I been in Istanbul 1982 and 1999. Movie is good but I have to say that it's just a movie and too far from the reality. There are hundred bad prison movies all over the worlds, think about it! Also in Turkey I never seen womens covered with black linen, so ironic.
now please visit the country side of turkey... my partents are christians and were born there. my people have been living there for hundreds of years. most of them had immigrate to the western world cause of their religion... people are always relating to istanbul when talking about turkey. man, this city is an exception....
@Lucarinho Well, You mean except Istanbul everywhere same as in movie? I said Istanbul but I also been other places which is Marmaris, Antalya, Kusadasi. I don't mean there are non-religious people but not like on movie.
@virues well the loction where the film was made was not in turkey because turkey refused to let them film there so they picked some where else which probbly exlpains about the clothing the women wore in the film.
@SuperMrCRAZYMAN All I can say some people so biassed. Imagine the world we learn only from the movies etc. I shouldn't generalize that bad tooth Brits or obesity Americans who eating burgers.
the turkish policeman respect lot the people how come outside of the contrie for example american french or one other!there reaction is better to etranger people but we can not say seem for turkish people!
There very difficult with turkish poeple! now it is better because we are equal with the etranger people! because there arent difference with ous! big evolution with a new gouvernement and president! we thank for them!
The M exp is not turned in turkish prison but in greece prison with armenian people !!! just some pictures in istanbul! If you will be there (in turkey) you will feel difference with istanbul(turkish) language accent and the accent of the policeman accent's in the movie! i invite you to compare the diffrence!!
fuck you man your a loyer it is not tru what did u tell in M Exp. you told just becoming famous! M Exp is not true stories! In USA if u do and it if you catched with 2kilos and 300 grames (2,3 kg) they will fuck your familly !
this guy is a putz and shows no remorse...he was arrested on his FOURTH smuggling trip...and no mention of the friend that got killed trying to help him
@larkjd I am not nearly as sympathetic to the guy when I learned he made a regular habit of smuggling hash and this was his 4th time doing it. Maybe that 5 years of prison was what he needed to catch his attention. But this revelation makes the movie a fraud. We're led to believe in the movie he's just a dumb kid who made a first time mistake. Were the producers of the movie duped by Billy Hayes? I have to wonder.
haha the movie is fake this man told only 1 guardian waw bad the others where very friendly hahaha oliver stone choice actors from other they where no turks
@romas1995 yeah but who's choice is it to be a victim of coke or heroin? your own - if someone dies from the usage of these you can't blame anyone else but them.
Drugs has no victims, he says!!! Alcoholism is legal but people do crimes from from being drunk. I could only imagine what victims there woud be from legalizing coke, heroin, crack, etc.
You'd stop the criminals from making all the money from it, and stop their influence spreading through your society. Youd remove the 'cool' factor for kids doing something illegal, and most of all you can control it. Bottom line is regular civi's are consuming drugs, so take responsibility and steer it into 'the light'.
@tellshiar Um- the victims, such as drug addicts and things, are going to be drug addicts whether drugs are legal or not. The difference is that if these drugs were legal, people wouldn't serve outrageous sentences for being addicts, rehabilitation could be more enforced, and the gangs that make so much money on these horrible substances would lose business. If drugs were taxed and sold through legal ventures, it would eliminate a lot of problems. Remember prohibition?
why is he being called a hero? yes that was a very daring escape, but no matter what your opinion is, and whilst i think a 30 year sentence would be harsh in comparism to the crime he committed,he would have known that beforehand and knew what he was doing and the risk involved.
That Imrali became, or is now, high security. He's a hero because he grabbed his fear by the balls in that rowing boat and just went for it. He was freaking out but just went " to hell with this". Major inspiration.
I've been to Istanbul 4 times and will be going again for the 5th time. Turkish people are very nice people, and i made friends with a few, so much that i was invited to their homes.
@underpantswedgy Turkish people, like people almost anywhere you go, are very decent and kind people. The people who get into trouble are those who are involved in terrorism or peddling drugs. That's how it is anywhere.
@WilliamDRowlett no, actually, I know them very good, and they are blinded by prejudices and hate towards the Christians. And they are like that for the last 700 years!
