Midnight Express

Midnight Express is a 1978 American/British/Turkish prison drama film from Columbia Pictures. It was directed by Alan Parker, starred Brad Davis, Irene Miracle, Paul L. Smith, Randy Quaid, Mike Kellin, Bo Hopkins, and John Hurt, and based on the 1977 novel of the same name by Billy Hayes and William Hoffer. It was first released to theaters on October 6, 1978 by Columbia Pictures, and released to the Betamax and VHS videocassette formats in November 1979 when Columbia launched their home media distribution unit.

Plot
In 1970, Billy Hayes (Brad Davis), an American college student, is sentenced to four years in a Turkish prison for a minor drug offense. Stoically, he endures the beatings that are his daily routine until he hears that his sentence has been revised upwards to 30 years as a lesson to other potential offenders. Realizing that he has, in fact, been sentenced to death, Hayes rallies whatever strengths he has to escape...to take the "midnight express."

Why It Rocks

 * 1) It's 100% faithful to the book.
 * 2) Brad Davis did an awesome job as Billy Hayes.
 * 3) The acting is amazing.
 * 4) Timeless score by Giorgio Moroder.
 * 5) The "Chase" music has been covered by many music composers around the world.
 * 6) The plot is just like the original book by Billy Hayes and William Hoffer, with some changes.
 * 7) Excellent cast.
 * 8) Treats people not to smuggle drugs.
 * 9) Some memorable and emotional scenes, such as when Billy meets his dad, Mr. Hayes.
 * 10) Irene Miracle also did an awesome job as Billy's girlfriend, Susan.
 * 11) Spawned some popular and iconic scenes, like the scene where Billy Hayes is with Max and the one where Billy meets his girlfriend Susan.
 * 12) Max's "Catch the midnight express." line.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) Some of the violence scenes can be graphic to some people.
 * 2) Can be offensive to some people that live in Turkey.
 * 3) Some product placements, notably Coca-Cola and Marlboro.
 * 4) The film's unnecessary longer running time (121 minutes), with loads of filler and padding.

Reception
Midnight Express got positive reviews from critics and audiences. It holds a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 7.7/10.

Trivia

 * This was one of the first films released on Betamax and VHS by Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment when that label started up in November 1979, releasing 22 of Columbia's films (like this film and Born Free) in blue/white clamshell packaging on the two formats.


 * The scene from The Lego Movie where Emmet becomes imprisoned and then his girlfriend, Lucy (a.k.a. Wyldstyle) rescues him may look like a rip-off somewhat of this film.

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