Midnight Cowboy (1969)
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A naive Texan and a cynical con man form an unlikely bond while navigating the harsh realities of life as hustlers in New York City.
The story
Young Texan Joe Buck leaves his life in Texas to become a male prostitute in New York City. Initially unsuccessful and struggling to find his footing in the urban landscape, he meets Rico "Ratso" Rizzo, an indigent con man with a limp. The two men, both lost and lonely, form an unlikely friendship and begin a shared life as hustlers in a squalid apartment. As they navigate the hardships of poverty and the complexities of their respective lives, their bond deepens amidst the gritty reality of the city's underbelly.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After arriving in New York City to become a male prostitute, Joe Buck finds himself struggling and eventually meets Rico "Ratso" Rizzo, a con man with a limp. The two become partners in the hustling trade, sharing a dilapidated apartment and facing extreme poverty. The narrative intercuts with flashbacks of Joe's past, including a traumatic relationship with his first girlfriend, Annie. Rico, whose health is failing due to years of labor, dreams of escaping to Florida. Their lives become increasingly desperate as they struggle to survive. After a series of increasingly desperate acts to secure money, including a violent robbery, Joe buys two bus tickets to Florida. On the journey, Rico's health deteriorates until he passes away. The film ends with Joe sitting beside his deceased friend on a bus as it travels toward Florida, his face filled with tears.
- First release year
- 1969
- Runtime (minutes)
- 113
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- John Schlesinger
- Writers
- Waldo Salt · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Dustin Hoffman · Rico "Ratso" Rizzo; Jon Voight · Joe Buck; Sylvia Miles · Cass; John McGiver · Mr. O'Daniel; Brenda Vaccaro · Shirley; Barnard Hughes · Towny; Ruth White · Sally Buck; Jennifer Salt · Annie
- Genres
- drama
- Themes
- loneliness; friendship
- Tone and mood
- gritty; bleak
- Premise and plot tags
- buddy drama; urban life
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1965 novel by James Leo Herlihy
- Reception
- Critical response to the film has been largely positive, with critics praising the performances of the lead actors and the film's portrayal of its characters.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 8.50 · scale: 10 · review count: 116; Metacritic · score: 79 · scale: 100 · review count: 16
- Awards and nominations
- Best Instrumental Theme · Grammy Award · win; Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, Male · Grammy Award · win
- Production trivia
- The film was the only X-rated film to win Best Picture.; The character Rizzo the Rat was named after the character in the film.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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