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Casablanca Filmworks
Columbia Pictures
Not part of a collection.
Walk into the incredible true experience of Billy Hayes. And bring all the courage you can.
Billy Hayes is caught attempting to smuggle drugs out of a country. The 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".
CinemaSerf
Jun 21, 2025 · via TMDB
Hmmm. I’m not sure time has been so kind to this, and as we look on it now it comes across as a rather condescending and stereotypical judgement of a Turkish penal system that dared to deal harshly with a drug smuggler. That character “Billy” (Brad Davis) doesn’t make it through immigration as he tries to leave Istanbul with loads of hashish strapped to his torso whilst sweating nervously. Initially, he is released on bail on the basis that he helps the authorities to trace his suppliers, but he decides to pull a fast one and that just ends up with him on the wrong end of a four year prison sentence. Now there’s no denying that life in the prison is brutal and the chief guard and slightly sexually ambiguous “Hamidou” (Paul L. Smith) has clearly got it in for the attractive young American and is aided and abetted by the odious prison Quisling “Rifki” (Paolo Bonacelli) who doesn’t much care for “Billy” either. Luckily, he does manage to make a few friends, not least the ailing Briton “Max” (John Hurt) and they manage to keep him on the straight and narrow for a while, but as some stomach-churning news reaches the young man on the verge of his release, it becomes clear that if he is to get out he is going to have to resort to more drastic action. What bothered me about this whole thing is that the entire premise seemed to be squarely attempting to illicit sympathy from us for this young man, even though he is undoubtedly guilty of his crime, by creating a culture amongst the Turks of obesity, brutishness, arbitrary violence and even a degree of depravity. At no point does Alan Parker make any effort to remind us that this real-life idiot was imprisoned because of his own actions - rather arrogant and selfish ones at that, too - and that perhaps the court was indeed trying to make an example of him to deter other likeminded individuals whose contempt for Turkey was just as culpable as his. Might we in the West not react the same if someone was caught here, and have we never seen films depicting atrocities in our own prisons? I don’t like being manoeuvred into a position where I’m encouraged to sympathise for a character just because of excess and exaggeration provided for creative licence. Davis, it also has to be said, looks easy enough on the eye but his acting prowess is ropey and inconsistent throughout. Indeed it’s really only Hurt and Bonacelli who can lay claim to any dramatic plaudits as this dark and gritty drama leads us by the nose. If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime - even if you are an American!
Bazzjazz
Apr 12, 2018 · via TMDB
Midnight Express is a harrowing story based on true events. Brad Davis delivers an outstanding performance with great supporting roles from John Hurt, Randy Quaid. It was an adapted Screenplay written by Oliver Stone which won him his first Oscar. Georgia Maroda (spelling)soundtrack is really riveting as the ‘chase’ scene unfolds. This is a movie that will stay with you for life. They say that ‘Midnight Express’ did to Turkeys tourism, what ‘Jaws’ did to bathing in the sea. Highly recommended.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Brad Davis
Billy Hayes
Irene Miracle
Susan
Bo Hopkins
Tex
Paolo Bonacelli
Rifki
Paul L. Smith
Hamidou
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
Airport Customs Officer
Yashaw Adem
Airport Police Chief
Raad Rawi
Airport Security Chief
Zannino
Police Detective
Mihalis Giannatos
Court Translator
Vic Tablian
Star
Ahmed El Shenawi
Negdir
Michael Seresin
Director of Photography
David Appleby
Still Photographer
Milena Canonero
Costume Design
Alan Parker
Director
Peter Guber
Executive Producer
Alan Marshall
Producer
David Puttnam
Producer
Giorgio Moroder
Original Music Composer
Oliver Stone
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The Last Emperor
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The Stranglers - Live '78, SF
1978
Saddle Leather Law
1944
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
Trivia
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Guess the movie from a clue — tagline, plot, cast and more. Pick from four posters.
What movie experience do you prefer?
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