Midnight Express
Gripping prison epic
Midnight Express is the true story of Billy Hayes, an American college student who was caught smuggling drugs out of Turkey in 1970 and thrown into prison. First released as a book in 1977, it quickly became a worldwide best-seller. The story was made into a movie in 1978, directed by Alan Parker, produced by David Puttnam and written by Oliver Stone. It went on to win two Oscars in 1979 for Best Screenplay and Best Original Score.
In more recent times, Billy has travelled round the world with a one man show Riding the Midnight Express, which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2013. He has written two sequels to his original book both published in 2013: Midnight Return (Escaping Midnight Express) and The Midnight Express Letters – from a Turkish Prison, 1970 – 1975, a collection of letters written to his friends and family from prison. In the same year, the story was made in to a ballet, which was the subject of much speculation when the lead dancer, Sergei Polunin, left the show one week before opening. In 2016, the story was the subject of a documentary, Midnight Return: The Story of Billy Hayes and Turkey.
Part of our ‘Beyond the Book’ Series. View
PODCASTS
Midnight Express: in Billy Hayes’ own words
(51 mins)
In his own words, Billy Hayes tells the story of his 1970 arrest and imprisonment for possession of hashish at the Turkish Airport. Most of us know about his harrowing experience and amazing escape to safety in Greece from the 1978 Oliver Stone film, starring Brad Davis. But, as we hear from Billy himself, that was the movie version. Now, we hear the real story.
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Interview with Billy Hayes
(47 mins)
Listen to Locked Up Abroad host Jim Clemente’s fascinating conversation with Billy Hayes, bringing you a more in depth look into his experience in Turkey and his escape from prison. We also hear about what Billy has been doing since his return and insights into his life then and now.
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Midnight Express
(50 mins)
Episode 074 of The Stinking Pause classic movie review podcast. This week Scott and Charlie take a look at Alan Parker’s ‘Midnight Express’ starring Brad Davis and John Hurt. Midnight Express discussion starts at 14mins.
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VIDEOS
Midnight Return Documentary Trailer
(2 mins)
Documentary Midnight Return: The Story of Billy Hayes and Turkey. 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 success, before becoming an indelible part of pop culture. But its lasting impact has been on Turkish people worldwide, who still condemn the film as racist and blame Billy Hayes for defaming them and their country. Despite warnings from family and friends, Billy returns to Turkey and faces a nation still haunted by the film and his own demons.
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Riding the Midnight Express
(7 mins)
Extracts from Billy Hayes’ one man show Riding the Midnight Express.
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Midnight Express Ballet Official Trailer
(2 mins)
Olivier and Evening Standard award winning dancer, director and choreographer Peter Schaufuss presents the UK Premiere of his acclaimed ballet Midnight Express, an original production based on Billy Hayes’ bestselling 1977 book.
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ARTICLES
The cult film that had disastrous consequences for the Turkish tourism industry
+Midnight Express (1978), produced by David Puttnam, won two Oscars and very quickly assumed cult status. What the filmmakers hadn’t anticipated was just how deeply they had offended the Turkish people or the disastrous consequences their film had on the country‘s tourism industry. By Geoffrey Macnab for The Independent.
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Midnight Express: Movie Locations
+With the Turkish authorities less than thrilled by the (supposedly exaggerated) portrayal of their penal system, the real location of the story, ‘Sagmalcilar Prison’ in Istanbul, was obviously out of the question. The movie was shot on the island of Malta. This article set out the details of the filming locations. From MovieLocations.com
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Sagmalcilar Prison
+Sagmalcilar Prison is now a luxury Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul. This articles shows pictures of the original structure and the new hotel. From ToutIstanbul.com.
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A Lesson in Filmmaking History
+The making of Midnight Express is available in a three-part video. This article provides a comprehensive summary and links to the three videos. By Natalie Sejean.
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Alan Parker Memoir
+A personal memoir by the director Alan Parker, written to accompany the 25th Anniversary Edition of the DVD.
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Midnight Express Ballet
+Review of the Midnight Express ballet. By Judith Mackrell for The Guardian.
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