‘Midnight Express’ on Broadway stage now

NEW YORK- Anadolu Agency

The movie ‘Midnight Express’ was criticized for its portrayal of Turkey.

The film “Midnight Express” returns as a Broadway show. The play will be on stage with performances from Billy Hayes, the real character in the story, starting Jan. 22 in New York.

“Midnight Express,” a 1978 American/British film directed by Alan Parker, is based on Billy Hayes’ 1977 book “Midnight Express” and was adapted for screenplay by Oliver Stone. The film deviates from the book’s accounts of the story, especially in its portrayal of Turks and some have criticized the movie version, including Hayes himself.

When he visited Turkey in 2004, screenwriter Stone, who won an Academy Award for the film, apologized for the portrayal of the Turkish people in the film.

The U.S.-based Federation of Turkish-American Association is preparing reactions in case the new production portrays Turkey in the same way. The Presidents of the federation, Ali Çınar said they would hold an urgent meeting about the issue.