Midnight Express

1978 "Walk into the incredible true experience of Billy Hayes. And bring all the courage you can."
7.5| 2h1m| R| en| More Info
Released: 06 October 1978 Released
Producted By: Columbia Pictures
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://alanparker.com/film/midnight-express/
Synopsis

Billy Hayes is caught attempting to smuggle drugs out of Turkey. The Turkish courts decide to make an example of him, sentencing him to more than 30 years in prison. Hayes has two opportunities for release: the appeals made by his lawyer, his family, and the American government, or the "Midnight Express".

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Reviews

Alicia I love this movie so much
Bergorks If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.
Lollivan It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
Keeley Coleman The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;
Unis Ko No spoilers in this review.I honestly liked this film and was going to give it a higher score, however when i read more about it because i was interested. I found out that most of the scenes and event are made up or exaggerated to make the film better! this face was a huge disappointment for me as i saw the film thinking that it is based on a book and true story and then finding out it was mostly made up! I mean if you want to make a film like this, make it without implying that it truly happened, rather than making half of the things up! The story of someone being in prison for a small crime doesn't need much creativity as much as creating all the harsh events and environment inside the prison.From IMDB:"The film was released a year after its source book of the same name by Billy Hayes was published, but the story told by Hayes in his book is very different from the movie. Nearly all of the villains and most dramatic events in the film, are made up."
dervis-an 1) great soundtrack 2) great actori am sorry friends, we are not ugly like that :) and we can speak turkish fluently..so if i can find the sountrack vinyl of this movie, it is enough for me.
Rahman Karasu "Midnight Express" means the way of escape from a prison. Many Turkish people dislike this movie, except I. There is no doubt Turkey was shown barbaric; in this movie, Turkish people characterised as foolish and cruel. Actually both Alan Parker and Oliver Stone agreed that the movie criticised Turkish people unfairly. Anyway I can confirm that the movie is one of the best prison- themed movie I have ever seen. Especially Paolo Bonacelli acts terrific as "Rifki." His fluent Turkish inspired me a lot despite he holds Italian passport. Also the Turkish folk themes which were sang by Asik Reyhani who is the father of the Turkish lament content songs were extraordinary. If you like and seek a prison-themed drama, do not hesitate to watch this amazing film.
Leofwine_draca As bleak as most prison dramas usually are, MIDNIGHT EXPRESS is probably one of the most harrowing of all time. The reasons for this are that a) we watch some totally appalling things go on, b) the acting is exceptional and makes us care for the characters, and c) the realism of the film means that it's easy for the viewer to think "this could happen to me...", as it wouldn't be the first time drugs have been planted on an unsuspecting holidaymaker. The prison in this film is definitely the dirtiest I've ever seen, miles away from the hi-tech surveillance compounds of Britain and America.Brad Davis has the central performance, as the film follows his teenager right from his arrest to his eventual escape (seven years later!). He's excellent, creating a believable character who goes through a realistic change as the years progress. In one scene, Davis memorably snaps and goes insane, a haunting and extremely powerful moment. Supporting him are John Hurt, who gives a memorably twitchy performance, and poor young Randy Quaid. The things that happen to Quaid will make you cringe.This is definitely an adult film in nature, containing as it does some very explicit and horrible violence. The prison guards in Turkey have a thing about whacking their batons against the soles of the feet of offenders, scenes which are nearly as difficult to watch as those in MISERY. In other graphic moments, a man has his tongue bitten and ripped out of his mouth, and a prison guard gets his just desserts when he falls against a coat hook with fatal results. For a film so depressing and harsh, it's a must to have an uplifting ending, which this thankfully has, but not before Davis has undergone all manner of ordeals. MIDNIGHT EXPRESS is a film that every potential holidaymaker should be made to watch as a warning, and will remain in your memory long after viewing.