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.
Comments
w0w
June 30th, 2010 - 12:28:17 PM
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....
1
jorge sosa
October 14th, 2010 - 7:44:59 PM
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
2
richard
June 9th, 2011 - 11:08:36 AM
A little more details about the escape.How long did it take to row 17 miles? How did you navigate?
3
John Coker
June 22nd, 2011 - 1:41:49 AM
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
4
Eric
July 24th, 2011 - 3:41:58 AM
@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.
5
Klytus
July 24th, 2011 - 4:12:28 AM
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
6