People are getting some ide of Turks being nice and kind only because they have been on holiday in Turkey once and they had a god time. Well ofc they are! They are making lots of money out ofit, and the punishments are very harsh if you are unpolite to a tourist!
@KazikluVoivoda People of all countries and places have stubborn, prejudice people in every religion, just like some Christians are prejudice against other religions and cultures. You can't summarize an entire group of people's emotions in one way accurately. Different people feel different ways, and groups of hate will always have random scapegoats.
I am turkish and i'm really sorry for what happened to this man in that f*cing jail. I appreciate his try to make things clear about the fact that not all turks are evil and his coming back to istanbul to heal himself- if I was in his shoes, i don't think i would do the same.
Merhaba Billy: I too was in a Turkish jail around the same time as you. I was in Izmit prison from 1972 to 1974. Until May 19th 1974 to be exact. Granted amnesty. (AF) Never understood why you didn't come under the amnesty for the 50th year of republic that Kamil Attaturk had declared. Always wanted to meet you someday and chat about our experiences. No one really knows until you've been there and done that.
Why the hell is this guy made a hero? He broke the law! Who cares if he thinks that drugs should be made legal? The fact is at the time he knew it was illegal and got caught breaking the law. He deserved everything he got
Why the hell is this guy made a hero? He broke the law! Who cares if he thinks that drugs should be made legal? The fact is at the time he knew it was illegal and got caught breaking the law. He deserved everything he got.
@jennifer23ish He wasn't wrongly imprisoned. He was sent to jail for breaking the law. Many people aren't as stupid as he was and so wouldn't end up in a Turkish prison. He freely admits himself he was stupid, which is admirable. He was brave, yes, but a hero, most certainly not. There is nothing noble about ending up in jail for smuggling drugs. People like Phil Ashby, who also appeared in the series, are true heros.
@raskdog I think you're absolutely right. It is quite remarkable and brave of him that he managed to escape but he is quite a hypocrite for saying people should take responsiblity for their actions. He didn't take responsibility for his actions, he escaped. I feel more sorry for his friend who was violently murdered trying to help him.
@BOGZASV8MA And with idiots for guards who are sadistic, who don't even know how to search a prisoner thorougly. They have to pull their own boots off to show the idiots "uh, you forgot to look in my shoes. . . see?"
i like this guy, and i agree with everything he said. drugs and prostitution should not be counted as a "crime", and also turkey is a wonderful place to see.
@angleable1 THAT ACCUSATION is NOT JUSTIFIED because this is about Bill HAYES NOT ABOUT RACISM in the AMERICAN SOUTH...or Apartheid...And if you are JUST TRYING to play the RACE CARD in a debate... thats just a COWARDINESS ACT to distract from THE REAL ISSUES which is CORRUPTION IN TURKEY and how many TURKS dont want to ADMIT it..which is evidently everywhere..Turkey traded weapons WITH IRAN..hmmm not good relationship with the USA..
@angleable1 you are a turkish propagandist.... WHY DON'T YOU READ WIKILEAKS AND WHAT TURKEY SAID TO IRAN and ERDOGEN is corrupt. Turkey is rotten that so many have to immigrate into germany. I bet Bill Hayes is gay now because Turks love Blonde blue eyes men or women.
@connaught2008 He seems like a great guy he only got caught doing something stupid, he just has a slight bad name cause of the stuff that didn't happen in the Midnight Express movie
They should have gave this arsehole 100 years! he Broke the LAW he should get took back to Turkey to finnish his sentence iam going to start a campain to get him to finnish his sentance in Glasgow Scotland Barlinnie Jail that will show the gay cunt
@markfoybhoy Aye, right. I'm from Glasgow. Maybe we'll all see you on Argyle Street? Buchanan Galleries? Outside Hillhead Library? So what if he broke the law? It wasn't smack, and he escaped from authority without harming anyone. He'll never smuggle again. The guy's a bloody hero.
Ive read his book over and over, a great read. I cannot belive what I have just heard in this interview! He smuggled hash three times before and got away with it?? Fuck me! So he was a smuggler, when you read the book you get the impression he is just a silly kid who did somthin really stupid without really thinkin about it.
i live in thailand but im from englang yes thais can be bad but its realy a lovely country and the people are good if you brake the lore out here you will pay for it belive me i no ............
