| Midnight Express | |
|---|---|
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Original_poster_for_Midnight_Express,_1978.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Alan Parker |
| Screenplay by | Oliver Stone |
| Based on | Midnight Express by Billy Hayes William Hoffer |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Michael Seresin |
| Edited by | Gerry Hambling |
| Music by | Giorgio Moroder |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release dates |
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Running time | 121 minutes |
| Countries | |
| Languages |
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| Budget | $2.3 million[2] |
| Box office | $35 million[2] |
Midnight Express is a 1978 prison drama film directed by Alan Parker and adapted by Oliver Stone from Billy Hayes's 1977 memoir of the same name. The film centers on Hayes (played by Brad Davis), a young American student, who is sent to a Turkish prison for trying to smuggle hashish out of the country. The film's title is prison slang for his escape attempt. The cast also features Irene Miracle, John Hurt, Bo Hopkins, Paul L. Smith and Randy Quaid.
Upon release, Midnight Express received generally positive reviews from critics. Many praised Davis's performance as well as the cast, the writing, the direction, and the musical score by Giorgio Moroder. Hayes and others criticized the film for portraying the Turkish prison men as violent and villainous and for deviating too much from the source material.[3][4]
The film was nominated for Best Picture and Best Director for Parker at the 51st Academy Awards in 1979, and won Best Adapted Screenplay for Stone and Best Original Score for Moroder. It also won six Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture – Drama and BAFTA Awards for Best Direction, Best Editing and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (for Hurt).
- ^ a b "Midnight Express (1978)". Archived from the original on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ a b "Midnight Express (1978)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ^ Smith, Helena (16 December 2004). "Stone sorry for Midnight Express". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
- ^ Flinn, John (9 January 2004). "The real Billy Hayes regrets 'Midnight Express' cast all Turks in a bad light". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.