Agree, good call on Scarecrow! I'd also toss out My Own Private Idaho and possibly SLC Punk! if you want two "doomed buddy" movies. If you want sleazy, bizarre and outright dangerous NYC, look no further than Cruising (1980).

Tthomaslew,you're right on target about Scarecrow.
After rating Midnight Cowboy (which I didn't like long ago on first couple of viewings but now appreciate) I decided to check the board on it and came across your posts. You've an impressive grasp of movies. Alas, I could see only a page or 2 of posts you'd written.
http://vincentandmorticiasspeakeasy14846.yuku.com/directory

I'm not sure if you mean the buddy-type films, but one that I'm sure you may like that is one stars Gene Hackman and Al Pacino as buddies called "Scarecrow."
It is the closest thing to "Midnight Cowboy" ever made.

Thanks!
I'm not familiar with
Strait Time
but I will definitely look into it.

srklondie is dying to point out that the original
Pelham
uses
One Two Three
in the title, and the newer version is known as
1 2 3
.
After all, the OP asked about similar 60s and 70s movieswhy would someone mention a remake from 2009?
By the way, good recommendations. Another gritty, realistic film I like very much is
Straight Time
, also with Hoffman.

Nice to see that someone has the good taste to recognize that. I've seen the original at least 25 times. Have never seen the others. Anyone who thinks a masterpiece should be remade should be sterilized.

there where 2 remakes both terrible

Death Wish (1974) portrays NYC with a dark, gritty atmosphere.
What ever you do, DON'T FALL ASLEEP.-Nancy Thompson RIP

The funny part is I did actually look up the title (to confirm the numbers) yet still managed an error. I'll add an edit.

I'm glad. I kind of figured that you meant the original. The reason I asked you is because of the way you listed the title. In the original the numbers are spelled out and in the [ so called ] remake just numbers are used in the title. I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the number of times that I've watched the original. I do have enough fingers and toes to count the number of [ seconds ] I would waste on the remake.

I meant the original.

Which Pelham are you referring to?

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
Goat at Ruthless Reviews

Dog Day Afternoon
Marathon Man
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three*
(The first and best)
The Last Detail
*Not to be confused with The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

The late 60's was brewing with movies starting to portray a more gritty realism and subjects that were previously off limits. It absolutely exploded in the 70's after the success of MC.
Mean Streets
Cisco Pike
Dealing
Zabriskie Point
Billy Jack
Taxi Driver
Two Lane Blacktop
Panic in Needle Park
Serpico
Shaft
The Seven Ups
French Connection
The New Centurions
Joe

The Warriors.

Hardcore with George C. Scott.

Try
Panic in Needle Park
with Al Pacino and Kitty Winn for its gritty portrayal of heroin addiction and prostitution.
The film
Scarecrow
reminded me of
Midnight Cowboy
for its offbeat portrayal of an unlikely friendship between two outcasts, though it isn't as dark a film as
Midnight Cowboy
or some of the others on your list.