The book is a much more accurate and much more compelling story of the arrest, imprisonment and escape of Billy Hayes in Turkey and imprisoned for smuggling than the 1978 movie. Of course the book is in Hayes' own words and not the twisted fantasies of overzealous filmmakers so that is definitely a big plus.
Hayes goes into details over what happened when and after he was arrested for attempting to smuggle 2 kilos of hashish out of the country, the people he met and befriended (or antagonized in a couple of cases) in prison, the adjustments he made in adapting to prison life, the endless boredom of just having to wait, wait, wait and rot while the courts decided his fate, the devastation he experienced when his original 4 year sentence for possession is extended to 30 years. Unlike the movie,in which he condemned the whole nation as 'pigs' Hayes actually tells the judges that he forgives them.
Story doesn't end there though obviously. Despite the court's decision, Billy is more determined than ever to want to escape, while his family, friends, lawyers and other outside contacts continue to try and win him his freedom....to no avail. Even the transfer to the U.S. that his American lawyer was so confident would be granted to Billy and seemed like his best bet to get out of jail long before his new 30 year sentence was up, continued to stall and drag on without a decision in sight as to when or even if he would be going home. So Billy finally decides to take matters in his own hands and escape....
That's another big glaring omission from the movie. In the film, Billy escapes by accidentally killing the brutal guard and steals the key so he can quietly sneak out of the prison and make his way to Greece. In reality Billy was transferred to an island prison where he made his way out with a rowboat and furiously rowing away to land and heading to Greece. He was captured there but deported back to the U.S. where he is very joyfully reunited with his family.
It really is a powerful story and another important difference....the real Billy takes responsibility for what he did and recognizes what he did was wrong....in sharp contrast to the Billy in the movie who is little more than a whiner who never really owns up to what he did or the fact that he broke the law. I sympathize with the real man much more than the one portrayed by Brad Davis.
One thing that should be said though....Hayes couldn't admit it at the time but at the time of his arrest it was NOT his first time smuggling. He actually had done it before 3 times successfully but ran out of luck his fourth time due to the fact that recent hijackings caused airport security to tighten up and be more stricter. I can certainly understand why he would not want to admit that at the time of his arrest....he would no doubt have gotten life, no reduced 30 years or less. Public and political reaction to his situation would have been way less sympathetic.
Hayes was no innocent....he makes no bones about that. Did he deserve to serve time? I think so. Did he deserve life or 30 years for his crime (even if he had done it repeatedly)....no. After he escaped he made something of himself, so I'd say he most certainly did learn his lesson and became a better person for it.
The book will suck you in, I know it did me. It is a far more compelling and involving story than the movie led you to believe. I highly recommend it.
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Jenny Mimms
Can picture in mind what is happening.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 28, 2023
