Midnight Express is 42 years old. This film was released on 6 October, 1978. It is based on a true story. However, 20 years after its release, it was revealed by Billy Hayes that this movie is a very exaggerated version of what happened to him in the prison in Istanbul.

Most of Midnight Express was filmed in Malta: Fort St.Elmo (Valletta), Malta International Airport (Luqa), Mediterranean Film Studios (Kalkara) and other Maltese locations. Some scenes were shot in Greece and Istanbul (Turkey).
The film was made for $2.3 million and grossed over $35 million worldwide.

Plot

(this is a very short version of the plot – better if you watch the film)
During a holiday in Istanbul, on 6 October 1970, an American college student is arrested by Turkish police whilst attempting to board a plane. His name is Billy Hayes and he had strapped 2kg of hashish blocks to his chest.

From there his life is a nightmare, he tried to escape a couple of times and got caught. The lead judge gives Billy only a four-year sentence for drug possession, however, this was changed and had to serve 30 years for his crime. At the end, he managed to escape from the front door after chief guard Hamidou is killed, and Billy puts on a guard’s uniform.

Awards and nominations

Midnight express was nominated for 6 Academy Awards, and won 2 of them (Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium and Best Original Score). It was also nominated for one Cannes Film Festival Awards, and he won an award for the only nomination in National Board of Review Awards.

Cast, production and more information

Directed by Alan Parker
Produced by Alan Marshall, David Puttnam
Screenplay by Oliver Stone
Based on Midnight Express
by Billy Hayes, William Hoffer
Starring
Brad Davis
Irene Miracle
Bo Hopkins
Randy Quaid
John Hurt
Paul L. Smith
Joe Zammit Cordina
Music by Giorgio Moroder
Cinematography Michael Seresin
Edited by Gerry Hambling
Production company Casablanca FilmWorks
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date August 10, 1978 (UK) October 6, 1978 (US)
Running time 121 minutes
Country United Kingdom, United States
Language English, Turkish, Maltese
Budget $2.3 million
Box office $35 million

Other films and TV series that were shot in Malta

Here is a list of some films and TV series that were shot in Malta. This is only a short list and there are more productions that were shot in Malta.

Gladiator
By the Sea
Troy
Agora
The Count of Monte Cristo
Clash of the Titans
Popeye
Kon-Tiki
Eyewitness
Black Eagle
Trenchcoat
Captain Phillips
Raise the Titanic
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
Pulp
Munich
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad
World War Z
The Bedford Incident
The Spy Who Loved Me
Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre
The Emperor’s New Clothes
U-571
Simshar
Assassin’s Creed
Shout at the Devil
Game of Thrones

Other Links – Places in Malta and Gozo

Malta, Gozo and Comino
Videos of Siġġiewi and nearby places
(i) Valletta, Malta
(ii) Valletta, Malta (by night)
Mdina, Malta
Rabat, Malta
(i) Marsaxlokk, Malta
(ii) Marsaxlokk, Malta
(iii) Marsaxlokk, Malta
Sliema, Malta
Haz-Zebbug (Citta’ Rohan), Malta
Dingli Cliffs and Fawwara
Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples
Wied iż-Żurrieq, Malta
Buskett Gardens
Blue Grotto
Azure Window, Gozo
Marsalforn, Qbajjar and salt pans
Dwejra, Gozo
Marsalforn, Gozo
(i) Xlendi, Gozo
(ii) Xlendi, Gozo
Wied il-Għasri, Gozo

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