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. 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. He has also written a books about his ordeal and has written and performs in a. The group started in the early 1980s with dennis condrey and randy rose and originally norvell austin. If you wonder why midnight express isnt gayer than it is, why it isnt as gay as the true story its based on, thats explained in the extra material on the 30th anniversary edition dvd and in. Midnight express is a very gritty 1978 alan parker film based on the true story.
It starred brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, paolo bonacelli, paul l. Rating director alan parker screenplay oliver stone book. Hayes, an american student on vacation in turkey, had been apprehended at the istanbul airport on october 6, 1970, trying to smuggle 2. Premier at santa barbara film festival norbert weisser reunited at the santa barbara film festival 2016 with his friends from his first motion picture, midnight express. Norbert and several other actors, along with friends and family of the late sam shephard got together on the evening of october 2 to pay tribute to this fine actor and pulitzer prize winning playwright. You may be looking for the book or the soundtrack album.
Determined to make an example of him, the court hands down a lengthy sentence, forcing billy to escape via the midnight express in order to save his own life. Smith, randy quaid, norbert weisser, peter jeffrey, john hurt director. Starring brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, paolo bonacelli, paul smith, randy quaid, norbert weisser, john hurt, mike kellin, franco diogene, michael ensign, gigi ballista mpaa rating r. Norbert weisser born july 9, 1946 is a german actor, playwright, theatre director, and. Midnight express tells with a few liberties and exaggerations the horrific tale of billy hayes, condemned to four years in a hellhole of a turkish gaol for attempting to smuggle marijuana, only to hear, shortly before his scheduled release that he was to be made an example of and his sentence increased to a 30year life stretch. He became a founding member of the odyssey theatre ensemble, the provisional theatre and the padua hills playwrights festival where he originated the role of trickster with playwright murray. Billy hayes, an american college student, is caught smuggling drugs out of turkey and thrown into prison. If there is a narrative momentum in midnight express, it is a downward spiral, with billys life in the hellish prison constantly devolving amidst brutality and a judicial system that seems intent on making an example of him by never letting him go, regardless of the efforts of his family and the government all of which is left offscreen, as are any indications that billys punishment might have been a result of the. Brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, paolo bonacelli, paul l.
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. Midnight express is a 1978 american film directed by alan parker and produced by david puttnam. It is based on billy hayes 1977 nonfiction book midnight express. Oliver stone is credited for adapting the book by billy hayes, young. Almost every one of norberts roles is featured in this site on a dedicated page.
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. Billy hayes, author of the book the film was based on, has graciously allowed use of material from his website that has information on his latest books, the documentary midnight return, and his oneman show, riding the midnight express, which was recently performed at the. Overall, midnight express is a good film and a worthy entry in the prison film genre, but it breaks no new ground, nor does it probe any more deeply into the human condition than your typical thriller might. Midnight express 30th anniversary edition dvd 2008. 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. He was sentenced at first to imprisonment of three to five years, but then the turkish authorities decided to try him on a more serious charge. 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. Mary lee settle says in her book turkish reflections 1991 that the turks i saw in lawrence of arabia 1962 and midnight express 1978 were like cartoon caricatures, compared to the people i had known, and lived among, for three of the happiest years of my life. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Brad davis irene miracle bo hopkins paolo bonacelli paul l. Aug 01, 2011 midnight express is a 1978 american film directed by alan parker and produced by david puttnam.
Synopsis 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 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. Norbert plays erich who is being held in a turkish prison for drug possession. Midnight express bilingual 30th anniversary edition. Midnight express, 30th anniversary edition if you wonder why midnight express isnt gayer than it is, why it isnt as gay as the true story its based.
Smith, randy quaid, mike kellin, bo hopkins, and john. Its in the sony collectors series, which are the ones that are supposed to be deemed relevant as classics. 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. He lives in venice, california, and has worked in theater, television and film for over 40 years. Midnight return is the story of the making of the academy award winning film midnight express, and the films profound effect on turkey. Brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, paolo bonacelli, paul smith, randy quaid, norbert weisser, john hurt, alan parker, david puttnam. Midnight express has a vey adult theme and some scenes are shocking to watch, with the nasty prison guard taking out horrific acts of violence on the convicted. It is based on billy hayess 1977 book and was adapted into the screenplay by oliver stone.
This movie is based loosely on billy hayes book midnight express about his five year experience in the turkish prison system. Full presentations of many of his features are presented on this site with images and story synopsis. Midnight express is a very gritty 1978 alan parker film based on the true story of billy hayes who was imprisoned in turkey. It is based on billy hayes 1977 book midnight express and was adapted into the screenplay by oliver stone. However movie deviates especially in the portrayal of turks from the book to a level to be criticized by many including billy hayes himself. Two years later came midnight express, based on his book, starring. Norbert weisser born july 9, 1946 is a german actor, playwright, theatre director, and producer based in venice, california, he is a founding member of odyssey theater ensemble, the provisional theater, and the padua playwrights festival. Midnight express 1978 in 1977 billy hayes, with the assistance of william hoffer, wrote a bestselling account of his arrest and imprisonment in a turkish prison entitled midnight express. This is the official fansite for the incredibly versatile and talented actor norbert weisser. 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. John hurt a hard doper and norbert weisser playing the obligatory gay. 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. Midnight express 1978 cinema sight by wesley lovell.
