SPHE Press Release: Midnight Express 30th Anniversary Edition

30th Anniversary Edition
MIDNIGHT EXPRESS

Director Alan Parker and Writer Oliver Stone’s
Oscar®-Winning 1978 Suspense Classic Returns on DVD February 5th


Culver City, Calif. (November 26, 2007) – Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release the 1978 highly-charged thriller Midnight Express on DVD February 5. Based on a true story and winner of two Academy Awards®* and six Golden Globes® **, this gritty film follows the unsure fate of Billy Hayes (Brad Davis – A Small Circle of Friends, Heart), a young American caught at the Turkish border trying to smuggle hashish. With his future in the hands of a foreign government, Hayes faces uncertainty and fear – papers from the Embassy mean little and the Turkish government is set to use him as an example to deter other drug dealers. With his options quickly dwindling, Hayes realizes the Midnight Express (inmate slang for “an escape” under cover of night) may be his last hope.

Midnight Express also stars Bo Hopkins (The Road Home, Vice), Randy Quaid (Vacation) and John Hurt (Spaceballs, V for Vendetta). The DVD special features include three behind-the-scenes featurettes exploring the road to production, the making of the film, and the world’s reaction to this groundbreaking motion picture, a commentary by Director Alan Parker, Parker’s personal photographic journal and essay from his on-set experiences, and more. Midnight Express will be available for the SRP of $19.94.

*Academy Award Winner for Best Music Original Score (Giorgio Moroder) and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Oliver Stone). Academy Award Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (John Hurt), Best Director (Alan Parker), Best Film Editing and Best Picture.

**Golden Globe Winner for Best Motion Picture, Drama; Best Acting Debut, Female; Best Acting Debut, Male; Best Actor in a Supporting Role; Best Original Score, Motion Picture; and Best Screenplay, Motion Picture.



Midnight Express Synopsis:
With the Turkish government trying to crack down on drugs, terrorism and crime, Billy Hayes has the misfortune of being caught at the border with a hashish stash. At first sentenced to four years and two months for drug possession, his prison term grows to 30 years when the prosecution’s appeal finds him guilty of smuggling. Pleas from his parents, litigation from his lawyer and actions from the U.S. Embassy amount to nothing. Things get worse when Hayes is sent to a detention center for the mentally unstable after he bites off a warden’s tongue to prevent him from divulging his escape plans. Forced to struggle with daily violence, despair and abuse, he finally reaches his breaking point and is willing to do anything to escape. Knowing that he is on his own, Hayes has one risk left to take: riding his own Midnight Express.

Midnight Express was directed by Sir Alan Parker (Bugsy Malone, Birdy, The Commitments), written by Oliver Stone (Wall Street, The Doors, Evita) and stars Brad Davis, Irene Miracle, Bo Hopkins, Paolo Bonacelli, Paul L. Smith, Randy Quaid, Norbert Weisser, Peter Jeffrey and John Hurt.

This title has a run time of approximately 121 minutes and is rated R. Artwork is available at www.SPHEPublicity.com. Visit Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on the Web at www.SonyPictures.com.


DVD Special Features
The Producers’ Featurette
The Production Featurette
The Finished Film Featurette
Commentary with Director Alan Parker
Photo Gallery
Original Midnight Express Theatrical Trailer
Photo booklet & Essay from Parker’s on-set experiences


DVD Catalog #: 22609
DVD UPC Code: 43396226098
DVD Order Date: 1/3/08
DVD SRP: $19.94

Re: SPHE Press Release: Midnight Express 30th Anniversary Edition

Wouldn't it be cool if they can include the SCTV spoof "THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS SPECIAL" where they had musical guests singing in Turkish jails, getting arrested while singing! (cant forget Anne Murray getting arrested while singing SNOWBIRD while the prisoners spin around the circle!)

Also, wonder if they corrected a odd omission of the final caption that was superimposed over the last shot of the film, before the credits rolled, that mentioned something to the effect of when this film was screened at Canne, Turkish Goverment and the United Nations are now in talks of getting many foreign prisoners freed from Turkish prisons. It was in the old VHS/Beta, cable airing and LD, but was not in the previous DVD release.

Re: SPHE Press Release: Midnight Express 30th Anniversary Edition

always thought this is an awesome film.

I have not bought this before.

Re: SPHE Press Release: Midnight Express 30th Anniversary Edition

I may be mistaken, but I think this caption was only present in the North American release prints. It was certainly added long after the Cannes version was prepared. The DVD (unlike the early cable TV and VHS transfers) would have been sourced from original elements which never included it.

I prefer the film without that caption - I find it sickeningly self-congratulatory. But I can understand the nostalgic desire of a fan to keep the film the way it was when he first saw it.

Re: SPHE Press Release: Midnight Express 30th Anniversary Edition

I never did pick this up. A damn good flick, I'll grab it.

Re: SPHE Press Release: Midnight Express 30th Anniversary Edition

Some information for you. This is all I have at the moment...

Alan Parker sat with Sony for several weeks this summer to
oversee the new HD transfer. It is to his specifications as he was
not happy with previous release. He also oversaw a new 5.1 mix.

Re: SPHE Press Release: Midnight Express 30th Anniversary Edition

Then it would be nice if we could get an HD release. I might actually buy it if Sony would put it out on blu-ray.

Re: SPHE Press Release: Midnight Express 30th Anniversary Edition

Okay, so you're a Sony PR flak tasked with writing a press release. You need to come up with two films that are representative of John Hurt's career. The first thing that comes to mind is ... Spaceballs?

Re: SPHE Press Release: Midnight Express 30th Anniversary Edition

Wouldn't ALIEN or ELEPHANT MAN be better?

Re: SPHE Press Release: Midnight Express 30th Anniversary Edition

Probably was not aware of either Alien or The Elephant Man.

Re: SPHE Press Release: Midnight Express 30th Anniversary Edition

Exactly, since the average age of a Sony PR flak is probably ~25, and would only be aware of films that came out while he was alive.