MovieChat Forums > Midnight Cowboy (1969) Discussion > How long was Joe Buck in New York?

How long was Joe Buck in New York?

posted 11 years ago by Tidewatcher
7 replies | jump to latest

It seems like Joe Buck arrives in New York in late August or early September, then spends 3 weeks to a month living there with Ratso, then the snow starts to fall and it gets cold really quickly, in New York it is common to have snow flurries in the last week of September too.

But I just don't see him being there for six months like people have said before, his hair does not change much at all and Ratso only gives him a small trim to keep him spruced up and presentable looking, and Joe's body does not change much at all and his muscle would have shrunken down too much if he was there for 6 months, so it seems like the movie is set over a period of 3 weeks or maybe a month at most, not six months like others have said, thoughts and what does the book have to say about this?

[–] Darby2221 11 years ago

How long was Joe Buck in New York? Probably as long as he was in Texas, maybe 7 inches.

[–] BillHicksFan (10712) 8 years ago

LOL

[–] Guamley 11 years ago

Where have you heard that its common to have snow in NYC in The last week of Sept.? I don't recall ever seeing snow in NY before the end of Oct., and even that is rare. In fact it rarely snows here before Dec.

Edit: Out of curiosity I looked up the earliest snowfall in NYC history, and according to the National Weather service the earliest recorded snowfall in NYC is Oct. 10, 1926. I guess I missed that one.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] zensixties 11 years ago

Guamley said

Edit: Out of curiosity I looked up the earliest snowfall in NYC history, and according to the National Weather service the earliest recorded snowfall in NYC is Oct. 10, 1926. I guess I missed that one.

Check again; Oct. 10th, 1979. As far as the year in question 1969, there was a major Noreaster in February of that year, but not sure if that applies since the actual filming was in 1968.

For who would bear the whips and scorns of Hollywood... (;-p)

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

... then spends 3 weeks to a month living there with Ratso ...

You're forgetting he had his own digs for awhile before he was locked out.

I've always thought it was more like a good 3 - 4 months in New York.🐭

[–] Matthew7819 9 years ago

I think that Joe arrives in June or July, the year is not given but 1968 probably because of the ads and the way that the city looked at the time, he was probably there for a few weeks on his own after Ratso conned him and then he encounters Ratso again probably a few weeks after being kicked out of his hotel room, the book is vague too but it describes Joe as going around and finding food in cheap ways and doing various things.

I think that it was probably in early November when the snow flurries started but maybe even late November, then they get cold and suffer through this and the flurries stop which they do frequently and then pick up again (On the night of the party for example) but it warms up a little by the next morning, notice how the snow that falls that night is all gone when Joe returns to their flat the next morning after Shirley pays him, and when Joe and Townie are walking around together it is cold outside but not snowing anymore.

Probably left just before Christmas that year, probably around six months, maybe longer, they obviously avoid the New Year, although they would have made a lot of money being in Times Square on New Years Eve stealing from people, but they left seemingly before this time, Ratso would probably have been there for that if he was in town, its a pick pockets dream to have thousands of people together to steal from.