Billy Hayes (smuggler)
Encyclopedia
William "Billy" Hayes is an American
writer
, actor
, convicted drug smuggler and director
. He is best known for his autobiographical book Midnight Express
, about his experiences in and escape from a Turkish
prison after being convicted of smuggling hashish
. He was one of hundreds of U.S. citizens in foreign jails serving drug charge sentences following a drug smuggling crackdown by foreign governments.
Hayes, an American student, was caught trying to smuggle hashish out of Turkey in 1970. He was originally sentenced to four years and two months in a Turkish prison; with his release date weeks away, he learned that the authorities had chosen to penalize him with a life sentence. He escaped in 1975 to Greece
, which deported him to the United States after several weeks detention and interrogation about what intelligence
Hayes possessed about Turkey.
Hayes wrote a book on his experiences, Midnight Express
, which was later adapted into the 1978 film Midnight Express
starring Brad Davis
as Hayes. The film was directed by Alan Parker
, with a screenplay by Oliver Stone
. The movie differs from Hayes' account in his book. Among the differences is a scene in which Hayes kills the prison guard Hamid "the bear", the main antagonist of the story. In fact, the prison guard was killed by a recently released prisoner, whose family Hamid insulted while beating the prisoner, years before Hayes' actual escape.
Since, for legal reasons, neither the film nor the book was completely accurate, Hayes tells his version of the full story of being sent to the infamous Turkish Sagmacilar prison, and eventually escaping from the Marmara Sea prison on İmralı
island, in an episode of National Geographic's "Locked Up Abroad", titled "The Real Midnight Express".
Hayes is still active in the entertainment industry, specifically acting and writing. One of his successes was writing and directing 2003's Southside (later released as Cock and Bull Story in the US). On June 30, 2010, the National Geographic television channel aired Locked Up Abroad: The Real Midnight Express.
, Alinur Velidedeoğlu
, a Turkish advertiser, met Billy Hayes by chance and interviewed him on the film Midnight Express. Hayes expressed his disappointment with parts of the film adaptation, especially its portrayal of all Turks as bad, and his regret that Turkey's image was negatively affected by the film. Hayes also displayed affection for Turkey and Istanbul. Although the Interpol
warrant for him had by then been set aside, he explained that while he wanted to return, he hesitated to do so out of concern that many Turks might blame him for the negative publicity the movie had generated.
The video was made available on YouTube
. Hayes did finally return to Turkey on June 14, 2007 to attend the 2nd Istanbul Conference on Democracy and Global Security
, organized by the Turkish National Police (TNP) and the Turkish Institute for Police Studies
(TIPS), to amend the negative implications of his book. He held a press conference on June 15 and made an apology to the Turkish people.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, convicted drug smuggler and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. He is best known for his autobiographical book Midnight Express
Midnight Express (book)
Midnight Express is a 1977 book by Billy Hayes and William Hoffer about Billy's experience as a young American who was sent to a Turkish prison for trying to smuggle hashish out of Turkey to the US. An adaptation of the book was made into an American film of the same name directed by Alan Parker in...
, about his experiences in and escape from a Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
prison after being convicted of smuggling hashish
Hashish
Hashish is a cannabis preparation composed of compressed stalked resin glands, called trichomes, collected from the unfertilized buds of the cannabis plant. It contains the same active ingredients but in higher concentrations than unsifted buds or leaves...
. He was one of hundreds of U.S. citizens in foreign jails serving drug charge sentences following a drug smuggling crackdown by foreign governments.
Hayes, an American student, was caught trying to smuggle hashish out of Turkey in 1970. He was originally sentenced to four years and two months in a Turkish prison; with his release date weeks away, he learned that the authorities had chosen to penalize him with a life sentence. He escaped in 1975 to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, which deported him to the United States after several weeks detention and interrogation about what intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
Hayes possessed about Turkey.
Hayes wrote a book on his experiences, Midnight Express
Midnight Express (book)
Midnight Express is a 1977 book by Billy Hayes and William Hoffer about Billy's experience as a young American who was sent to a Turkish prison for trying to smuggle hashish out of Turkey to the US. An adaptation of the book was made into an American film of the same name directed by Alan Parker in...
, which was later adapted into the 1978 film Midnight Express
Midnight Express (film)
Released on October 6, 1978, the soundtrack to Midnight Express was composed by Italian synth-pioneer Giorgio Moroder. The score won the Academy Award for Best Original Score of 1978.Side A:#Chase – Giorgio Moroder...
starring Brad Davis
Brad Davis (actor)
Robert Creel "Brad" Davis was an American actor, known for starring in the 1978 film Midnight Express.-Early life:...
as Hayes. The film was directed by Alan Parker
Alan Parker
Sir Alan William Parker, CBE is an English film director, producer, writer and actor. He has been active in both the British cinema and American cinema and was a founding member of the Directors Guild of Great Britain.-Life and career:...
, with a screenplay by Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
. The movie differs from Hayes' account in his book. Among the differences is a scene in which Hayes kills the prison guard Hamid "the bear", the main antagonist of the story. In fact, the prison guard was killed by a recently released prisoner, whose family Hamid insulted while beating the prisoner, years before Hayes' actual escape.
Since, for legal reasons, neither the film nor the book was completely accurate, Hayes tells his version of the full story of being sent to the infamous Turkish Sagmacilar prison, and eventually escaping from the Marmara Sea prison on İmralı
Imrali
İmralı is a small Turkish island located in the south of the Sea of Marmara, west of Armutlu-Bozburun peninsula within Bursa Province. It served from 1999 until 2009 as a maximum-security prison island for its only inmate, Abdullah Öcalan...
island, in an episode of National Geographic's "Locked Up Abroad", titled "The Real Midnight Express".
Hayes is still active in the entertainment industry, specifically acting and writing. One of his successes was writing and directing 2003's Southside (later released as Cock and Bull Story in the US). On June 30, 2010, the National Geographic television channel aired Locked Up Abroad: The Real Midnight Express.
Interview on Midnight Express film
During the 1999 Cannes Film FestivalCannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
, Alinur Velidedeoğlu
Alinur Velidedeoglu
Alinur Velideoğlu is a Turkish advertiser. He founded"Güzel Sanatlar" advertisement agency in 1973 with Ünver Oral, and Yiğit Şardan. In 1994, he became shareholder with Bates WorldWide. He is very famous in Turkey in advertisement field...
, a Turkish advertiser, met Billy Hayes by chance and interviewed him on the film Midnight Express. Hayes expressed his disappointment with parts of the film adaptation, especially its portrayal of all Turks as bad, and his regret that Turkey's image was negatively affected by the film. Hayes also displayed affection for Turkey and Istanbul. Although the Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
warrant for him had by then been set aside, he explained that while he wanted to return, he hesitated to do so out of concern that many Turks might blame him for the negative publicity the movie had generated.
The video was made available on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. Hayes did finally return to Turkey on June 14, 2007 to attend the 2nd Istanbul Conference on Democracy and Global Security
Istanbul Conference on Democracy and Global Security
The Istanbul Conference on Democracy and Global Security is an international conference organized by the Turkish National Police under the authority of the Prime Minister of Turkey. It is held in Istanbul....
, organized by the Turkish National Police (TNP) and the Turkish Institute for Police Studies
Turkish Institute for Police Studies
The Turkish Institute for Police Studies has been functionally housed at the University of North Texas for over five years. The aim of TIPS is to combine the practical experience of the Turkish National Police in policing areas with the academic and theoretical foundation...
(TIPS), to amend the negative implications of his book. He held a press conference on June 15 and made an apology to the Turkish people.