Billy Hayes, the man who lived the true story of the hit film, Midnight Express, is finally opening up at age 63 to let the world know exactly what happened in that Turkish prison.
For those unfamiliar with the 1978, Oliver Stone-penned screenplay, Midnight Express chronicled the five long years that Billy Hayes spent in a Turkish prison after being busted in an attempt to smuggle drugs from Turkey to the United States. The film, marked by a driving Giorgio Moroder score, makes you feel uncomfortable from the first frame–it offers a sense that funky stuff is about to go down…and it does.
As suggested in the film, Billy Hayes did spend 5 years in a Turkish prison. And like the film, Hayes did escape–but not how it was portrayed in the film. And he never bit the tongue out of the mouth of a hated prisoner–he just tried to kill him. For the first time since his escape 35 years ago, Billy Hayes is opening up to tell-all about his true Turkish experience, including the fact that he loved Turkey–until he got arrested.
The success of Midnight Express led to the inevitable backlash from the film. Of course the film pissed-off the Turkish government. They were so angered by the way Turkey was portrayed in the film that they issued an arrest warrant for Hayes through INTERPOL. No arrest ever came.
Unlike the film, Hayes’s escape was far more Hollywoodesque. It involved a rowboat in a rainstorm during a prison transfer, several days of hiding throughout Turkey, dying his hair different colors as authorities searched for him and ultimately, a dangerous river swim to escape into Greece. For years, he remained silent, enjoying a life in Oklahoma, married to Wendy West, the daughter of Jackie West, a prominent personality within the local theatre scene. Hayes became a writer, actor and director and is now letting the world know what really happened.
You can catch Billy sharing his story on National Geographic’s Locked up Abroad, which airs tonight at 10PM/EDT.
What an amazing film and story. There are some things that just give you that perpetual knot at the bottom of your stomach and this experience is one of them. Can’t wait to hear his interview. I know many people who say Turkey is a magical place and amazing to visit. Just mind your p’s and q’s….
BIlly let me tell you first i repect to you for the corage and to be a brave the movie is my favorite but know listening and watching the history by yourself whit my hand in my hearts you are one of my heroes GOD bless you
A little more details about the escape.How long did it take to row 17 miles? How did you navigate?
God Bless Billy Hayes-young people with good character can sometimes make mistakes. I have watched Midnight Express many times. When I was young I went to Amsterdam to smuggle Heroin. I decided against it 6 hours before my flight thank God. After going thru the airport security clean , I realized I would have been cauht. I would cherish any message from Mr. Hayes -John S. Coker
@Richard – You’re not going to get the details you seek here obviously. Watched the Locked Up Abroad episode that the article referred to for the details. It’s a good episode and tells the story a little more accurately.
@Jorge & John – God Bless Billy Hayes? He’s your hero? The guy tried to smuggle 4.5 POUNDS of Hash into another country to sell and distribute it for profit, a major criminal offense in BOTH countries. I doubt either of you know a whit about what he’s done with his life since then, other than the few words mentioned in this article, so obviously your comments are directed at his depiction in the film and possible the recent episode. If that’s what qualifies him as a hero in ANYONE’S eyes, no wonder the world is in the state thQat it’s in. I’m quite certain he doesn’t consider himself a hero for any of his actions portrayed in the book or the film, nor would any sane person. At least it seems that he made something of his life after he screwed up and atoned for his actions (and then some), and I certainly wouldn’t begrudge him that. It sickens me though that anyone would hold someone like that up to be a hero when there are REAL heroes all around us saving lives every day. I seriously doubt they would want to be lumped in with a drug smuggler that tried to kill at least one person while in prison.
Billy this is my third time watching this story into which has effected me & so glad you made it out of there and was wondering did you ever go back to help your freind as you promise? !May god bless you & ignore the un-happy comments,You to are my hero,regards Klytus Las Vegas
I don’t understand about the 17 miles from the Island of Imrali in the Sea of Marmara to Greece? It appears on the map that that sea is surrounded my Turkey and Greece is much farther away?
Billy, I would like to tell you that as a mother, no matter what you did and how much you think you hurt your parents they loved you and they are just glad you survived. Stop beating yourself up over something that happened so many years ago. Forgive yourself, I don’t have any doubt your parents forgave you a very long time ago. Let it go and enjoy the rest of your life. Everyone has made mistakes when we were young. You are not alone. Best to you and what an inspiring story.
In the film he had a girlfriend named Susan who comes to visit him in Prison near the end of the film & smuggles $1000 cash inside a photo album. Was any of that true? In the scene between them he tells her he loves her & she avoids saying it back to him. Had she moved on? New Guy for her?
That is one of my favorite movies. No matter the way it really happened.. the movie was awesome.. Good job, Stone.. as usual!
You are an amazing person and I really respect you. Would love to meet you sometime.
TURKISH scum bags should all be shot and the flushed down the toilet.
TURKISH scum bags should all be shot and the flushed down the toilet then shot again.
Don’t ever go to that hell hole. It stinks it’s fifty and it’s lawless. So if you want to get thrown in some shit hole and left to rot go ahead and have a good trip. Be sure to say goodbyr to all your loved ones.
@ Bill..you sound a tad over the top. RELAX! It’s a MOVIE! Based on a true story but like ALL Oliver Stone movies its written and directed to be dramatic and sell tickets ….every one of his movies is over the top when it comes to accuracy. They are intended to entertain and stir controversy. Bill…you must have had one really BAD time In Turkey. I mean, I have to assume you’ve been there and you’re not basing your opinion of an entire country on an Oliver Stone film.
@ Bill..you sound a tad over the top. RELAX! It’s a MOVIE! Based on a true story but like ALL Oliver Stone movies its written and directed to be dramatic and sell tickets ….every one of his movies is over the top when it comes to accuracy. They are intended to entertain and stir controversy. Bill…you must have had one really BAD time In Turkey. I mean, I have to assume you’ve been there and you’re not basing your opinion of an entire country on an Oliver Stone film. That would make YOU appear unreasonable and judgemental.
@ Bill..you sound a tad over the top. RELAX! It’s a MOVIE! Based on a true story but like ALL Oliver Stone movies its written and directed to be dramatic and sell tickets ….every one of his movies is over the top when it comes to accuracy. They are intended to entertain and stir controversy. Bill…you must have had one really BAD time In Turkey. I mean, I have to assume you’ve been there and you’re not basing your opinion of an entire country on an Oliver Stone film. That would make YOU appear unreasonable and judgemental.
I have been to Turkey 10 times and had a blast every time i went there…now if you want to do something illegal be ready to face the consequences…..you know narcotics are illegal everywhere….???