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Steve McQueen, Dustin Hoffman, Victor Jory, Don Gordon, Anthony Zerbe ... see more see more... , Robert Deman , E.J. Andre , Richard Angarola , Ratna Assan , Val Avery , George Coulouris , Jack Denbo , Liam Dunn , Billy M. Greene , Don Hanmer , Allen Jaffe , Len Lesser , Jim Malinda , Barbara Morrison , Ellen Moss , Bill Mumy , Woodrow Parfrey , John Quade , Fred Sadoff , Gregory Sierra , William Smithers , Ron Soble , Vic Tayback , Mills Watson , Dar Robinson , Dalton Trumbo , Harry Monty , Mc Queen

The autobiography of Henri Charriere, one of the few people to successfully escape from the notorious French penal colony of Devil's Island, served as the basis for Papillon. Steve McQueen plays the p... read more read more...ugnacious Charriere (known as "Papillon," or "butterfly," because of a prominent tatoo), incarcerated--wrongly, he claims--for murdering a pimp. He saves the life of fellow convict Louis Dega (Dustin Hoffman), a counterfeiter who will later show his gratitude by helping Charriere in his many escape attempts, and by smuggling food to Charriere when the latter is put in solitary confinement. One breakout, which takes Charriere and Dega to a leper colony and then to a native encampment, is almost successful, but Charriere is betrayed (allegedly because he stopped for an act of kindness) and back the prisoners go to French Guiana. Years later, Dega is made a trustee and is content with his lot, but the ageing, white-haired Charriere cannot be held back. A tribute to the unquenchability of the human spirit, Papillon brought in an impressive $22 million at the box office. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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46,454 ratings

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92% liked it

13 critics

PG, 2 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Franklin J. Schaffner, Franklin Schaffner

Keywords: prison

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DVD Release Date: December 14, 1999

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Flixster Reviews (1,899)

  • CloudStrife84
    November 2, 2011
    CloudStrife84
    What greater escape from boredom, than watching two of the finest actors in Hollywood history, making their own grand escape from the shackles of imprisonment. There's just something about these kind of epic prison dramas, that always manages to capture every ounce of my attentio... read moren. And speaking of great escapes, this is also the first film I've ever seen starring Steve McQueen. Now I could finally see for myself what I've been hearing and reading about for years - and he is indeed an extraordinary actor. As for the technical achievements of the film, there's more praise to be given here than I have the time to administer. But to highlight some of the essentials, it really made an impression on me with its marvellously written script. Every piece of dialogue has been given a lot of thought and consideration, and right from its very first scene it really pulled me in. Visually, there's much to revel in as well. Although the situations the characters find themselves in are often harsh and extremely brutal, many of the locations they travel to are really mesmerizing to the eyes. An unforgettable piece of cinema, supremely directed by Franklin J. Schaffner. Not to forget Fred J. Koenekamp, whose outstanding cinematography is one of the film's most pleasant components. Appreciators of the prison genre - and great dramatic work in general - owe it to themselves to see this lush and heart-gripping classic. Personally, I loved every minute, and that's coming from someone who is usually not a fan of films from the 1970's. A fantastic, triumphant and beautifully crafted motion picture, that can be enjoyed regardless of which generation you belong to. Truly a must-see!
  • garyX
    February 1, 2011
    garyX
    A true story based on the life of an infamous safecracker played by Steve McQueen, who is sent to a notorious French prison colony and forms a close bond with fellow internee Dustin Hoffman as he plans his escape. Papillon is one of those prestige films that was probably made wit... read moreh one eye on the Oscars. An almost unrecognisable McQueen sheds his action hero image to play the harrowed, down trodden but ultimately unbreakable Papillon and produced probably his best performance. Hoffman adds a suitably expert performance as his physically weak but wily sidekick and from a technical point of view, there's not much that can be faulted. My only reservation is in the fact that because we knew little about these characters and who they were before they reached their prison, I found it difficult to form an emotional attachment to them; sure I was harrowed and inspired on cue, but I never really forgot that I was watching a film complete with all the usual elements you'd expect. Definitely worth it to see two Hollywood legends at the top of their game though.
  • imrealgod
    January 19, 2011
    imrealgod
    I was drawn towards it because of its high IMDb rating and all the more because it's based on real life events. However, the length of the movie is too long for its own good. It's interesting to wait and watch the strategy the protagonists adopt for their escape and whether they ... read moresucceed or not, but it drags the scenes needlessly time and again. The movie is executed in such a way that you begin to yawn at regular intervals. It could have been way better with appropriate editing. However, Dustin Hoffman gives an excellent performance along with Steve McQueen.
  • sononothing
    February 7, 2010
    sononothing
    I was haunted while watching Papillon. When Papillon (Steve McQueen) is stuck in solitary confinement, I kept thinking back to the Cooler King from The Great Escape. Shockingly, I discovered that Nazi were more humane than French colonists in Guyana. Weird, huh?

