This poster for 1969’s MIdnight Cowboy  is one of the more unique pieces I have in my collection.

Midnight Cowboy is one of the most iconic movies of its era. It depicts the unlikely friendship of 2 loser hucksters in a seedy and desperate New York City – male prostitute Joe Buck, as played by Jon Voight (never better) and crippled doomed con-man Ratso Rizzo, memorably played by Dustin Hoffman. 

Famously, it is the only X-rated film to date to win the Best Picture Oscar.  John Schlesinger also took home the Best Director Oscar, and Nilsson’s memorable performance of the classic song “Everybody’s Talkin” won a Grammy.

This poster, meanwhile, is a curiosity. It was originally an Italian one-sheet (or ‘2 fogli’). However, someone has rather carefully and neatly blacked out the Italian title at the bottom with magic marker, then over-laid hand-cut plastic yellow stencils with the French title “Macadam Cowboy” (literally ‘Tarmac Cowboy’). I can only assume it was adapted for use in an independent cinema in France. But whoever did this certainly took a good deal of care and skill in the execution- it is rather beautifully done!

This very striking and unusual poster is available to buy here.