Midnight express dvd, 1998, 20th anniversary edition. Survivor tells the real story behind shocking cinema classic midnight. The truth behind midnight express association for diplomatic. Based on a true story, midnight express was a boxoffice hit which won wide acclaim for the performances of brad davis and john hurt. Billy hayes spent 30 years of his life trying to deal with the repercussions of the movie midnight express. In an interview with the san francisco chronicle, published on january 10, 2004, hayes stated that he feels awful that the film gave a brutal reputation to the entire nation of turkey, and that it also bothers him that it depicts all turks as monsters. Directed by alan parker, this movie shows the horrors of being thrown in a foreign prison. Although the movie is based on a true story, it has been indicated by billy hayes twenty years after its release, that what is presented in the movie is a very. The character of billy hayes in the film was passive, much more of victim.
Two years later came midnight express, based on his book, starring brad davis as a narcissistic, selfcentered hayes, and translating the story into a passion play of violence, sexuality, morality and indignation. Survivor tells the real story behind shocking cinema. When hayes, only 54 days short of his promised freedom, is given a new 30year sentence. But i have since come to be disappointed in oliver stones hyperdramatizations, made on the basis of creative license, what with the jfk movie compared to abc newspeter jennings beyond conspiracy and really having a hard time enjoying. Midnight express is a sordid and ostensibly true story about a young american busted in 1970 for smuggling hash in turkey and his subsequent harsh imprisonment and later escape. It was one of alan parkers greatest movies a gutwrenching prison epic with an oliver stone script and pounding giorgio moroder music.
The real billy, in prison for the five years, was a very wily character. After his escape four years later, he told his story in the bestselling book midnight express, which oliver stone and alan parker turned into an oscarwinning film starring brad davis as hayes. Midnight express dvd, 2008, 30th anniversary edition the true story of billy hayes, an american college student who is caught smuggling drugs out of turkey and thrown into prison. With brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, paolo bonacelli. The true story of billy hayes, an american college student who is caught smuggling drugs out of turkey and thrown into prison. Brad davis now deceased, gave a memorable performance as did william hurt and dennis quaid. But according to the man who lived through the real story of midnight express, the true story behind it is even more sensational.
Billy, now 63, was caught smuggling hash out of istanbul to the us in 1970 and thrown in a hellish jail. If they read my book, midnight express, its something else. Midnight express 1978 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Other articles where midnight express is discussed. The film midnight express did lasting damage to turkeys reputation. Midnight express is a seventies classicit was nominated for six academy awards and won two, and its soundtrack produced a top 40 hit, giorgio moroders chase. The unbelievable true story of the worlds most infamous. The 1978 movie midnight express, based on a book by billy hayes. From the moment it stunned the world at the cannes film festival in 1978, midnight express cemented its place in film history as an artistic and financial after his ingenious escape from a turkish prison.
Directed by alan parker and written for the screen by oliver stone, the latter has since then been involved in many films based on a true. Midnight express is a 1978 drama that tells the true story of billy hayes, a young american who is sentenced to a turkish prison for drug smuggling and the harrowing conditions he must endure while incarcerated there. Midnight express 1998,dvd this film has been at the top of my favorites since 1978. Parker has upset the books delicate sense of balance. Midnight express 1978, produced by david puttnam, won two oscars and very quickly assumed cult status. A classic story of survival and human endurance, told with humor, honesty, and heart, it became a worldwide bestseller and the academy awardwinning blockbuster film of the same name. Midnight express is a 1978 prison neo noir drama film directed by alan parker, produced by. First, it was billed as a true story of triumph when at least four of the major plot points were not based on fact, according to accounts by hayes himself, both before and after the film was made. Midnight express dvd, 2008, 30th anniversary edition for. Midnight express hash smuggler billy hayes on his remorseful. Midnight express is a 1978 biographical film, based on the book of true accounts of billy hayes, a young american sent to a turkish prison for trying to smuggle hashish out of turkey to the us.
Billy hayes born april 3, 1947 is an american writer, actor, and film director. Stone sorry for midnight express film the guardian. Theme from midnight express instrumental by jay ess. Based on a true story of bill hayes, from the same titled book by billy hayes and william hoffer.
The crime would normally carry a sentence of four years, but officials. Directed by alan parker mississippi burning and written by oliver stone platoon the 1978 film midnight express related the purportedly true story of billy hayes played by brad davis, an. Midnight express is the type of movie that stays with you, that makes you think about the things that you have in your everyday life, and makes you cherish those things. Premiering in cannes this week, midnight return, a new film by. Brad davis the player, chariots of fire and john hurt contact, alien star in this riveting true story of a young americans nightmarish experiences in a turkish prison and his unforgettable journey to freedom. Though originally sentenced to a relatively mild four years, just two months before his release date. The movie opens with our hero william billy hayes wrapping himself up in aluminum folded hash, as he is preparing to attempt going through customs with the drugs around. The film was directed by alan parker mississippi burning and was based on a novel that was adapted for the screen by oliver stone. I loved the movie, but i wish theyd shown some good turks. Written by oliver stone and directed by alan parker, the movie starred brad davis as a young american caught in turkey in 1970. The cult film that had disastrous consequences for the turkish tourism industry.
