The opening scene when he's walking out of the diner through the town, with Nilsson's 'Everybody's Talkin' is, IMHO, the best movie opening/credit/musical sequence in movie history. I love the song, it just fit in with the whole mood/tone of the film so well, carefree, wistful...just perfect. Anyone else feel the same?
shareCompletely agree with you! I watched it not long ago and I really felt that. So perfect and set the tone for the movie. This era of film is my favorite (late 60's-70's), and this scene got it so right.
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Maybe not in my book, but it truly is a great, memorable sequence.
Living in the sixth dimension. Things get rough.
I agree that it is a fantastic marriage of music, tone and script to open a film, but I don't have it quite at the top. I put "Manhattan" and "Shaft" one, two.
shareThe real opening scene to MIDNIGHT COWBOY is a completely white screen with sounds of horses in the background. Then the camera pulls back and we see a Drive-In movie screen in the day-time. At the same time, we hear someone singing a cowboy song. The next scene is Joe Buck singing the cowboy song while taking a shower. That opens the film to the fact that we are seeing someone who thinks he is a cowboy and has dreams of making it big in New York City.
sharelove the song, it just fit in with the whole mood/tone of the film so well, carefree, wistful...just perfect.
Another thing worth mentioning is that when we first see Joe Buck in the movie, he is taking a shower and singing the cowboy tune. In fact, the bar of soap falls to the ground and Joe picks it up. That in itself is not really a big deal. However, I wonder if that is a precurser to the fact that Joe's life is about to spiral down-hill.
shareHell yes it's the best opening scene ever! Sheeee-it! Yippy-tee-i-aye boy!
Always go to other peoples' funerals. Otherwise, they won't come to yours. - Yogi Berra
When I was in a film class in college years ago, the instructor showed us the opening of Midnight Cowboy one day as an example when he was lecturing about the power of a a good opening. I remember he said, "Now how could you not want to keep watching to learn more about this Joe Buck character?" I had already seen the movie, but I totally agreed and still do.
shareIt's just perfect, isn't it? Watched the Nilsson doc on pbs mostly just because the song constantly being played reminded me of the movie.
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