substance abuse. Sonny's alcoholism is not glamorised, and his struggles are presented as a concern for his well-being. This aspect of the film could even spark important conversations about the dangers of addiction and the impact on one's life.
In summary, while The Electric Horseman does contain some mild violence and sensitive themes, it refrains from explicit depictions of injury or severe conflict. Parents can use their discretion to determine if the film is suitable for mature younger viewers, especially considering the absence of graphic content and the overall positive message of the film.
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Frequently asked questions
The Electric Horseman is a 1979 comedy-drama film starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. While the movie does not feature any explicit content, it does contain some themes and elements that may not be suitable for younger audiences. These include the depiction of self-destructive alcoholism and drug use, as well as romantic scenes and mild action sequences. Parental guidance is suggested.
The Electric Horseman is about a former rodeo champion, Sonny Steele, who becomes a spokesperson for a breakfast cereal company. He discovers that the $12 million horse he is hired to promote is being mistreated, so he escapes with the horse into the desert.
There is one exaggerated police chase with cars and motorcycles crashing, flying through the air, and even exploding. However, no injuries are shown.
Yes, there are some romantic kisses and embraces between the two lead characters, and it is implied that they have sex off-camera.
Yes, the leading character, Sonny Steele, is an alcoholic, and there are references to drug use in the film as well. Additionally, one of the other leading characters has insomnia and relies on sleeping pills.
