Midnight Express (film)

"[voiceover] To the Turks, everything is "shurla burla", which means "like this, like that". You never know what will happen. All foreigners are "ayip", they're considered dirty. So is homosexuality, it's a big crime here, but most of them do it every chance they get. There are about thousand things that are "ayip", for instance, you can stab or shoot somebody below the waist but not above because that's intent to kill. So everyone runs around stabbing everyone else in the ass. That's what they call Turkish revenge. I know it must all sound crazy to you, but this place is crazy."

"[to the Turkish court] I just wish for once that you could be in my shoes, Mr. Prosecutor, and then you would know something that you don't know: mercy! That the concept of a society is based on the quality of that mercy; its sense of fair play; its sense of justice! But I guess that's like asking a bear to shit in the toilet. [In the red border clamshell VHS, He says: But I guess that's like asking a bear to use a potty trainer.]"

"[to the Turkish court] For a nation of pigs, it sure is funny you don't eat'em! Jesus Christ forgave the bastards, but I can't! I hate! I hate you! I hate your nation! And I hate your people! And I fuck your sons and daughters because they're pigs! [Red border clamshell VHS: And I hate your sons and daughters because they're pigs!] You're a pig! You're all pigs."

"Dear Susan: Poor Jimmy was caught and beaten so badly he got a severe hernia, and lost a testicle. He's been in the sanitarium for months. In comparison, my problems seem very small."

"What is a crime? What is punishment? It seems to vary from time to time and place to place. What's legal today is suddenly illegal tomorrow because society says it's so, and what's illegal yesterday is suddenly legal because everybody's doin' it, and you can't put everybody in jail. I'm not saying this is right or wrong. I'm just saying that's the way it is. But I've spent 3 1/2 years of my life in your prison, and I think I've paid for my error, and if it's your decision today to sentence me to more years, then I... [he becomes overcome with anger]"

"[Tex has a large revolver pointed at Billy whom he just recaptured trying to escape] You seem like a nice enough kid to me, Billy, but you try it and I'll blow your fuckin' brains out."

"Ahmet: Where are you going? Why don't you walk the wheel with us? What is the matter my American friend? What has upset you? Oh! I know. The bad machine doesn't know that he's a bad machine. You still don't believe it. You still don't believe you're a bad machine? To know yourself is to know God, my friend. The factory knows, that's why they put you here. You'll see... You'll find out... In time, you'll know."

"Everybody gave up on Billy Hayes—except Billy."

"A story of triumph."

"Walk into the incredible true experience of Billy Hayes, and bring all the courage you can!"

"Brad Davis - Billy Hayes"

"Irene Miracle - Susan"

"Bo Hopkins - "Tex""

"Paolo Bonacelli - Rifki"

"Paul L. Smith - Hamidou"

"Randy Quaid - Jimmy Booth"

"Norbert Weisser - Erich"

"John Hurt - Max"

"Kevork Malikyan - the Prosecutor"

"Yashaw Adem - the Airport police chief"

"Mike Kellin - Mr. Hayes"

"Franco Diogene - Yesil"

"Michael Ensign - Stanley Daniels"

"Gigi Ballista - the Judge"

"Peter Jeffrey - Ahmet"

"Michael Yannatos - Court translator"