It was quite a shock when British director John Schlesinger's portrait of the grime and slime of New York's underbelly took the Best Film Oscar because it was the first to be honoured despite having an 'X' certificate. Today its subject matter looks pretty tame, but there was no denying its shock value over 30 years ago. Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman are both brilliant as the odd couple of drifters who try to eke out a meagre living as hustlers on the streets of the Big Apple. Sylvia Miles is also memorable as one of gigolo Voight's many unsuccessful liaisons. The material, though, was so downbeat that no-one thought for a minute that it would take off as it did. Cinematographer Adam Holender wrung the last bit of atmosphere out of the locations, hitting a high spot with an absurd Andy Warholesque party scene.

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