Midnight express is a 1978 prison drama film directed by alan parker, produced by david puttnam and written by oliver stone, based on billy hayes 1977 nonfiction book midnight express it stars brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, paolo bonacelli, paul l. Smith, irene miracle, alan parker, alan marshall, david puttnam. He is best known for his autobiographical book midnight express about his experiences in and escape from a turkish prison after being convicted of smuggling hashish. It is based on billy hayes 1977 nonfiction book midnight express. Midnight express is a 1978 american prison drama film directed by alan parker, produced by david puttnam and starring brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, paolo bonacelli, paul l. Fury scene in the film midnight express 1978 directed by alan parker. This will teach you not to have overdue library books in turkey. Smith celebrity profile check out the latest paul l. Sensational, sordid, and savagebut truetale of a young american mans brad davis incarceration in a hellish turkish prison for drug smuggling, and the frightening experiences he faces. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive. Following four hopeful competitors journeys, this documentary explores the trend of indian americans. Then, in 1978, came midnight express, a movie so harrowing that the words. Smith, randy quaid, norbert weisser, peter jeffrey, john hurt.
Midnight express 1978 united kingdomunited states director. Arrested in 1970 after trying to smuggle two kilos of hash out of turkey, american student billy hayes faces a nightmare 30year jail sentence. Midnight express is a 1978 prison neo noir drama film directed by alan parker, produced by david puttnam and written by oliver stone, based on billy hayes 1977 nonfiction book midnight express. Billy hayes, an american college student, is caught smuggling drugs out of turkey and thrown into prison. Midnight express 1977 is a classic memoir of hayes time in a turkish prison, during which he was beaten, had a mental breakdown, and saw his sentence increased from a young william hayes did not think about that, the downside was years in a turkish prison the upside is this book. Midnight express is a 1978 americanbritish prison drama film directed by alan parker, produced by david puttnam and starring brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, paolo bonacelli, paul l. Midnight express film ultimate pop culture wiki fandom. Smith, randy quaid, norbert weisser, peter jeffrey and john hurt contents. Sir alan parker, the director of midnight express will be present for the screening at fort st. Smith, randy quaid, irene miracle, john hurt, bo hopkins, brad davis, paul smith, peter jeffrey, paolo bonacelli, norbert weisser. Here was a hardhitting, ruthlessly honest account of a young americans experience of being locked up in a throwawaythekey situation miles and years from home.
Music is scored by giorgio moroder and cinematography is by michael seresin. This movie is based loosely on billy hayes book midnight express about his five year experience in the turkish prison system. Midnight express is a 1978 americanbritish film directed by alan parker and produced by david puttnam. With brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, paolo bonacelli. Giorgio moroder midnight express original soundtrack. Elmo and the streets of valletta, the film is being screened as part of the 450 anniversary since. Midnight express 1978 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Turkey had a bad press day when torture hell in istanbul headlined the premiere of alan parkers second film in 1978. Available on vinyl for first time since its original 1978 release, midnight express is the incredible giorgio moroder soundtrack that won both the oscar and golden globe award for best soundtrack when it was released. It was directed by alan parker, starred brad davis, irene miracle, paul l.
Midnight express is a seventies classicit was nominated for six academy awards and won two, and its soundtrack produced a top 40 hit, giorgio moroders chase. The film follows hayes brad daviss journey as an american student. Midnight express is a 1978 americanbritish prison drama action adventure film from columbia pictures, based on the 1977 novel of the same name by billy hayes and william hoffer. Smith, randy quaid, mike kellin, bo hopkins, and john hurt, and was adapted into the. Smith in alan parkers midnight express 1978 billy hayes being punched and kicked by prison chief hamidou.
Smith was born on june 24, 1936 in everett, massachusetts, usa as paul lawrence smith. Alliance giorgio moroder midnight express original soundtrack release date. Brad davis is billy hayes, an american caught by turkey smuggling hashish in 1970. Ba philosophy and psychology, brandeis university filmography as actor maverick 20may1994 archduke desert kickboxer may1992 ten little indians. Oliver stone adaptation of book by billy hayes lead actors. The midnight express 1978 phenomenon and the image of turkey.
It stars brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, paolo bonacelli, paul l. Midnight express is a 1978 americanbritishturkish prison drama film directed by alan parker, produced by david puttnam and starring brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, paolo bonacelli, paul l. Midnight express appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1. Smith, randy quaid, norbert weisser, peter jeffrey and john hurt. Smith had to play the role of the mean and cruel warden. Paul smith discusses the problems of working in the mexican desert while filming dune. This is the vivid and eyeopening autobiography of student dropout billy hayes, who relates his years from 197075 in the prisons of turkey, where he was.