I believe that in every countries' prisons there are always some things that is against to human rights!
I just watched the movie and I got shocked: because the judge even doesn't know to talk Turkish. And also I have watched the same type of movies which show the bad facts of Turkish Prisons in Turkish but this movie is directed to revile against Turkey.
I am sorry for Billy Hayes but by the same time I am not sorry to much since he had tried to poison some guys by transferring drugs.
Turks are fucking scum. genocide deniers
49er87 22 hours ago
Fine fella. Why show remorse for something you shouldn't be punished for.
tuktuktok 1 week ago
Respect for this fella!
ritchiekleingebbink 1 week ago
I been in Istanbul 1982 and 1999. Movie is good but I have to say that it's just a movie and too far from the reality. There are hundred bad prison movies all over the worlds, think about it! Also in Turkey I never seen womens covered with black linen, so ironic.
virues 2 weeks ago
@virues
now please visit the country side of turkey... my partents are christians and were born there. my people have been living there for hundreds of years. most of them had immigrate to the western world cause of their religion... people are always relating to istanbul when talking about turkey. man, this city is an exception....
Lucarinho 2 days ago
Comment removed
virues 2 days ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@Lucarinho Well, You mean except Istanbul everywhere same as in movie? I said Istanbul but I also been other places which is Marmaris, Antalya, Kusadasi. I don't mean there are non-religious people but not like on movie.
virues 2 days ago
@virues well the loction where the film was made was not in turkey because turkey refused to let them film there so they picked some where else which probbly exlpains about the clothing the women wore in the film.
SuperMrCRAZYMAN 1 day ago
@SuperMrCRAZYMAN All I can say some people so biassed. Imagine the world we learn only from the movies etc. I shouldn't generalize that bad tooth Brits or obesity Americans who eating burgers.
virues 5 hours ago
I agree people shouldn't be charged with a crime or punished unless they hurt someone else
BreakthroughFilms 2 months ago
@BreakthroughFilms
well, if you sell drugs you acutally hurt other people...
Lucarinho 2 days ago
so him being gay was not a lie????
BRUTALPSYCHO951 3 months ago
the turkish policeman respect lot the people how come outside of the contrie for example american french or one other!there reaction is better to etranger people but we can not say seem for turkish people!
There very difficult with turkish poeple! now it is better because we are equal with the etranger people! because there arent difference with ous! big evolution with a new gouvernement and president! we thank for them!
powerxenon 3 months ago
The M exp is not turned in turkish prison but in greece prison with armenian people !!! just some pictures in istanbul! If you will be there (in turkey) you will feel difference with istanbul(turkish) language accent and the accent of the policeman accent's in the movie! i invite you to compare the diffrence!!
powerxenon 3 months ago
fuck you man your a loyer it is not tru what did u tell in M Exp. you told just becoming famous! M Exp is not true stories! In USA if u do and it if you catched with 2kilos and 300 grames (2,3 kg) they will fuck your familly !
powerxenon 3 months ago
Turkey no longer so free.cannabis is free.
blntyldrm 4 months ago
nice girl interviewer
knightschwartz 4 months ago
this guy is a putz and shows no remorse...he was arrested on his FOURTH smuggling trip...and no mention of the friend that got killed trying to help him
larkjd 4 months ago
@larkjd I am not nearly as sympathetic to the guy when I learned he made a regular habit of smuggling hash and this was his 4th time doing it. Maybe that 5 years of prison was what he needed to catch his attention. But this revelation makes the movie a fraud. We're led to believe in the movie he's just a dumb kid who made a first time mistake. Were the producers of the movie duped by Billy Hayes? I have to wonder.
WilliamDRowlett 3 months ago
haha the movie is fake this man told only 1 guardian waw bad the others where very friendly hahaha oliver stone choice actors from other they where no turks
kemalint1 4 months ago
roxy kills
annap33764 5 months ago
mr Hayes drugs have victims. pot doesnt kill but heroine and coce do.
romas1995 5 months ago
@romas1995 yeah but who's choice is it to be a victim of coke or heroin? your own - if someone dies from the usage of these you can't blame anyone else but them.
