Welcome back to At The Movies and our featured song for today – “Everybody’s Talkin’ (Echoes)”.
Written and recorded in 1966 by Fred Neil, the version I chose is the one we’re all familiar with – 1969’s rendition by Harry Nilsson. The song reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and won a Grammy Award after it was featured in the film “Midnight Cowboy”.
The movie was set in New York City and depicts the unlikely friendship between two hustlers: naïve sex worker, Joe Buck (Jon Voight) and ailing con man Enrico Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman).
This beautiful song describes the singer’s desire to retreat from the harshness of the city to a more peaceful place and an easier life. It is among the most famous works by Harry Nilsson.
Now here is “Everybody’s Talkin’.
What a great song and a beautiful arrangement. Both Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffmann were so young in those unforgettable roles. They were the epitome of the odd couple but they made it work. Another great movie with two terrific actors!
Now for the question of the day:
Dustin Hoffman’s character went by a rather unflattering nickname. What was it?
How’d you do? Did you remember his nickname? The answer is given at the bottom of the page.
Thanks for joining me At The Movies; I hope you had a great time. Catch you again next week!
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
And the answer is ….. “Ratso”.
The Elephant's Trunk 
Not seen this one, but I do remember how annoyed I was when they started using that song in a car ad here in Oz. Absolutely sacrilegious
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I hear ya, Deb! I cringe when I hear some of our great music turned into commercials. It is sacrilegious!
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I absolutely forgot all about his ‘nickname’. Well done, Nancy!
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Thanks, Misky! This is one of those epic movies that will live on despite – or perhaps because of – its X rating. And it still won an Oscar!
The simplicity and freshness of an eager country boy are ground up in the urban jungle. An excellent story that tells what happens every day. Movie making at its finest!
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By looking at the video, I can confirm that it was some great acting coupled with good music. So rare nowadays.
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Definitely worth watching if you’re lucky enough to find it, Sanjeet.
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I’m an enormous Jon Voight fan! I remember the movie but I’d forgotten Rizzo’s nickname.
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Jon Voight is one of the rare ones, as is Hoffmann. Did you watch Ray Donovan? Jon V was absolutely masterful.
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It was Rico Ratso.
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Yep Ratso Rizzo. What a great name! Poor Rico.
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I was close.
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“I’m walking here!”
This song was so perfectly matched with the movie, that it was no surprise it won a Grammy.
If the movie wasn’t rated as X, I am sure both film and soundtrack would garner more accolades.
And in the end he died a Rico…
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Did you know that famous line was ad libbed? Yep, that’s the genius of actors like Dustin Hoffmann.
Fabulous song, fabulous movie.
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No, I didn’t!
But it doesn’t surprise me from an actor of that caliber.
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Today, no one rides the bus . . .
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What an ending on that bus
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They brought food. Snacks were shared on great Greyhound and Continental Trailways buses traversing the highways. Seats were comfortable, roomy, and the windows large. The riders were on an adventure from one small town to the next or across the country. They were traveling with strangers who quickly became friends. Notice the expressions of the fellow passengers as Ratso Rizzo dies in the arms of his only friend, Joe Buck. Joe Buck was lost but not really alone. No one rides the bus anymore . . .
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And people gave a damn back then.
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Perhaps the word “empathy” meant something then.
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And no cell phones to record someone in distress as opposed to lending a hand to help.
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