History Trivia / MidnightExpress

* TheRedStapler: Inverted. Even decades after its release, the film is cited as a reason not to go to Turkey. This is despite the real Billy Hayes saying that the film exaggerated and fictionalized his experiences.
* StarMakingRole: Subverted. Despite a well-received performance, Brad Davis' own alcohol and drug problems cost him an Academy Award nomination and he mainly worked on {{Made For TV Movie}}s until his sudden death from AIDS.

** Creator/OliverStone's first choice for director was actually Creator/MichaelCimino. He declined, because he was about to start work on ''Film/TheDeerHunter'' - and the two films ended up competing at the Oscars. They would later work together on ''Film/YearOfTheDragon''.

* DoingItForTheArt: For the scene where Billy bites another inmate's tongue out, Brad Davis carried a pig's tongue in his mouth.

** Only two actors in the film are actually Turkish: Yashaw Adem (the Airport Police Chief) and Kevork Malikyan (the Prosecutor).

** The filmmakers' attempted to acquire shooting permits in Istanbul, but the Turkish government flatly refused; both because Billy Hayes was still technically a fugitive, and the script's negative depiction of the country. Director Alan Parker scouted several different countries as a potential substitution; including Crete, Cyprus, Israel, France, Italy, Morocco, and Spain. He ultimately settled on Malta, and the film was banned in Turkey until 1992.

** The filmmakers' attempted to acquire filming permits from the Turkish government to film on-location in Istanbul, but their request was repeatedly denied due to the script's negative depiction of the country, and the fact that Billy Hayes was still technically a fugitive at the time of the film's release. Director Alan Parker scouted several different locations as a potential substitution; including Crete, Cyprus, Israel, France, Italy, Morocco, and Spain. He ultimately settled on Malta, and the film was banned in Turkey until 1992.

** Every Turkish character, and the Greek border guard Hayes encounters when he finally makes it out of Turkey. This was as much due to legal reasons as laziness, as the Turkish government flatly refused to support the film. The sole exceptions were Yashaw Adem (the Airport Police Chief) and Kevork Malikyan (the Prosecutor), who were both expats living in the UK.

** Every Turkish character, and the Greek border guard Hayes encounters when he finally makes it out of Turkey. This was as much due to legal reasons as laziness, as the Turkish government flatly refused to support the film or allow any of its citizens to be involved in the production. The sole exception is Yashaw Adem (the Airport Police Chief), who was a Turkish-born actor living in the UK, and thus not affected by the Turkish government's embargo.

* RealitySubtext: According to his book, Brad Davis had a drug problem of his own while promoting this film.

* BreakthroughHit: For Creator/OliverStone.

* StarMakingRole: Subverted. Despite a well-received performance, Brad Davis's own alcohol and drug problems cost him an Academy Award nomination and he mainly worked on {{Made For TV Movie}}s until his sudden death from AIDS.

** The screenplay had a climactic sequence showing [[spoiler: Billy travelling through different countries after his escape]]. Alan Parker however felt that [[spoiler: Billy leaving prison]] was a powerful enough note to end things on.

** Erich, the Swedish prisoner, is played by a German actor.

* AmateurCast: Alan Parker wanted to cast unknown actors and actresses to enhance the feel of authenticity.

** Every Turkish character, and the Greek border guard Hayes encounters when he finally makes it out of Turkey. This was a much due to legal reasons as laziness, as the Turkish government flatly refused to support the film. The sole exception is Yashaw Adem (the Airport Police Chief), who was a Turkish-born actor living in the UK, and thus not affected by the Turkish government's decision.

* ExecutiveMeddling: The studio were trying to push Richard Gere as the lead, which Alan Parker didn't like (as he had refused to audition). He persuaded the studio to let him audition other actors, and eventually Brad Davis won the part.
* FakeNationality: Every Turkish character, and the Greek border guard Hayes encounters when he finally makes it out of Turkey. This was a much due to legal reasons as laziness, as the Turkish government flatly refused to support the film. The sole exception is Yashaw Adem (the Airport Police Chief), who was a Turkish-born actor living in the UK, and thus not affected by the Turkish government's decision.

* TheRedStapler: Inverted. Even decades after its release, the film is cited as a reason not to go to Turkey. This is despite the real Billy Hayes saying that the film exaggerated his experiences.

* FakeNationality: Every Turkish character, and the Greek border guard Hayes encounters when he finally makes it out of Turkey. This was a much due to legal reasons as laziness, as the Turkish government refused to support the film.

* FakeNationality: Every Turkish character, and the Greek border guard Hayes encounters when he finally makes it out of Turkey. This was a much due to legal reasons as laziness, as the Turkish government refused to support the film despite them technically being listed as a partner in the film's production.

* BreakthroughHit: For Oliver Stone.

* CreatorBacklash: The real Billy Hayes has many times expressed regret at the negative way the nation of Turkey is portrayed in the movie. Oliver Stone later regretted it too, and issued an apology to the people of Turkey in 2004. Alan Parker has never officially apologised, but has said he would do things "differently" if he were making the film today.

** Oliver Stone's first choice for director was actually Michael Cimino. He declined, because he was about to start work on ''Film/TheDeerHunter'' - and the two films ended up competing at the Oscars. They would later work together on ''Film/YearOfTheDragon''.

** The screenplay had a climactic sequence showing [[spoiler: Billy travelling through different countries after his escape]]. Alan Parker however felt that [[spoiler: Billy leaving prison]] was a powerful enough note to end things on.

** Creator/JohnTravolta and Creator/RichardGere were considered for Billy Hayes. Creator/DennisQuaid auditioned for the role, which if he gotten it, would have acted alongside his brother Randy Quaid, who played Jimmy Booth.

** The filmmakers' attempted to acquire filming permits from the Turkish government to film on-location in Istanbul, but they're request was repeatedly denied due to the script's negative depiction of the country, and the fact that Billy Hayes was still technically a fugitive at the time of the film's release. Director Alan Parker scouted several different locations as a potential substitution; including Crete, Cyprus, Israel, France, Italy, Morocco, and Spain. He ultimately settled on Malta, and the film was banned in Turkey until 1992.

* StarMakingRole: Subverted. Despite a well-received performance, Brad Hayes's own alcohol and drug problems cost him an Academy Award nomination and he mainly worked on {{Made For TV Movie}}s until his sudden death from AIDS.

* CreatorBacklash: Hayes has many times expressed regret at the negative way the nation of Turkey is portrayed in the movie.

** The filmmakers' attempted to acquire filming permits from the Turkish government to film on-location in Istanbul, but they're request was repeatedly denied due to the script's negative depiction of the country, and the fact that Billy Hayes was still technically a fugitive at the time of the film's release. Director Alan Parker scouted several different locations as a potential substitution; including Crete, Cyprus, Israel, France, Italy, Morocco, and Spain. He ultimately settled on Malta, and the film was banned in Turkey until 1992.

** Creator/JohnTravolta and Creator/RichardGere were considered for Billy Hayes. Creator/DennisQuaid auditioned for the role.

** Creator/JohnTravolta, Creator/RichardGere were considered for Billy Hayes. Creator/DennisQuaid auditioned for the role.

* FakeNationality: Every Turkish character, and the Greek border guard Hayes encounters when he finally makes it out of Turkey.

** Music/{{Vangelis}} was considered to score the picture and even composed a rough track.

** Creator/JohnTravolta and Creator/RichardGere were considered for Billy Hayes.