Listening to it with eyes closed, you can imagine a frantic chasing scene. Rumoured to be have been shown, as a cautionary tale, to members of the us navy who were sailing to turkish ports, alan parkers film is one the most disturbing and. The film midnight express 1978 was based on the events experienced by american billy hayes, who was sent to a prison in turkey for trying to smuggle hash out of that country. The man behind the story of midnight express returns to the country he escaped from and offers an apology to its people. Brad davis gives an outstanding performance as billy hayes in midnight express the true story of a young american tourist who, busted for smuggling drugs, is sentenced for 30 years in a turkish gaol. The autobiography midnight express was written by billy hayes and published in 1977. Convicted drug smuggler tells the true story behind.
The hollywood writer and director oliver stone has apologised for offending turkey with his oscarwinning film midnight express, which featured powerful images of. Billy hayes and his life story were made into the 1978 movie midnight express, which told the true story of an american backpacker who was jailed for trying to sneak a few kilos of gradea hashish back into the united states. Its one of the most famous and shocking films ever made. Midnight express internet movie firearms database guns. Go catch a ride on the midnight express midnight express is a film set in 1970 istanbul based on a series of true events endured by billy hayes. Midnight express movie trailer and videos tv guide. A year later in 1978, the film version directed by alan parker and starring brad davis as billy hayes was released.
It also bothers him, he said, that midnight express depicts all turks as monsters. Written by oliver stone and directed by alan parker, the movie starred. However movie deviates especially in the portrayal of turks from the book to a level to be criticized by many including billy hayes himself. The man behind the story of midnight express returns to the country he. Longtime member dennis condrey stated that the teams name did not stem from the movie midnight express but due to the fact that they all dressed in black, drove black cars, and were out partying past midnight. Soundtrack to alan parkers 1978 columbia pictures movie midnight express starring brad davis, irene miracle, john hurt and billy hayes. Midnight express tells the gutwrenching true story of a young mans incarceration and escape from a turkish prison. Midnight express is an outrageously sensationalistic movie version of a nonfiction cautionary tale, billy hays account of his imprisonment in turkey after being convicted for drug smuggling. The term turkish prison has become synonymous with torture. Midnight express was one of my favorite movies as a young man under 12, seeing the movie over and over on hbo. Watch midnight express movie trailers, exclusive videos, interviews from the cast, movie clips and more at. The real billy hayes regrets midnight express cast all turks in a bad light.
See more ideas about midnight express, brad davis and alan parker. The sequences, written by stone, all heighten the drama significantly and add intrigue to the. Midnight express february 22 documentary reveals the true story behind the iconic film midnight express and how its real life protagonist, billy hayes became the enemy of turkey. The title was prison slang for an inmates escape attempt. The turkish government held billy hayes prisoner for five long years and oliver stone wrote an oscarwinning screenplay about hayes hellish ordeal and eventual escape, but the convicted drug smuggler thinks the eurasian nation took a bad rap from the 1978 film midnight express. Billy hayes writes about revisiting the place he was imprisoned, as chronicled in the doc midnight return. Billy hayes is an american tourist visiting turkey with his girlfriend susan irene miracle when hes caught by customs officials trying to smuggle a large amount of hashish out of the country. He is best known for his autobiographical book midnight express about his experiences in and escape from a turkish prison after being convicted of smuggling hashish. The show helps bring all that togetherand from a 67yearolds perspective. Midnight express is based on a true story and the book by the same name which is written by billy hayes, the same man that is portrayed and is the main character in the movie. Most pop culture connoisseurs know him as the tortured protagonist of midnight express, the alan parkerdirected and oliver stonescripted saga of an american tourist whos caught trying to.
Billy hayes writes about revisiting the place he was imprisoned. The real billy hayes regrets midnight express cast all. Billy hayes from midnight express on good day rochester duration. Convicted drug smuggler tells the true story behind midnight express the 1978 film made billy hayes, jailed in turkey for attempting to smuggle hash. And the very first thing about midnight express i got contact with was this music. Midnight express true story explored in new documentary. However, later versions of the team did use the films theme by giorgio moroder as their entrance music. Billy hayes, author of midnight express, which was made into a feature film, talks about his experiences in a turkish prison in the 1970s, and his upcoming book, midnight return.
84 668 1110 1561 1029 102 766 230 238 997 88 264 522 451 696 424 1240 327 581 148 1338 401 406 198 1100 1270 590 486 463 82 1322 256 530