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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: X (Mature Audiences Only)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 3344429003189
Format: Anamorphic, Full Screen, NTSC
Region Code: 2
Running Time: 113 minutes
Theatrical Release Date: October 15, 1969
Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video: The first, and only, X-rated film to win a best picture Academy Award, John Schlesinger's Midnight Cowboy seems a lot less daring today (and has been reclassified as an R), but remains a fascinating time capsule of late-1960s sexual decadence in mainstream American cinema. In a career-making performance, Jon Voight plays Joe Buck, a naive Texas dishwasher who goes to the big city (New York) to make his fortune as a sexual hustler. Although enthusiastic about selling himself to rich ladies for stud services, he quickly finds it hard to make a living and eventually crashes in a seedy dump with a crippled petty thief named Ratzo Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman, doing one of his more effective 'stupid acting tricks,' with a limp and a high-pitch rasp of a voice). Schlesinger's quick-cut, semi-psychedelic style has dated severely, as has his ruthlessly cynical approach to almost everybody but the lead characters. But at its heart the movie is a sad tale of friendship between a couple of losers lost in the big city, and with an ending no studio would approve today. It's a bit like an urban Of Mice and Men, but where both guys are Lenny. --Jim Emerson
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - Depressing but powerful look into the all too human
*** spoilers ***
Joe Buck is a guy who has a little too much confidence in his sexual prowess. He decided in his optimism to make a run to New York to become a hustler for rich women. He's in for a surprise as the only people into his cowboy schtick is the homosexual underground. He quickly becomes a victim to a seedy man by the name of Rico. and in a circumstantial set of events run into each other and becomes roommates.
In and of themselves, the actions of these two towards ... Read More
Rating: - Disappointed after I finally saw it - Midnight Cowboy
What a let-down. I had never seen the orginal movie in 1969 - finally bought it and was really disappointed in the overall movie. I really didn't see what the fuss was all about. Jon Voight and especially Dustin Hoffman gave terrific performances but I thought the movie style was really odd (was probably very cool at the time) and overall was very disappointed when I finally viewed it. Watched it once, will never watch it again probably.
Rating: - Hauntingly ugly and beautiful
I heard the beautiful and haunting theme song on the radio as I had many times before and the DJ came on afterward and said it was from "Midnight Cowboy, the only x-rated film to win an academy award." Intrigued, I decided to buy the DVD, especially when I saw Dustin Hoffman was in it.
The film opens with many close-ups of John Voight's sunny face and blue skies as he heads to New York for (he believes and hopes) a bright future while experiencing images and sounds of exceedingly dark memories. ... Read More
Rating: - Midnight Cowboy gets better with age
I was a corporal in the US Army when this movie was released, and a bunch of us GIs saw it at the base theater at Fort Holabird, Maryland. There were a few scenes we weren't thrilled with, but overall we enjoyed the movie. Fast forward nearly forty years, and I can only say the movie has aged like a fine wine. Yeah, "that scene" is still a little controversial, but the acting, photography, and sound track put this movie on my top-ten list of best movies. The "behind the scenes" disc is outstanding and made ... Read More
Rating: - One of the Best Films of All Time! Too Bad About the DVD!
They sure don't make films today like they used to and this film has pretty good company having been made around the time of "Easy Rider", "2001-A Space Odyssey", "The Graduate" all great films that address social and other issues aka films of great depth that transcend the ages. This film is sometimes funny, certainly shocking but for me very moving and touching. This film is about people and how they use and are used by others ultimately causing them to become and to live the way that they do. Some may say ... Read More
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