20 Things You Didn’t Know About Midnight Express
11. Cast Of Gold
By the late 1970s, John Hurt had established himself in British cinema. Looking for opportunities overseas, Hurt put his all into playing the character of Max, a junkie who had been incarcerated for over seven years.
As noted before, the actor went to great lengths in creating the shabby character for the big screen. While visiting the set of his acclaimed autobiography, the real-life Billy Hayes marvelled at the work by Hurt.
Max’s role in the movie is vital as he not only informs Billy of a good lawyer in Turkey, but he also represents the psychological effect the prison can have on people. His addiction and repeated incoherence make him sympathetic yet a stark reminder for Billy of how far a person can descend when all hope is lost.
Hayes was very positive about Hurt’s portrayal of the character and said he was the most accurate. Given that the actual Max was Dutch further adds credit to Hurt’s acting ability.