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Midnight Express

  • 19781978
  • RR
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
79K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,937
212
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Brad Davis in Midnight Express (1978)
Theatrical Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Play trailer1:18
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Crime
  • Drama
Billy Hayes, an American college student, is caught smuggling drugs out of Turkey and thrown into prison.Billy Hayes, an American college student, is caught smuggling drugs out of Turkey and thrown into prison.Billy Hayes, an American college student, is caught smuggling drugs out of Turkey and thrown into prison.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
79K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,937
212
  • Director
    • Alan Parker
  • Writers
    • Oliver Stone(screenplay)
    • Billy Hayes(book)
    • William Hoffer(book)
  • Stars
    • Brad Davis
    • Irene Miracle
    • Bo Hopkins
Top credits
  • Director
    • Alan Parker
  • Writers
    • Oliver Stone(screenplay)
    • Billy Hayes(book)
    • William Hoffer(book)
  • Stars
    • Brad Davis
    • Irene Miracle
    • Bo Hopkins
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 299User reviews
    • 74Critic reviews
    • 59Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 16 wins & 14 nominations total

    Videos1

    Midnight Express
    Trailer 1:18
    Midnight Express

    Photos110

    Paul L. Smith in Midnight Express (1978)
    John Hurt and Brad Davis in Midnight Express (1978)
    John Hurt and Brad Davis in Midnight Express (1978)
    Brad Davis in Midnight Express (1978)
    Brad Davis in Midnight Express (1978)
    Brad Davis in Midnight Express (1978)
    Brad Davis and Irene Miracle in Midnight Express (1978)
    Brad Davis in Midnight Express (1978)
    Brad Davis in Midnight Express (1978)
    Brad Davis in Midnight Express (1978)
    Midnight Express (1978)
    Brad Davis in Midnight Express (1978)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Brad Davis
    Brad Davis
    • Billy Hayesas Billy Hayes
    Irene Miracle
    Irene Miracle
    • Susanas Susan
    Bo Hopkins
    Bo Hopkins
    • Texas Tex
    Paolo Bonacelli
    Paolo Bonacelli
    • Rifkias Rifki
    Paul L. Smith
    Paul L. Smith
    • Hamidouas Hamidou
    • (as Paul Smith)
    Randy Quaid
    Randy Quaid
    • Jimmy Boothas Jimmy Booth
    Norbert Weisser
    Norbert Weisser
    • Erichas Erich
    John Hurt
    John Hurt
    • Maxas Max
    Mike Kellin
    Mike Kellin
    • Mr. Hayesas Mr. Hayes
    Franco Diogene
    Franco Diogene
    • Yesilas Yesil
    Michael Ensign
    Michael Ensign
    • Stanley Danielsas Stanley Daniels
    Gigi Ballista
    • Chief Judgeas Chief Judge
    Kevork Malikyan
    Kevork Malikyan
    • Prosecutoras Prosecutor
    Peter Jeffrey
    Peter Jeffrey
    • Ahmetas Ahmet
    Joe Zammit Cordina
    Joe Zammit Cordina
    • Airport Customs Officeras Airport Customs Officer
    Yashar Adem
    • Airport Police Chiefas Airport Police Chief
    Raad Rawi
    Raad Rawi
    • Airport Security Chiefas Airport Security Chief
    Tony Boyd
    • Aslanas Aslan
    • Director
      • Alan Parker
    • Writers
      • Oliver Stone(screenplay)
      • Billy Hayes(book)
      • William Hoffer(book)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Banned (and never released theatrically) in Turkey until 1992 when the private television channel HBB broadcast it.
    • Goofs
      The Turkish spoken by the Turkish characters in the film is uniformly broken. The actors are obviously not Turkish; sometimes the language is so broken it is difficult for native speakers to understand what they are saying.
    • Quotes

      [to the Turkish court]

      Billy Hayes: I just wish you could be standing where I'm standing right now and feel what that feels like; because, then, you would know something that you don't know, Mr. Prosecutor: Mercy! You would know that the concept of a society is based on the quality of that mercy; its sense of fair play; its sense of justice! But I guess that's like asking a bear to shit in a toilet.

    • Crazy credits
      The only opening titles are: Columbia Pictures presents a Casablanca FilmWorks production an Alan Parker film Midnight Express After this, the opening prologue text reads "The following is based on a true story. It began October 6, 1970 in Istanbul, Turkey."
    • Alternate versions
      Some of the VHS and Betamax copies included text before the end credits run that did not appear on the DVD and Blu-ray copies "On May 18,1978 the motion picture you have just seen was shown to an audience of world press at the Cannes Film Festival.... 43 days later the United States and Turkey entered into formal negotiations for the exchange of prisoners." This dialogue existed on HBO's showing of the movie back in 1985.
    • Connections
      Featured in I'm Healthy, I'm Alive and I'm Free (1977)
    • Soundtracks
      Istanbul Blues
      Vocals by David Castle

      Written By Oliver Stone, Billy Hayes (as William Hayes)

      Arrangement and lyrics by David Castle

      Acoustic / Electric Guitars by Patrick McClure

      Drums, Percussion: Jerry Summers

      Strings: Fritz Sonnleitner, Sid Sharp

      Bass: Rick Tierney

      Piano, Electric Piano, Clavinet: David Castle

      Published by Rick's Music, Inc./Gold Horizon Music Corp. (BMI)

      (p) 1978 Casablanca Record and FilmWorks, Inc.

      © 1978 Columbia Pictures

    User reviews299

    Review
    Top review
    Gritty, Gross and Downright Fabulous
    Midnight Express can be compared to the likes of Mississippi Burning, Schindler's List and Midnight Cowboy - people who see it love it or hate it - no in between and it inspires a great deal of conversation. I have never met anyone who has seen this film and does not carry a strong opinion of it one way or another.

    I love it. I do not consider it a depiction of Turkish life or an accurate retelling of the whole truth. In fact, the truth of the William Hays story is deeply lost in this picture. I consider Midnight Express to be a primarily fictional prison drama, bases largely on real events. The bottom line is that it is a great film.

    Politically, I am quite conservative and have a "don't do the crime if you can't do the time" attitude. I had very little sympathy for William Hays in this movie, a young American caught smuggling hash out of Turkey and imprisoned in an absolute hell-hole. Instead, I am fascinated by his adaptation to prison life, the politics among prisoners and officials, the relationship with Brad's family and lawyers and all the other aspects of the films.

    The film is very gross, quite violent and filmed in a dark, depressing. atmospheric manner. It is not for the faint of heart or anyone looking for a pleasant experience.

    If you are a Randy Quaid fan then Midnight Express is a must see. So much of Randy Quaid's fame arises from the ludicrous Vacation movies and Independence Day, his true talent is unappreciated. See this (an The Last Detail) if you are a Randy fan.

    There is a completely unnecessary and inane scene in which the lead character delivers a speech in a Turkish court - cut this scene short and you have a perfect movie.

    Midnight Express is controversial and though-provoking. I cannot guarantee that you will like it, but I can guarantee that it will make you think.

    **** out of ****
    helpful•74
    63
    • DanB-4
    • Oct 17, 1999

    FAQ3

    • What happened to Jimmy Booth?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 6, 1978 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Sony Pictures (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Maltese
      • French
      • Turkish
    • Also known as
      • 12 Uhr nachts - Midnight Express
    • Filming locations
      • Fort St. Elmo, Valletta, Malta
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Casablanca Filmworks
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,300,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $35,000,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $35,000,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 1 minute
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

    Related news

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