Midnight Express

Midnight Express is a 1978 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. It stars Brad Davis, Irene Miracle, Bo Hopkins, Paolo Bonacelli, Paul L. Smith, Randy Quaid, Norbert Weisser and John Hurt.

Differences Between the Book and the Movie

The hero's only fault appearing in the movie is a very occasional use of hashish. On the other hand, according to the book, Billy Hayes admits that he was a great drug consumer (his addiction became more severe during his imprisonment) and that he carried hashish through Europe on several occasions (Billy Hayes, Midnight-Express, Presse de la Cité, coll. Pocket, 1987, p. 11).

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According to the book, Billy Hayes was not raped by the Turkish warders. He has never suffered any sexual violence. On the other hand, he has a consensual homosexual relationship, with one of the prisoners. In the movie, he refused his friend prisoner's advances and remains true, against the whole world, to his fiancé, Susan.

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In the movie Billy Hayes is in Turkey with his girlfriend, whereas he's alone in the original story. Nevertheless, in the scenario, this love story between the hero and his fiancé represents a main dramatic driving force.

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Additionally, the film and book differ in their endings. According to Billy Hayes' memoir, he was moved to another prison from which he escaped by sea, during a storm. In the movie, he escapes after thwarting an attempted homosexual rape by his Turkish captor.

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