Midnight express is a sordid and ostensibly true story about a young american busted in 1970 for smuggling hash in turkey and his subsequent harsh imprisonment and later escape. Not always easy to watch, but the overall effect is riveting and unforgettable. Like the book, the initial release of midnight express coincided with the amer ican. Midnight express billy hayes makes las vegas home las vegas. It is based on billy hayes 1977 book midnight express and was adapted into the screenplay by oliver stone. Hayes in his one man stage show riding the midnight express with billy.
On television he appeared in such established series as emergency. Smith, brad davis, paul smith, michael ensign, michael yannatos. Midnight express is a 1978 fictionalized biographical film, based on the story of billy hayes, a young american sent to a turkish prison for trying to smuggle hashish out of turkey to the us. Smith randy quaid norbert weisser john hurt mike kellin franco diogene. It is based on billy hayes 1977 nonfiction book midnight express and was adapted into the screenplay by oliver stone. If you find the movie interesting, do yourself a favour and read the book as well. Midnight express is een controversiele amerikaanse film uit 1978 van regisseur. It is based on billy hayess 1977 book and was adapted into the screenplay. In 1977, smith moved to hollywood, making appearances in such films as 21 hours at munich 1976, midnight express 1978, as bluto in popeye 1980, and as glossu rabban in dune 1984. Alan parker directs this prison drama based on the autobiographical novel by billy hayes. Het is gebaseerd op billy hayes van 1977 nonfictie boek midnight express en werd. It is based on billy hayess 1977 book and was adapted into the screenplay by oliver stone. Smith, randy quaid, norbert weisser, peter jeffrey and john hurt hayes was a young american student sent to a turkish prison.
Brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, paolo bonacelli, paul l. Midnight express is a 1978 american film directed by alan parker and produced by david puttnam. Columbia pictures casablanca filmworks columbia tristar home video firm. Hayes was a young american student sent to a turkish prison for trying. Midnight express film wikimili, the best wikipedia reader.
Billy hayes and william hoffer booklist billy hayes and william hoffer message board. He receives a sentence of 4 years 2 months, but after political pressure to make an example, the turkish prosecutor appeals to the supreme court, and, hayes term nearly fully served, a mandatory resentencing to 30 years is. It starred brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, paolo bonacelli, paul l. Occasional soft shots materialized, and the style of photography meant that even the best images werent razorsharp. Although controversy followed it due to its portrayals of the turkish people, midnight express is today still a raw and uncompromising experience. A classic story of survival and human endurance, told with humor, honesty, and heart, it became a worldwide bestseller and the academy award. After enduring tremendous mental and physical torture, billy seeks the midnight express, his chance at escape. Smith, randy quaid, mike kellin, bo hopkins, and john hurt, and was adapted into the screenplay by oliver stone. He is sentenced to a brutal and nightmarish prison for life as an example to other potential smugglers. Midnight express tells the gutwrenching true story of a young mans incarceration and escape from a turkish prison.
Brad davis irene miracle bo hopkins paolo bonacelli paul l. Midnight express robot chicken wiki fandom powered by. Elmo and will be talking prior to the screening about the making of this film, his career as a filmmaker and cinema. Midnight express book by william hoffer thriftbooks. Midnight express is a searing examination of the depths to which man can fall but also of the tremendous inner resources that some possess in the face of extremity. Pdf the midnight express 1978 phenomenon and the image. The film was adapted from hayes book of the same name.
Opening scene has a xenophobic soundtrack of machine guns, muslim prayer cries, and synthesizer music and a glimpse of istanbul, turkey during twilight. Despite his hopes of an early release, billy is convicted and spends years in a hellish turkish prison. Irene miracle, bo hopkins, randy quaid, john hurt, paul l. Midnight express is a 1978 biographical film, based on the book of true accounts of billy hayes, a young american sent to a turkish prison for trying to smuggle hashish out of turkey to the us. Billy hayes is an american writer, actor, and film director. Based on a true story, the 1978 film midnight express stars brad davis as billy hayes, a young american who is apprehended while attempting to smuggle two kilos of hashish out of turkey in the early 1970s. Smith, randy quaid, norbert weisser, john hurt, mike kellin cinematography michael seresin production design geoffrey kirkland art direction evan hercules film editor gerry hambling. However movie deviates especially in the portrayal of turks from the book to a level to be criticized by many including billy hayes himself. Midnight express movie posters from movie poster shop. Alberto pereira performs the petition of billy hayes to the court, from the film midnight express.
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