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Title: Midnight Express (1978)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| 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 | |
On October 6, 1970 while boarding an international flight out of Istanbul Airport, American Billy Hayes (Brad Davis) is caught attempting to smuggle two kilos of hashish out of the country, the drugs strapped to his body. He is told that he will be released if he cooperates with the authorities in identifying the person who sold him the hashish. Billy's troubles really begin when after that assistance, he makes a run for it and is recaptured. He is initially sentenced to just over four years for possession, with no time for the more harsh crime of smuggling. The prison environment is inhospitable in every sense, with a sadistic prison guard named Hamidou (Paul L. Smith) ruling the prison, he who relishes the mental and physical torture he inflicts on the prisoners for whatever reason. Told to trust no one, Billy does befriend a few of the other inmates, namely fellow American Jimmy Booth (Randy Quaid) (in for stealing two candlesticks from a mosque), a Swede named Erich (Norbert ... Written by Huggo
While this film is entertaining to watch and has its level of suspense at various points it is not a truly `true story' much of it according to the real Billy Hayes never happened and his eventual escape is very different from what is depicted in this motion picture. It also tends to demonize the nation of Turkey and presents a distorted view of its people. Is it possible to have sympathy for the main character? He was fully aware of what he was doing and knew the consequences should he be caught so sympathy is on an individual basis. You may have sympathy or may not.
A number of years ago a public service commercial narrated by actor Hal Holbrook frequently ran on Television, which told of Americans being held in foreign prisons. He spoke of one American held in a Turkish prison. Was it Billy Hayes? The commercial ends with the line `When you're busted for drugs over there you're in for the hassle of your life' That's the message this film was intended to send out irregardless if the events in it were true or fictionalized for dramatic purposes. As always purchase or rent a copy to see the uncut unedited version.