Does anyone feel sorry for Bill Hayes after seeing the movie?
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frana43 — 17 years ago(July 02, 2008 02:50 AM)
I, for one, felt sorry for Hayes because he was not meant to get arrested -
he happened to be ending his trip on a day when there was a military scare
and had more of a misfortune in being caught, than trying to smuggle drugs.
But I also wish the film had stuck to the book, and not been 'racist'. -
kellymariekitty — 10 years ago(February 15, 2016 06:43 AM)
Not meant to get arrested???? He was a drug smuggler!!!
And this was his 4th tripnot 1st but FORTH!!!!!
He is low life scum bag - all drug dealers / smugglers etc are drug dealers who deserve to be banged up. If the guards treated him badly, ok that's not nice but hes in a Turkish prison for crying out loud - what did he expect, nice treatment???
He deserved what he got - I disagree with the life sentence though - that's way to harsh - he didn't murder anybody but I guess a smuggling charge is more accurate than possession.
I agree that the 3-4 years & then WHAM!! straight to 30 years was really harsh. He paid his debt to society & I think that should have been enough. He didn't deserve life and - even though he deserved jail cos hes a smuggler - this film made me realise, im never going to turkey ever!!!
Not in a million years & I have never, nor would I ever break the law & do something like this - way to scary but Turkey as a holiday destination?? Errrr nope.
No now, not ever!! -
bugaloos — 15 years ago(July 11, 2010 11:34 AM)
We are supposed to feel sorry for him because he had already served 3.5 years, was beaten, tortured and then given 30 years just for hashish possession/smuggling. It was a ridiculous, cruel conviction! I felt very sorry for him. Yes, it was stupid smuggling hashish, but 2-3 years is enough!
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intangible103 — 17 years ago(July 04, 2008 02:41 PM)
The question is not guilt or innocence, but of justice.
If you believe his sentence and brutal treatment were unjust, then sympathizing with him is completely understandable.
You may think he deserved punishment but do you believe he received JUSTICE? -
Michael_Essien — 17 years ago(August 24, 2008 05:19 PM)
definitley. Who could survive in a beep when youre told its a 4 year sentence then they extend it to thirty? I dont know much about the law, but i would think the sentence should be more than 4 years primarily, but its ridiculous to prolong a sentence more than its orignial length without any real reason.
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lomd — 14 years ago(November 28, 2011 01:12 AM)
There is a comment in the Wikipedia talk page about the movie stating that actually his sentence was almost over by the time he fled (in real life, that is). Extending his nominal sentence is certainly a shocking notion for those used to western courts, but paying too much attention to that is missing the point.
In all honesty, I am sorry that the movie glosses over the seriousness of the reason why he was arrested in the first place and then goes on to put him in a largely fictional nightmare scenario. The movie is basically a fantasy thriller in the tradition of, say, Stephen King stories. It just happens that it is disguised as a political statement movie, when in fact it is anything but; the only political statement that is does is "I don't care about responsibility, I want to complain and get away with it". -
bmodica — 17 years ago(October 12, 2008 05:03 AM)
Even when I saw the movie in 1978, I wasn't at all sorry for this idiot. He's breaking the law in a foreign country known for its harsh treatment. He got what he deserved. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.
Billy the Kid -
novastar_6 — 17 years ago(October 25, 2008 11:38 PM)
At the time though WAS it known for doing what it did? I don't think so otherwise probably nobody would ever go there. Sure I feel sorry for him after seeing the movie, I really feel sorry for him after reading the factual book, and if there's one thing I know it's that I ain't EVER going to Turkey, even if I didn't do anything I wouldn't trust them not to try and arrest me anyway.
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ramsfan — 17 years ago(October 27, 2008 10:38 PM)
Mixed feelings about Billy Hayes. I think as a human being, one can't help but feel sympathy for the horrific conditions he had to endure- surely the punishment didn't fit the crime here, and he also suffered the indignity of having his sentence lengthened shortly before he was due to be released.
On the flip side, I have little tolerance for drug users, and it is typical American thinking that other countries should think as we do in terms of punishment for certain crimes. -
kellymariekitty — 10 years ago(February 15, 2016 06:45 AM)
I agree with that - even though he deserved it cos hes a smuggler - im never going to turkey ever!!! Not in a million years & I have never, nor would I ever break the law & do something like this - way to scary but Turkey as a holiday destination?? Errrr nope.
No now, not ever!! -
bmodica — 15 years ago(July 27, 2010 01:51 PM)
Gee, DLY. How so very pithy. What's wrong with my assessment? He knew he was breaking the law, and he knew of the conditions of incarceration. Do I enjoy what happened to him? Of course not. But he did it to himself. No one forced him into smuggling. So, he got caught in a barbaric country, and paid the price those peoples felt was justified.
Billy the Kid