The Electric Horseman

Main Plot

"The Electric Horseman" is a romantic drama directed by Sydney Pollack, featuring a former rodeo champion who has become a corporate spokesperson. The protagonist, disillusioned with his sell-out role, decides to take a stand during a Las Vegas event by liberating a mistreated show horse. He escapes the city lights and heads into the expansive landscapes of the American West, intending to release the horse into the wild where it can live freely. Along the way, he encounters a tenacious television reporter who initially sees his story as a golden opportunity for her career. However, as they journey together, she becomes sympathetic to his cause and a romantic relationship develops between the two. The film explores themes of freedom, redemption, and the consequences of commercial exploitation. It also highlights the contrast between the artificial glamor of the entertainment industry and the natural beauty of the American wilderness. The story unfolds as a blend of adventure, romance, and social commentary, culminating in a poignant quest for personal and animal liberation.

Characters

• Robert Redford plays Sonny Steele, a former rodeo star who rescues a mistreated horse, aiming to release it into the wild, highlighting themes of freedom and redemption.
• Jane Fonda plays Hallie Martin, a television reporter who helps a former rodeo star expose mistreatment of a corporate-sponsored horse and regain his own dignity.
• Valerie Perrine plays Charlotta Steele, a television reporter who helps the protagonist expose the mistreatment of a corporate-sponsored horse.

Ending Explained

At the conclusion of Sydney Pollack's film "The Electric Horseman," the protagonist, Sonny Steele, a former rodeo star turned corporate spokesperson, completes his mission of freeing Rising Star, a valuable racehorse that had been drugged and exploited for promotional purposes. After absconding with the horse during a Las Vegas event, Sonny, played by Robert Redford, evades authorities and media, including ambitious TV reporter Hallie Martin, portrayed by Jane Fonda, who initially pursues him for a story but eventually becomes his ally. The film culminates in the remote mountains where Sonny releases Rising Star into a herd of wild horses, ensuring the animal's freedom and safety from further exploitation. This act symbolizes Sonny's own quest for redemption and liberation from his commercialized existence. As Sonny and Hallie witness the horse's successful integration into the wild, they share a moment of connection and mutual understanding, suggesting a hopeful future for both. The movie ends with Sonny deciding to remain in the mountains, finding solace in his return to nature, while Hallie returns to her life, changed by the experience.