Midnight Express [Blu-ray] [Region Free] [2009]

Based on a true story. The authorities decide to make an example of Billy Hayes when he attempts to smuggle drugs through customs at the airport before boarding a plane and gets caught resulting in 4.5 years in a Turkish prison, which is later extended to life (30 years) after the court reviews it. A terrifying experience. Billy is imprisoned in a very run down prison controlled by sadistic guards, one in particular Hamidou. Billy has no choice and attempts to escape through the old Christian Catacombs under the prison along with 'Max the Englishman' and 'Jimmy' who is American. The idea nearly works but their escape is blocked by a bricked up wall and they have to return to the prison. Their escape route is discovered. Rifki who finds and reports their escape route is later assaulted by Billy and Billy bites his tongue out. Billy is sent to a ward for the insane where he wanders about a broken man, staring emptily into space and walking around in circles. Max has been sent there too. Billy begins to loose his mind and after a visit from his girlfriend Susan, who is shocked as his mental and physical condition, is encouraged to either escape or die. Susan shows Billy some money that is hidden in a scrap boot she gives him to help him escape. Her visit helps Billy regain his senses. Billy tries to bribe Hamidou with the money to take him to the hospital but is dragged into a room where Hamidou tries to rape him. Billy defends himself and kills Hamidou when Billy pushes him backwards so that Hamidou's head is impaled against a coat hook on the wall and literally drops down dead. Billy carries out a very daring escape changing into Hamidou's uniform, walking out of the prison and across the boarder to freedom. 'Midnight Express' is slang that means 'escape' in Turkish and has nothing to do with a train. Billy is very lucky. The ending to the film is stunning. If I could give this film ten stars I would.

Great film. DVD runs perfectly.

Saw this back in 1978 in Frankfurt when I was a trainee over there. The German title was " Zwoelf Uhr Nachts". Have seen it several times since. Excellent.

Really good film, emotional and very gritty. Up there with Shawshank..

"Midnight Express" is very well made: It's haunting, harrowing and brutal. It's in the Sony Collectors series, which are the ones that are supposed to be deemed relevant as classics. "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's a strong prison drama, intelligently made. If you like films like "The Shawshank Redemption" about escaping from prisons, then you are sure to like this. This is a true story though, so the main bulk of events actually took place in real life. The actors are fantastic in this film as well, making it all the more brilliant. The main man plays his role perfectly, showing us how Billy Hayes slowly descended into madness, from an unruly decision. It's a powerful film, every aspect of it was delivered with style and it was thought-provoking. The power of the film was derived from the horror of something that could happen in real life, as this did.

Was in excellent condition and great value for money

A cracking film based on the true story of what happened to Billy Hayes. October 1970, Billy is caught trying to smuggle some hashish out of Turkey. The film charts what happens to him over the next 5 years, and how he endures the corrupt Turkish legal system and the brutal hell of life in a Turkish prison. He eventually escapes to Greece and freedom in October 1975. The film stars Brad Davis as Billy, John Hurt as Max, the heroin addict, Randy Quaid co- stars.

This is a film that I hadn't seen for many years and I thoroughly enjoyed its grittiness and location scenes. It is about a young American,Billy Hayes played by (Brad Davis) who is caught trying to smuggle drugs out of Turkey, and the insuing nightmare of the legal system he is then caught up in. Very brutal in parts and moving in others the actors give it their all.The film does look dated but is well worth a look at.The scenes in the asylum are thought provoking. If you enjoyed One Flew Over the cuckoo's Nest then I recomend this film to you. Midnight Express (30th Anniversary Edition) [1978 ] Enjoy!

Enjoyed this dvd

The DVD came in perfect condition and plays great!

Film di Alan Parker, del 1977, basato sulla storia vera dell'americano William Hayes, che scrisse un romanzo sulla sua terribile avventura nelle carceri turche. Billy, studente universitario in vacanza ad Istanbul con la fidanzata, compra un paio di chili di hashish e prova a passare la frontiera. Arrestato all'aeroporto, viene condannato in un primo tempo, a quattro anni di reclusione per possesso di droga e poi all'ergastolo, pena poi ridotta dal giudice a trent'anni e la detenzione ingiustificatamente prolungata del protagonista prende la forma di una beffa. Oliver Stone trasse dal libro una sceneggiatura e Parker realizzò un film crudo, teso e claustrofobico, un prison movie con i carcerieri di una spietatezza non comune e l'uso di una lingua che nessuno mai traduce, ad enfatizzare l'isolamento del protagonista. in grado di dialogare solo con i suoi simili ( tra cui uno straordinario John Hurt). Potente e ancora visivamente eccellente, è uno dei migliori film di Parker. Buona la qualità audio/video del blu-ray. Da vedere? Assolutamente sì, ma in lingua originale, con sottotitoli.

Me parece una gran película y un excelente digibook

Edición con caja protectora de cartón de una película increíble sobre una cierta parte de la realidad turca de mediados de los 70,calidad de audio y vídeo excepcionales, lo único malo es que el doblaje al castellano no está completo ya que hay en escenas como peleas en las cuales cambia el idioma a inglés tanto en personajes principales como en secundarios, también se echa mucho de menos la ayuda de subtitulos cuando los guardias hablan en turco, (estas dos pequeñas "pegas" no afectan casi para nada en la calidad del entretenimiento, totalmente recomendada