History Film / MidnightCowboy

* AFoolAndHisMoneyAreSoonParted: Joe never had or made much money, but it doesn't take long for what little he has to be taken from him in New York, whether it's by falling for Ratso's scam or paying Cass for sex (despite the fact that he initially hoped that Cass would pay him).

* HopeSpot: When Rizzo sets Joe up as a replacement male escort at a high-end agency through a BaitAndSwitch, it looks as though Joe is finally on track to make some money, until he starts groping his charge and she slaps him and has hotel security throw him out.

->''"HEY! I'm walkin' here! I'm walkin' here!"''

-->'''Ratso''': The two basic items necessary to sustain life, are sunshine and coconut milk. Didya know that? That's a fact! In Florida, they you got a terrific amount of coconut trees there. In fact, I think they even got 'em in the, eh, gas stations over there.

* JerkassHasAPoint: Even though his motive in making the point is part of his BaitAndSwith con with O'Daniel, Ratso is absolutely correct that Joe's strategy of walking up to random, well-dressed older women in the street expecting to be paid for sex is destined to go nowhere. As he remarks later on, the cowboy outfit doesn't help either.

* HopeSpot: When Rizzo sets Joe up as a replacement male escort at a high-end agency through a BaitAndSwitch, it looks as though Joe is finally on track to make some money, until he starts groping his charge and she slaps him and walks away.

* BaitAndSwitch: Ratso takes $20 from Joe to set him up with a man named O'Daniel, who (he claims) "operates the biggest stable in town". On meeting him, O'Daniel tells Joe, "I'm gonna use you. I'm gonna run you ragged." Then Joe discovers that the guy is a crazed religious fanatic who runs a street-preaching operation.

* ConMan: Ratso is a petty thief and con artist. While he manages a decent score with Joe thanks the latter's extreme trusting nature and gullibility (getting $20 - the equivalent of about $120 in 2020 money in exchange for taking Joe to see an alleged pimp who's actually just a lunatic street preacher), it's clear that he's usually not very successful at his game among people with any street sense.

** Perhaps the most notable example of Joe's gigolo career not going to plan is when ''he'' winds up giving money Cass, the older woman he finally managed to pick up off the street, rather than being paid his services.

* PottyFailure: When Ratso wets his pants on the bus, it's initially played for laughs thanks to Joe's response. It's HarsherInHindsight by the end of the bus trip, where Ratso's death makes it clear that he was dying during the bus ride and losing control of his body functions.

* BaitAndSwitch: Ratso takes $20 from Joe to set him up with a man named O'Daniel, who (he claims) "operates the biggest stable in town". On meeting him, O'Daniel tells Joe, "I'm gonna use you. I'm gonna run you ragged." Then Joe discovers that the guy runs a street-preaching operation.

* AgeLift: In the novel, Ratso is 21. Creator/DustinHoffman was a decade older when the film was made.

** Perhaps the most notable example of Joe's gigolo career not going to plan is when ''he'' winds up giving money Cass, the older woman he finally managed to pick up off the street, rather than her paying him for his services.

-->'''Shirley''': Oh, get lost will ya?
-->'''Ratso''': I agree, but for that service I charge one buck taxi fare, OK?

** He fantasizes about Crazy Annie while servicing the young man in the movie theater, suggesting that he's basically straight but willing to engage in gay sex for pay.

* PromiscuityAfterRape: Heavily implied with Joe.

* BlindLeadingTheBlind: Joe relies on Ratso's alleged street smarts to get by in New York. Unfortunately for Joe, Ratso isn't all that much more intelligent or capable than Joe himself - Ratso's delusions about wealth and success in Florida are every bit as naive as Joe's plan of making it big with rich New York City ladies. Ratso only (barely) managed to get by for a while because there was always someone even more naive to con or steal from.

* DumbBlonde: Joe's blond and not too bright.

* BigGuyLittleGuy: Ratso (5'5") and Joe Buck (6'3").