ILikeWhales0 4 months ago
Drugs has no victims, he says!!! Alcoholism is legal but people do crimes from from being drunk. I could only imagine what victims there woud be from legalizing coke, heroin, crack, etc.
tellshiar 6 months ago
@tellshiar
You'd stop the criminals from making all the money from it, and stop their influence spreading through your society. Youd remove the 'cool' factor for kids doing something illegal, and most of all you can control it. Bottom line is regular civi's are consuming drugs, so take responsibility and steer it into 'the light'.
War on drugs is a joke, it's a war of ignorance.
PICLex 6 months ago
@PICLex hear hear!
mahound9 6 months ago
@tellshiar Um- the victims, such as drug addicts and things, are going to be drug addicts whether drugs are legal or not. The difference is that if these drugs were legal, people wouldn't serve outrageous sentences for being addicts, rehabilitation could be more enforced, and the gangs that make so much money on these horrible substances would lose business. If drugs were taxed and sold through legal ventures, it would eliminate a lot of problems. Remember prohibition?
KageShadows 1 month ago
why is he being called a hero? yes that was a very daring escape, but no matter what your opinion is, and whilst i think a 30 year sentence would be harsh in comparism to the crime he committed,he would have known that beforehand and knew what he was doing and the risk involved.
sunnyjimjiom 7 months ago
Billy Thank God you got away - and a daring escape into Greece as well
jdmans 7 months ago
That Imrali became, or is now, high security. He's a hero because he grabbed his fear by the balls in that rowing boat and just went for it. He was freaking out but just went " to hell with this". Major inspiration.
Kelly14UK 7 months ago
Turkey is evil
Slangebarnet 8 months ago
lol multiple time smuggler, I think Oliver stone probably based the movie on Vietnam during the war
capucchan8 10 months ago
@angleable1 DO YOU KNOW THE WORD PHILOXENIA COME TO GREECE TO LEARN IT, IDIOT TURKOFILE.
mike50708 11 months ago
@angleable1 NEXT TIME YOU WILL SPEAK ABOUT GREEK PEOPLE CLEAN YOUR MOUTH FUCKIN IDIOT PERSON
mike50708 11 months ago
you went back to turkey? are fucking dum? stay in america fuck them foreign countries.
MikeAppz11 1 year ago
He's a cool, wise old dude, no bitterness or self-delusion.
teak43 1 year ago
I've been to Istanbul 4 times and will be going again for the 5th time. Turkish people are very nice people, and i made friends with a few, so much that i was invited to their homes.
underpantswedgy 1 year ago
@underpantswedgy Turkish people, like people almost anywhere you go, are very decent and kind people. The people who get into trouble are those who are involved in terrorism or peddling drugs. That's how it is anywhere.
WilliamDRowlett 3 months ago
@WilliamDRowlett no, actually, I know them very good, and they are blinded by prejudices and hate towards the Christians. And they are like that for the last 700 years!
People are getting some ide of Turks being nice and kind only because they have been on holiday in Turkey once and they had a god time. Well ofc they are! They are making lots of money out ofit, and the punishments are very harsh if you are unpolite to a tourist!
KazikluVoivoda 2 months ago
@KazikluVoivoda People of all countries and places have stubborn, prejudice people in every religion, just like some Christians are prejudice against other religions and cultures. You can't summarize an entire group of people's emotions in one way accurately. Different people feel different ways, and groups of hate will always have random scapegoats.
KageShadows 1 month ago
I am turkish and i'm really sorry for what happened to this man in that f*cing jail. I appreciate his try to make things clear about the fact that not all turks are evil and his coming back to istanbul to heal himself- if I was in his shoes, i don't think i would do the same.
bleach1284 1 year ago
@bleach1284 just blame Allen parker for the mess he made
SuperMrCRAZYMAN 11 months ago
Merhaba Billy: I too was in a Turkish jail around the same time as you. I was in Izmit prison from 1972 to 1974. Until May 19th 1974 to be exact. Granted amnesty. (AF) Never understood why you didn't come under the amnesty for the 50th year of republic that Kamil Attaturk had declared. Always wanted to meet you someday and chat about our experiences. No one really knows until you've been there and done that.
