Midnight Express

Starring: Brad Davis, Irene Miracle Director: Alan Parker Original UK Premiere: 1978 Dvd Release: 14th June, 2004 Number Of Discs: 1 Format: Anamorphic, Full Screen, PAL, Widescreen, Region 2 Encoding Subtitled In: Danish, English, Finnish, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish

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Midnight Express is a 1978 biographical film, based on the true 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 & John Hurt. The screenplay was adapted by Oliver Stone from the book by Billy Hayes & William Hoffer. Alan Parker directed. Billy Hayes has acknowledged the inaccuracy of many of the scenes in the movie; he was in a low-security prison & no guard was killed in order for him to escape. Although the film is set largely in Turkey, most of the location work was done in Malta, using local actors along with some Greeks & Armenians. It won Academy Awards for Best Music, Original Score & Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium & was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Director, Best Film Editing & Best Picture. Posters Of Midnight Express

Forever embroiled in controversy, Midnight Express divides viewers into opposing camps: those who think its one of the most intense real-life dramas ever made, & those who abhor its manipulative tactics & alteration of facts for the exploitative purpose of achieving a desired effect. That effect is powerfully achieved, regardless of how you may feel about director Alan Parker & Oscar-winning screenwriter Oliver Stones interpretation of the story of Billy Hayes.

It was the American Hayes, played by the late Brad Davis in an unforgettable performance, who was caught smuggling 2kg of hashish while attempting to board a flight from Istanbul in 1970. He was sentenced to four years in a hellish Turkish prison on a drug possession charge, but his sentence was later extended , & Hayes endured unthinkable brutality & torture before his escape in 1975.

Unquestionably, this is a superbly crafted film, provoking a visceral response thats powerful enough to boil your blood. By the time Hayes erupts in an explosion of self-defensive violence, Parker & Stone have proven the power, & danger, of their skill. Their film is deeply manipulative, extremely xenophobic, & embellishes reality to heighten its calculated impact. Is that a crime? Not necessarily, & theres no doubt that Midnight Express is expertly directed & blessed with exceptional supporting performances . Still, its obvious that strings are being pulled, & Parker, while applying his talent to a nefarious purpose, is a masterful puppeteer.

Brad Davis was a basketball player who spent the bulk of his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks. After attending the University of Maryland, College Park, Davis was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 1977 NBA Draft. After playing several seasons in the Continental Basketball Association for the Anchorage Northern Knights, Davis was picked up in 1980 by the expansion Mavericks, where he would spend the rest of his career. Davis was an average NBA player, averaging less than 10 points per game for his career, but his drive & love for the community made him a fan favorite. In April 1992, Davis retired after 15 NBA seasons as the final Maverick from the teams first season. That same year, on November 14, Davis became the first Maverick to have his jersey retired when his #15 was raised to the rafters of Reunion Arena. In 1993, Davis became an assistant coach under Dick Motta. At the same time, he also took a position as a color commentator for Mavericks television games & then later on the radio. Posters Of Midnight Express

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Alan Parker is a guitarist & composer best known for his work in the band Blue Mink .Trained by Julian Bream at Londons Royal Academy of Music. Was a successful session guitarist in the late 60s also went to play with his own band The Congregation. Much of Parkers session work has gone uncredited but recently he has been named as the electric guitarist on Donovan s Hurdy Gurdy Man. He was composer Jerry Goldsmith s orchestrator for many years & was called on by Howard Shore to help him out with some of the music for Lord Of The Rings. Parker is now a successful composer for film & T,V. including the tune to ITNs News At Ten, Van Der Valk, Rhodes, Whats Eating Gilbert Grape & Coast for the BBC. He has worked with Donovan, Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Dusty Springfield, Tony Bennett, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix & others. //www .bigjimsullivan .com/AlanParker .html Posters Of The Life Of David Gale

Editors Choice: The Life Of David Gale, Evita, Angelas Ashes, The Road To Wellville, The Commitments, Mississippi Burning, Pink Floyd, The Wall, View DVDology

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