Midnight Cowboy (1969)

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Based on a James Leo Herlihy novel, British director John Schlesinger's first American film dramatized the small hopes, dashed dreams, and unlikely friendship of two late '60s lost souls. Dreaming of an easy life as a fantasy cowboy stud, cheerful Texas rube Joe Buck (Jon Voight) heads to New York City to be a gigolo, but he quickly discovers that hustling isn't what he thought it would be after he winds up paying his first trick (Sylvia Miles). He gets swindled by gimpy tubercular grifter Rico "Ratso" Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman) but, when Joe falls in the direst of straits, Ratso takes Joe into his condemned apartment so that they can help each other survive. Things start to look up when Joe finally lands his first legit female customer (Brenda Vaccaro) at a Warhol-esque party; Ratso's health, however, fails. Joe turns a final trick to get the money for one selfless goal: taking Ratso out of New York to his dream life in Miami. One of the first major studio films given the newly minted X rating for its then-frank portrayal of New York decadence, Midnight Cowboy was critically praised for Schlesinger's insight into American lives, with the intercut mosaic of Joe's memories and Ratso's dreams lending their characters and actions greater psychological complexity. While they may have been drawn by the seamy content (tame by current standards), the young late '60s audience responded to Joe's and Ratso's confusion amidst turbulent times and to the connection they make with each other despite their alienation from the surrounding culture. Midnight Cowboy became one of the major financial and artistic hits of 1969, winning Oscars for Best Picture (the first for an X-rated film), Best Director, and former blacklistee Waldo Salt's screenplay. Though the one-two punch of Midnight Cowboy and The Graduate (1967) proved Hoffman's range and Voight's Joe Buck made him a star, both lost Best Actor to classical cowboy John Wayne for True Grit. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide

Warning:  This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

Theatrical Feature Running Time:

113 mins

Complete Cast:

Director(s):

John Schlesinger

Writer(s):

Waldo Salt

Producer(s):

Jerome Hellman

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

R(Strong Sexual Content, Not For Children)

Categories:

Drama

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• 1998 - American Film Institute - 100 Greatest American Movies
• 1969 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Actor
• 1969 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Director
• 1969 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Picture
• 1969 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Most Promising Newcomer
• 1969 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Screenplay
• 1969 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Editing
• 1969 - Directors Guild of America - Best Director
• 1969 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - New Star of the Year - Male
• 1993 - Library of Congress - U.S. National Film Registry
• 1969 - National Society of Film Critics - Best Picture
• 1969 - National Society of Film Critics - Best Actor
• 1969 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Actor