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Midnight Express (1978)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
6 October 1978 (USA) moreTagline:
A story of triumph. morePlot:
Story of a man who is caught smuggling drugs out of Turkey and thrown into prison. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 12 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(18 articles)
DVD Playhouse--July 2009 (From The Hollywood Interview. 8 July 2009, 1:32 AM, PDT)
John Hurt Heads Back To Oz For New Feature Film
(From FilmInk.com.au. 31 May 2009, 8:02 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
When you're busted for drugs over there! moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Brad Davis | ... | Billy Hayes | |
| Irene Miracle | ... | Susan | |
| Bo Hopkins | ... | Tex | |
| Paolo Bonacelli | ... | Rifki | |
| Paul L. Smith | ... | Hamidou (as Paul Smith) | |
| Randy Quaid | ... | Jimmy Booth | |
| Norbert Weisser | ... | Erich | |
| John Hurt | ... | Max | |
| Mike Kellin | ... | Mr. Hayes | |
| Franco Diogene | ... | Yesil | |
| Michael Ensign | ... | Stanley Daniels | |
| Gigi Ballista | ... | Chief Judge | |
| Kevork Malikyan | ... | Prosecutor | |
| Peter Jeffrey | ... | Ahmet | |
| Joe Zammit Cordina |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
121 minColor:
Color (Eastmancolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoCertification:
Singapore:M18 (cut) | Iceland:16 | Spain:18 | Netherlands:16 | Brazil:18 | Germany:16 (re-rating) | West Germany:18 (original rating) | Portugal:M/16 | New Zealand:R16 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1996) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1999) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1978) | France:-16 | Norway:18 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (video rating) (1986) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:RFun Stuff
Trivia:
According to Alan Parker, this was the most grueling shoot of his career - 53 days with cast and crew working 6-day weeks. moreGoofs:
Anachronisms: The "fez" hat worn by several Turkish men in the movie has been extremely rare in Turkey since 1925 when it was abolish by Kemal Ataturk (the leader and founder of the Republic of Turkey) in an attempt to "westernize" the country. This was one of the reform actions of those times. moreQuotes:
[first lines][Susan makes her way through a line at an airline checkpoint]
Susan: Excuse me... Excuse me... Excuse me... Excuse me.
[she reaches Billy in line]
Susan: Nervous?
Billy Hayes: No.
Susan: Geez, I hate flying.
Billy Hayes: It's something I ate. I think I've been poisoned.
Susan: Or you're just excited about getting home.
Billy Hayes: No, I think it's the baklavas.
[...]
more
Soundtrack:
Istanbul Blues moreFAQ
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While this film is entertaining to watch and has its level of suspense at various points it is not a truly `true story' much of it according to the real Billy Hayes never happened and his eventual escape is very different from what is depicted in this motion picture. It also tends to demonize the nation of Turkey and presents a distorted view of its people. Is it possible to have sympathy for the main character? He was fully aware of what he was doing and knew the consequences should he be caught so sympathy is on an individual basis. You may have sympathy or may not.
A number of years ago a public service commercial narrated by actor Hal Holbrook frequently ran on Television, which told of Americans being held in foreign prisons. He spoke of one American held in a Turkish prison. Was it Billy Hayes? The commercial ends with the line `When you're busted for drugs over there you're in for the hassle of your life' That's the message this film was intended to send out irregardless if the events in it were true or fictionalized for dramatic purposes. As always purchase or rent a copy to see the uncut unedited version.