Happy Birthday, John Schlesinger! Born today in 1926 as John Richard Schlesinger, this English actor and film and stage director was one of the British New Wave’s most versatile directors.
Schlesinger later won an Oscar for Best Director for the 1969 American drama/buddy film 'Midnight Cowboy'. He was also later nominated for two other films.
Schlesinger's first American feature, 'Midnight Cowboy' was the first X-rated picture to win Best Picture at the 42nd Academy Awards in early April 1970.
At the time, the nudity and the frank portrait of prostitution and homosexuality in the film was shocking. Despite controversy, it was nonetheless a critical and commercial success.
At the time, the nudity and the frank portrait of prostitution and homosexuality in the film was shocking. Despite controversy, it was nonetheless a critical and commercial success.
However, it wasn't until later that 'Midnight Cowboy' was re-rated "R" by the MPAA, and in a sense it is responsible for its own new rating. Regardless, the film had introduced a grimy realism to films about street life in American cities at the close of the 1960s.
Schlesinger had been active from 1953–2003.
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