This Brilliant 55-Year-Old Drama Is The Only X-Rated Oscars Best Picture Winner
And it's one of Dustin Hoffman's best roles.
Jon Voight, who had previously only appeared in TV series and a few westerns in supporting roles, became an absolute star thanks to this work. Dustin Hoffman cemented his status as a prominent actor after Mike Nichols' The Graduate thanks to this role. The film achieved impressive commercial success despite an X rating imposed by a commission.
However, this rating did not prevent the film from being nominated for seven Oscars, and winning three important ones: Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. It became the first and only X-rated movie to win in the Best Picture nomination.
And this movie is John Schlesinger's Midnight Cowboy, his magnum opus – none of Schlesinger's subsequent projects in Hollywood or England were as successful as this one.
Little did Briton John Schlesinger know that his American film debut would become one of the most important films of the 1960s, alongside such symbols of New Hollywood as The Graduate and Easy Rider.
What Is Midnight Cowboy About?
The main character of the movie is a naive and self-confident Texan, Joe Buck. He is handsome, dresses like a cowboy and wants to leave his native Texas for New York City. He wants to sell his body there, because he believes that there are many rich ladies who are willing to pay for his services. He goes to New York with only a small amount of money in his pocket and a radio in his hand.
But things do not go well for him, and soon the homeless, seriously ill Rizzo convinces Joe that he needs a manager. Joe and Rizzo become real friends – they want to make a lot of money and go to Florida.
Even If You Haven't Seen Midnight Cowboy, You've Probably Seen This Scene
Midnight Cowboy is most remembered for its brilliant improvisation. While filming a dialogue on a busy street, a random taxi driver drove right into the frame at a red light. Dustin Hoffman kept his cool and took out his anger on the driver without breaking character.
Thus was born the brilliant episode and the catchphrase: "I'm walking here!" It was later parodied and quoted in more than one movie, including the romantic comedy Miss Congeniality with Sandra Bullock.