Premier at santa barbara film festival norbert weisser recently reunited at the santa barbara film festival with his friends from his first motion picture, midnight express. Alliance giorgio moroder midnight express original soundtrack release date. Midnight express quotes, movie quotes movie quotes. Midnight express is a sordid and ostensibly true story about a young american. With brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, paolo bonacelli. Billy hayes brad davis is an american tourist visiting turkey with his girlfriend susan irene miracle when hes caught by customs officials trying to smuggle a large amount of hashish out of the country. Based in venice, california, he is a founding member of odyssey theater ensemble, the provisional theater, and the padua playwrights festival. And, whatever controversy it engendered at its release has blown aside, as the truth about the deplorable conditions of most prisons. Shop midnight express 30th anniversary edition dvd 2008. Billy hayes brad davis is an american tourist visiting turkey. Tom bower, ed harris, murray mednick, bill pullman, morgan weisser and many others read excepts from sams brilliant and insightful writings or offered up their thoughts on long friendships. Giorgio moroder midnight express original soundtrack.
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. A longtime collaborator of murray mednick, he originated the role of the trickester in the playwrights. 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. Norbert began acting in the theater in the 60s, then in films and television in the 70s. All actors brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, paolo bonacelli, paul l. Midnight express film wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. He has also written a books about his ordeal and has written and performs in a oneman show entitled riding the midnight express a journey of self discovery. Only his inner courage and the support of a fellow inmate hurt give him the strength to catch the midnight express. 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. Two years later came midnight express, based on his book, starring brad davis as a narcissistic, selfcentered hayes, and translating the story into a passion play of violence, sexuality, morality and indignation.
Mar 21, 2019 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. Despite his hopes of an early release, billy is convicted and spends years in a hellish turkish prison. It is based on billy hayes 1977 nonfiction book midnight express and was adapted into the screenplay by oliver stone. It stars brad davis, irene miracle, bo hopkins, paolo bonacelli, paul l. Midnight express is a harrowing tale of a naive american caught in a nightmare of his own making thousands of miles from his home. Smith, randy quaid, norbert weisser, peter jeffrey and john hurt hayes was a young american student sent to a turkish prison. Weisser has appeared in over 90 productions, many of them award winning. Midnight express tells with a few liberties and exaggerations the horrific tale of billy hayes, condemned to four years in a hellhole of a turkish gaol for attempting to smuggle marijuana, only to hear, shortly before his scheduled release that he was to be made an example of. The midnight express was a professional wrestling tag team of changing members, mostly under the management of jim cornette. Davis and a fellow inmate played by norbert weisser. It was directed by alan parker, starred brad davis, irene miracle, paul l.
A longtime collaborator of murray mednick, he originated the role of the trickester in the playwrights epic sevenhour coyote cycle, and has starred in. Jan 28, 2020 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. This is the official fansite for the accomplished film, television and stage actor norbert weisser. Midnight express 1978 r 2h classic movies arrested in 1970 after trying to smuggle two kilos of hash out of turkey, american student billy hayes faces a nightmare 30year jail sentence. After suffering through four years of sadistic torture and inhuman conditions, billy is about to be released when his parole is denied. Smith, randy quaid, norbert weisser, john hurt, mike kellin. Midnight express 1978 norbert weisser as erich imdb. Norbert weisser born july 9, 1946 is a german actor, playwright, theatre director, and producer. Midnight express 1978 vm18 2h international movies arrested in 1970 after trying to smuggle two kilos of hash out of turkey, american student billy hayes faces a nightmare 30year jail sentence. Oliver stone adaptation of book by billy hayes lead actors. Midnight express film culture wikia fandom powered by wikia.
Smith, randy quaid, norbert weisser, john hurt, mike kellin, franco diogene, michael ensign, gigi ballista show all midnight express quotes 25 quotes more on. It was both highly acclaimed, evidenced by a standing ovation at the cannes film festival and six oscars nominations, with statues going to oliver stones. The real billy hayes was arrested by turkey in 1970, were told, and imprisoned on a charge of trying to smuggle hashish out of the country. Midnight express by alan parker alan parker, brad davis. However, he is always there, steady as a rock and well integrated with the family, but not much is said about his life. Midnight express is a 1978 americanbritish film directed by alan parker and produced by david puttnam. Smith, randy quaid, norbert weisser, peter jeffrey, john.
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