This film screened on Saturday 10th June 2017.

Famously the only X-rated film to win the Oscar for Best Picture, in Midnight Cowboy Hoffman plays ‘Ratso’ Rizzo, a small-time New York conman who falls in with Texan Joe Buck (Jon Voight). Joe has come to the city with misguided dreams of becoming a high-end prostitute. After a disastrous start, he reluctantly allows Ratso to become his manager, although he proves no better in the industry than Joe. Despite this, a genuine friendship develops.

Mike Nichols was horrified that Hoffman chose to follow The Graduate with this role, but Hoffman received his second Oscar nomination for his performance.

(Notes by Kevin Coyne.)

Screening as part of our Dustin Hoffman Retrospective – June 10th-25th.