    Papillon follows... read more the prison term of the title character, nicknamed for the butterfly tattoo on his chest. Sent to Devils Island for life Papillon strikes a deal with Dega (Dustin Hoffman) that in exchange for protection Dega will finance an escape attempt. Dega is loaded and carries his money in a new fangled prison wallet called his ass. Talk about money in need of laundering. The film continues to be one screw job after another as the innocent Papillon tries to get off of Devil's Island.

    You can see the complaints some people may have with this film. Sure McQueen and Hoffman have little chemistry, but on screen it's basically a business arrangement that turns into a strained friendship because of all the failures the pair go through. A massive film directed by Patton's Franklin Schaffner Papillon does drag in some points, particularly the solitary scenes. These could be considered too much, but McQueen really expresses the role of the anti-Cooler King, ready to break and eating insects in the dark. It's too long because any kind of confinement is too long.

    Really, Papillon isn't the Great Escape II. It's more of the breaking of men in the middle of the jungle. I can't forget another piece of casting brilliance with Vic Tayback playing a French guard. Dingy!
  • SirPant
    September 24, 2009
    SirPant
    Beautiful and faultless! Cinema at its very best!
  • phubbs1
    July 18, 2009
    phubbs1
    I saw this as a kid, I was brought up on classic cinema, and it was amazing, it drew me in and haunted me, it makes you wanna know more about the story, Charriere and Devil Island. Based on fact, makes it even more scary and fantastic, the story is simple, escaping from Devils Is... read moreland. The violence is ultra nasty and makes you sweat, the situations are tense and bring you to the edge of your seat, and the locations, yet beautiful, are deadly and full of surprises. The life of Papillon is brutal and makes you learn to trust no one. Rats, pay offs and pay back are all the order of the day in this harrowing tale. The flick looks epic, the casting is classic and its not too predictable. It will stay with you long after it ends.
  • pier007
    March 9, 2009
    pier007
    McQueen and Hoffman are marvelous in this sad but in the end exciting and uplifting prison drama.
  • jennifxu
    January 21, 2009
    jennifxu
    The grimmest depiction of prison life that makes the likes of Shawshank and The Green Mile seem overly contrived and Hollywood. Because we are given very little information about the prisoners' lives prior to being dumped in Guyana, it is imperative for Steve McQueen and Dustin H... read moreoffman to give strong performances to make up for it. And they do. I think this is what it means to disappear into a character. Overlong, though.
  • kiriyamakazou
    September 19, 2008
    kiriyamakazou
    There's something about prison/war camp movies that just gets me all sucked in to the narrative. Perhaps it's the manliness of it all and the male bonding handled in the most masculine of ways. Like the Great Escape this is a tale of hope and like The Shawshank Redemption this is... read more a tale of...wait for it...redemption. McQueen is obviously innocent, otherwise whom would we place our faith with? He's aided by geeky Hoffman and the two make quite a pair. They act off each spectacularly and never try and outdo eacy other. Hoffman feeling quite at ease with a supporting role. He literally supports McQueen at one point, as a deal between the two turns into something more. Real friendship, where risking their lives and going out on a limb is the norm. The two are inseparable. The scene where the two try and work out how to deal with a crocodile is hilariously endearing. The two actors obviously gelled as well off screen as they do on. The film has some excellent escape attempts but the photography here is mainly used to capture nature. Crabs, bugs, bats all make symbolic appearances with the jungle and soon rearing it's ugly head as the true captor of our protagonists. See it for the acting, stay for the gripping story. Moving, cruel and very VERY well executed.
  • puffchunk
    March 30, 2008
    puffchunk
    Awesome. One of the better escape movies out there for sure. Very interesting situations (for once it's not about vietnam or WW2). Also pretty sad how much crap happens to them.

View All Papillon Reviews

Critic Reviews

Michael Booth
August 3, 2007
Michael Booth, Denver Post

A rousing drama of endurance, opportunism and friendship under fire. Full Review

John J. Puccio
May 14, 2011
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

The narrative unfolds slowly, but the two stars are compelling and cinematographer Fred Koenekamp's photography is striking. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
February 10, 2007
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Based on the memoirs of Henri Charriere, the only man to have successfully escaped from Devil's Island, this is a grim and brutal prison drama, made more likable due to the lead star performances. Full Review

Cole Smithey
October 7, 2005
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Steve McQueen's career high performance upstages Dustin Hoffman.

Brian Mckay
March 19, 2003
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com

Awesome jailbreak film with gritty performances.

Scott Weinberg
December 4, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Classic grungy prison drama with great performances throughout.

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 9, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Thomas Delapa
November 4, 2005
Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly

No review available.

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Facts

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    • Dega: Blame is for God and small children.
    • Dega: A temptation resisted is a true measure of character.
    • Dega: Remember what the chicken said to the weasel?
    • Papillon: If he was a healthy weasel, the chicken didn't get a chance to say anything.
    • Papillon: We're something, aren't we? The only animals that shove things up their ass for survival.
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Papillon Trivia

  • A prison escape movie in which Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman play  Answer »
  • Which 1973 movie stars Steve Mcqueen and Dustin Hoffman as a two prisoners escaping from a inescapable penal colony?  Answer »
  • What is the real name of papillon?   Answer »
  • In what film do Steve Mcqueen and Dustin Hoffman star alongside each other  Answer »
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