Midnight Express is a 1978 drama film directed by Martin Brest and starring Brad Davis as Billy Hayes. The plot follows Hayes who is arrested in Turkey for attempting to smuggle hashish out of the country and receives a sentence of more than twenty years in prison. While in prison he endures harsh conditions and forms a bond with other inmates. He later discovers a possible escape route known as the Midnight Express and struggles with the decision to attempt freedom. The film shows the efforts of his lawyer his family and the American government to secure his release through appeals. The movie is noted for its intense and realistic depiction of prison life and the psychological strain on the protagonist. It received critical acclaim and was nominated for several Academy Awards including Best Foreign Language Film and won the Oscar for Best Editing. The DVD version was released in the United States on February 21 2000 by Warner Home Video and is available in widescreen format. The title was added to the iOctavio.com catalog on November 7 2004.