ru4reel72350 1 year ago
Also, how can he say that drugs have no victims? Of course it does. What a moron.
raskdog 1 year ago
@raskdog its not the drugs, its the addiction...
ikilicoglu 1 year ago
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Why the hell is this guy made a hero? He broke the law! Who cares if he thinks that drugs should be made legal? The fact is at the time he knew it was illegal and got caught breaking the law. He deserved everything he got
raskdog 1 year ago
Why the hell is this guy made a hero? He broke the law! Who cares if he thinks that drugs should be made legal? The fact is at the time he knew it was illegal and got caught breaking the law. He deserved everything he got.
raskdog 1 year ago
@raskdog would you like to spend 5 years in a turkish prison ,hello ,this man was very very brave, you damn right he is a hero ,
jennifer23ish 1 year ago
@jennifer23ish He wasn't wrongly imprisoned. He was sent to jail for breaking the law. Many people aren't as stupid as he was and so wouldn't end up in a Turkish prison. He freely admits himself he was stupid, which is admirable. He was brave, yes, but a hero, most certainly not. There is nothing noble about ending up in jail for smuggling drugs. People like Phil Ashby, who also appeared in the series, are true heros.
Princesshepburn 4 months ago
@Princesshepburn Yes I guess so,but you have to admire how he escapes from that hell hole ,bravo, that took alot of guts I love this guy
jennifer23ish 4 months ago
@raskdog I think you're absolutely right. It is quite remarkable and brave of him that he managed to escape but he is quite a hypocrite for saying people should take responsiblity for their actions. He didn't take responsibility for his actions, he escaped. I feel more sorry for his friend who was violently murdered trying to help him.
Princesshepburn 4 months ago
Book is very good!
melk1971 1 year ago
it was a fuckin propaganda movie
dimension1 1 year ago
@dimension1 Turkey is a propaganda country ...with alot of insecure people afraid of criticism.
BOGZASV8MA 1 year ago
@BOGZASV8MA And with idiots for guards who are sadistic, who don't even know how to search a prisoner thorougly. They have to pull their own boots off to show the idiots "uh, you forgot to look in my shoes. . . see?"
InsanityHere 11 months ago
i like this guy, and i agree with everything he said. drugs and prostitution should not be counted as a "crime", and also turkey is a wonderful place to see.
rnzL 1 year ago
yes wikileaks is about many countries but it exposed the flaws of modern day turkey....
BOGZASV8MA 1 year ago
@angleable1 THAT ACCUSATION is NOT JUSTIFIED because this is about Bill HAYES NOT ABOUT RACISM in the AMERICAN SOUTH...or Apartheid...And if you are JUST TRYING to play the RACE CARD in a debate... thats just a COWARDINESS ACT to distract from THE REAL ISSUES which is CORRUPTION IN TURKEY and how many TURKS dont want to ADMIT it..which is evidently everywhere..Turkey traded weapons WITH IRAN..hmmm not good relationship with the USA..
BOGZASV8MA 1 year ago
fucking bitch...hes a fucking bitch but the movie was excellent
Talentedtongueoo7 1 year ago
he lives in new york????
DeFICenTsBroTHeRs 1 year ago
@angleable1 you are a turkish propagandist.... WHY DON'T YOU READ WIKILEAKS AND WHAT TURKEY SAID TO IRAN and ERDOGEN is corrupt. Turkey is rotten that so many have to immigrate into germany. I bet Bill Hayes is gay now because Turks love Blonde blue eyes men or women.
BOGZASV8MA 1 year ago
angleable 1 you are just a turkish propagandist. did you read wikileaks what turkey did ?????????????
