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Best opening scene in movie history

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    Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Midnight Cowboy


    Trimac20 — 13 years ago(September 18, 2012 06:09 AM)

    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, wistfuljust perfect. Anyone else feel the same?

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      jennylola — 13 years ago(September 19, 2012 12:08 AM)

      Completely 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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        balboa76 — 13 years ago(October 07, 2012 09:33 AM)

        I'm with both of you, great opening scene. I wish they made films like this today.

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          marbleann — 13 years ago(October 31, 2012 04:24 PM)

          I agree it is one of the best opening scenes ever. I also think the movie Jackie Brown had a great opening scene, but this one beats them all.

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            SimplemindedSociety — 13 years ago(November 05, 2012 01:40 AM)

            He again is in a diner when he arrives in FL

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              IMDb User

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                DracTarashV — 13 years ago(January 11, 2013 05:35 PM)

                Maybe not in my book, but it truly is a great, memorable sequence.
                Living in the sixth dimension. Things get rough.

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                  rhondoturk — 13 years ago(January 29, 2013 09:56 PM)

                  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.

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                    wlandolfi-1 — 13 years ago(February 04, 2013 08:20 PM)

                    The 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.

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                      lcw0801 — 12 years ago(July 09, 2013 07:05 PM)

                      Shaft? Shut Your Mouth

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                        CocksureBurns — 10 years ago(May 17, 2015 08:45 AM)

                        "but I'm talkin' 'bout
                        Shaft
                        !"

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                          Edward_de_Vere — 13 years ago(February 05, 2013 04:35 PM)

                          love the song, it just fit in with the whole mood/tone of the film so well, carefree, wistfuljust perfect.
                          There's also a certain irony to it too, because Joe's life winds up anything but carefree once he's in New York.

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                            wlandolfi-1 — 13 years ago(February 08, 2013 08:21 PM)

                            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.

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                              ThereWillBeBeer — 13 years ago(March 06, 2013 11:01 AM)

                              Hell 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

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                                fentress — 12 years ago(April 22, 2013 09:52 AM)

                                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.

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                                  tbx5959 — 12 years ago(April 22, 2013 04:08 PM)

                                  It'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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                                    rrb — 12 years ago(June 23, 2013 12:37 AM)

                                    Absolutely! You're spot on in saying that scene/music perfectly captured the carefree, hopeful mood of the opening. That song takes me right back to the warm, sunny summer of '69, when I was a happy kid of 14, life was uncomplicated and the world was beautiful.

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                                      phynesse72 — 12 years ago(August 10, 2013 03:57 PM)

                                      I have re watched the opening dozens of times. Each time I catch something new.

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                                        x_imdb-385 — 12 years ago(September 06, 2013 08:38 AM)

                                        How about Apocalypse Now Redux, There Will Be Blood, Once Upon a Time in the West, The Godfather?

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                                          LionInWinter — 12 years ago(February 08, 2014 01:22 PM)

                                          It's great and all, but I can easily think of 10 better ones.

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