| Photos (See all 36 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 2) |
| Brad Davis | ... | Billy Hayes | |
| Irene Miracle | ... | Susan | |
| Bo Hopkins | ... | Tex | |
| Paolo Bonacelli | ... | Rifki | |
| Paul L. Smith | ... | Hamidou (as Paul Smith) | |
| 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 (as Yashar Adem) | |
| Raad Rawi | ... | Airport Security Chief | |
| Tony Boyd | ... | Aslan | |
| Zannino | ... | Police Detective (as Zanninos Zanninou) | |
| Mihalis Giannatos | ... | Court Translator (as Michael Yannatos) | |
| Vic Tablian | ... | Star | |
| Ahmed El Shenawi | ... | Negdir | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Alan Parker | ... | Long-Haired Man at Airport (uncredited) | |
Directed by | |||
| Alan Parker | |||
Writing credits | ||
| Billy Hayes | (book) (as William Hayes) and | |
| William Hoffer | (book) | |
| Oliver Stone | (screenplay) | |
Produced by | |||
| Peter Guber | .... | executive producer | |
| Alan Marshall | .... | producer | |
| David Puttnam | .... | producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Giorgio Moroder | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Michael Seresin | |||
Film Editing by | |||
| Gerry Hambling | |||
Production Design by | |||
| Geoffrey Kirkland | |||
Art Direction by | |||
| Evan Hercules | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Milena Canonero | |||
Makeup Department | |||
| Pat Hay | .... | hair stylist | |
| Mary Hillman | .... | makeup artist | |
| Sarah Monzani | .... | hair stylist | |
| Penny Steyne | .... | makeup artist | |
Production Management | |||
| Richard Green | .... | unit manager | |
| Garth Thomas | .... | production manager | |
| Antoine Compin | .... | production manager: second unit (uncredited) | |
| Charis Horton | .... | production manager: second unit (uncredited) | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Ray Corbett | .... | first assistant director | |
| Kieron Phipps | .... | third assistant director | |
| David Wimbury | .... | second assistant director | |
Art Department | |||
| Alan Booth | .... | stand-by carpenter | |
| Karen Brookes | .... | property buyer | |
| Kenneth Clarke | .... | stand-by plasterer (as Ken Clark) | |
| Bob Hedges | .... | stand-by props | |
| John Hemmington | .... | dressing props | |
| Katharina Kubrick | .... | art department assistant | |
| Bob Lapper | .... | stagehand | |
| John Leuenberger | .... | property master | |
| Douglas Regan | .... | stand-by painter | |
| Dennis Simmonds | .... | stand-by props | |
| Bill Welch | .... | construction manager | |
Sound Department | |||
| Don Banks | .... | sound camera | |
| Rusty Coppleman | .... | dubbing editor | |
| Bill Rowe | .... | dubbing mixer | |
| Ken Weston | .... | boom operator | |
| Clive Winter | .... | sound mixer | |
Camera and Electrical Department | |||
| Beaumont Alexander | .... | clapper loader (as Beau Alexander) | |
| David Appleby | .... | still photographer | |
| Peter Bloor | .... | electrician | |
| Ray Coates | .... | electrician | |
| Nobby Cross | .... | electrician | |
| Freddy Fry | .... | camera grip | |
| Red Lawrence | .... | rigger | |
| Reg Parsons | .... | electrician | |
| Roy Rodhouse | .... | electrician | |
| John Stanier | .... | camera operator | |
| Bernard Lutic | .... | director of photography: second unit (uncredited) | |
Casting Department | |||
| Penny Perry | .... | casting: USA | |
| Patsy Pollock | .... | casting: UK | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Bobby Lavender | .... | wardrobe | |
| Yvonne Zarb Cousin | .... | wardrobe mistress (uncredited) | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Eddy Joseph | .... | assistant editor | |
| Tony Orton | .... | assistant editor | |
| Richard Taylor | .... | assistant editor | |
Other crew | |||
| Paul Cadiou | .... | assistant accountant | |
| Valerie Craig | .... | production secretary | |
| Kay Fenton | .... | continuity | |
| Brian Harris | .... | follow focus | |
| Angela Micklesburgh | .... | assistant to producer | |
| Ron Phipps | .... | production accountant | |
| Caryn Picker | .... | assistant to producer | |
| Roy Scammell | .... | fight arranger | |
| Kathy Smith | .... | production assistant (uncredited) | |
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| The Best of Youth | The Basketball Diaries | Munich | The Baader Meinhof Complex | The Battle of Algiers |
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| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Biography section | IMDb UK section |
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 ****