BOGZASV8MA 1 year ago
@BOGZASV8MA what we did ?
dimension1 1 year ago
he looks well for 63, seems like a nice guy too
connaught2008 1 year ago 16
@connaught2008 he's not a bad guy its just the movie made about him made turkey look bad billy hayes hated the movie
SuperMrCRAZYMAN 11 months ago
@connaught2008 WHY is hash/weed illegal anyway??? weired
sim0b 11 months ago
@connaught2008 He seems like a great guy he only got caught doing something stupid, he just has a slight bad name cause of the stuff that didn't happen in the Midnight Express movie
AceHalford 6 months ago
@angleable1
are you crazy? did you watch the movie?
turkey still wild country with totaly corruption.
i have never seen so hipocrity country.
be honest with yourself.
why all neiboghours dont like turkey? greece,Armenia,Bulgary?
because turkey always been wild national.
remember about Konstaninopol now its called stambul? konstaninopol was greece city with the main church of Greece national. what we see now?
fucking dirty turkish removed church to mosque?
dashnakk 1 year ago
turks still pigs.after many years. nothing to change..
he is just polaid man, he couldnot tell the true.
because he is just respect him self.
dashnakk 1 year ago
the ending music really shows how one person feel when he is free of suffering.....good movie and songs
liahma123 1 year ago
It is unbelievable that people still take "Midnight Express" as the truth even after this interview.
KevKli3 1 year ago
fuck turkey
mr666devildriver 1 year ago
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Istanbul is a beautiful city. The film is good from an entertainment perspective but having read the book, not indicative of what 'really' happened
LONDONER01 1 year ago
Istanbul is a beutiful city. The film is good from an entertainment perspective but having read the book, not indicative of what 'really' happened
LONDONER01 1 year ago
They should have gave this arsehole 100 years! he Broke the LAW he should get took back to Turkey to finnish his sentence iam going to start a campain to get him to finnish his sentance in Glasgow Scotland Barlinnie Jail that will show the gay cunt
markfoybhoy 1 year ago
@markfoybhoy Aye, right. I'm from Glasgow. Maybe we'll all see you on Argyle Street? Buchanan Galleries? Outside Hillhead Library? So what if he broke the law? It wasn't smack, and he escaped from authority without harming anyone. He'll never smuggle again. The guy's a bloody hero.
Noodles37UK 1 year ago
Great story.
samh09 1 year ago
Yeah, remember the Turkish gangsters that protected him on his first night! And the real life Rifki was a Jordanian called Ziat, not Turkish.
Noodles37UK 1 year ago 2
Ive read his book over and over, a great read. I cannot belive what I have just heard in this interview! He smuggled hash three times before and got away with it?? Fuck me! So he was a smuggler, when you read the book you get the impression he is just a silly kid who did somthin really stupid without really thinkin about it.
MOONST0MP 1 year ago 2
i live in thailand but im from englang yes thais can be bad but its realy a lovely country and the people are good if you brake the lore out here you will pay for it belive me i no ............
leemeires 1 year ago
I believe that in every countries' prisons there are always some things that is against to human rights!
I just watched the movie and I got shocked: because the judge even doesn't know to talk Turkish. And also I have watched the same type of movies which show the bad facts of Turkish Prisons in Turkish but this movie is directed to revile against Turkey.
I am sorry for Billy Hayes but by the same time I am not sorry to much since he had tried to poison some guys by transferring drugs.
TeKNoMaNiaCH 1 year ago
I guess Nixon did it all... WTH? The speakeasy and Al Capone? It started way before Nixon. Typical hippies.
MrDurcon 1 year ago
Really excellent interview Billy, proud of you. You can email me at
palmakuykendall@yahoo.com
plynnkuy 1 year ago
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@plynnkuy and me leemeires@hotmail.com....would realy love to here from you mate
leemeires 1 year ago
ive just came baack from turkey yesterday for 2 weeks n my dad told me the story so i watched it when i got back great film
merezfinestz08 1 year ago
Billy we love you! You are welcome in Turkey always!
ikilicoglu 1 year ago 18
@ikilicoglu Hahaha! salaksin!! hahaha! Turk degilim , ama guzel turkce konusabilirim neyse.
Hahaha!! Haydi ! seni " sikeyim " bundan sonra aglayacaksin!! ( N'oldu ki burada ya!!?? )
Ah! Güney Amerikada yasiyorum. ^^
kevinazpil 1 year ago
@ikilicoglu After all you gipsy bastards did to him??? I don't think he is gonna turn back in that stinky shithole of turkey. Fuckin pigs!
Travmapunk 9 months ago
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@ikilicoglu Turkeys is a shithole of Muslime asswipes. Fuck Turkey and Fuck Islam
Moralvorstellung7 6 months ago