Director John Schlesinger brought filmmaking to a new adult level with this unflinching portrait of New York street life. The film originally received an X rating when released in 1969 because of its raw language and frank approach to sexual matters - with both seeming tame by current standards. Jon Voight launched his career on his breakout film performance as Joe Buck, an affable Texas dishwasher and faux cowpoke with the impossible dream of making it as a stud-for-hire in Manhattan. Once landed, Joe's only friend is his new ''manager'' Ratso Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman), a scabrous survivor of the Big Apple's mean streets. The odd couple's efforts in the hustling game waver between amusing and pathetic, but their bond seems desperately real. Still the first, and only, X-rated film to win an Academy Award for best picture. ...
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