Great story! Excellent performances! Sydney Pollack directs all to terrific results! Gig Young as the promoter, won an oscar for Best supporting actor. In marathon dance contests,the dancers are pushed to their limits. Indeed, Susannah York, has a harrowing scene, as a dancer who went mad. It won her an oscar nomination for best supporting actress. (She lost to Goldie Hawn, for Cactus Flower) When one ponders the times of the Big Depression, one can understand the desperation that would drive the young to enter these contests. And there were always people who exploited their vulnerability. 