Papillion
(1973)–A career criminal is sent to the worst prison in the
French penal system. Eventually he will face the challenge of
attempting an escape from the legendary Devil’s Island.
(1973)–A career criminal is sent to the worst prison in the
French penal system. Eventually he will face the challenge of
attempting an escape from the legendary Devil’s Island.
Directed
by Franklin Schaffner Starring Steve McQueen
and Dustin Hoffman
by Franklin Schaffner Starring Steve McQueen
and Dustin Hoffman
Why
You Will Like It: Two great actors bring an intense friendship to
life.
You Will Like It: Two great actors bring an intense friendship to
life.
Based
on the best-selling novel of the same name, McQueen stars as Henri
Charriere, known as Papillion for the butterfly tattoo on his chest.
How much of the story is true has been disputed from the moment it’s original printing. Charriere claims it was all true, the French
authorities point out that there are some serious departures from
fact in both book and movie. There is no record that Papillion was on Devil’s Island, and the cliffs he describes jumping from
don’t exist. Like many professional
criminals, Charriere was an accomplished storyteller. The story he
told, true or not, is compelling.
on the best-selling novel of the same name, McQueen stars as Henri
Charriere, known as Papillion for the butterfly tattoo on his chest.
How much of the story is true has been disputed from the moment it’s original printing. Charriere claims it was all true, the French
authorities point out that there are some serious departures from
fact in both book and movie. There is no record that Papillion was on Devil’s Island, and the cliffs he describes jumping from
don’t exist. Like many professional
criminals, Charriere was an accomplished storyteller. The story he
told, true or not, is compelling.
Now
add in the on-screen presence of Steve McQueen and the subtle
brilliance of Dustin Hoffman. The two stars play close friends on
screen while not getting along off. The two brought very different
acting approaches and bumped heads repeatedly. All reports agree
that when they were working, they were consummate professionals. The
viewer gets the benefit of that professionalism.
add in the on-screen presence of Steve McQueen and the subtle
brilliance of Dustin Hoffman. The two stars play close friends on
screen while not getting along off. The two brought very different
acting approaches and bumped heads repeatedly. All reports agree
that when they were working, they were consummate professionals. The
viewer gets the benefit of that professionalism.
Hoffman
plays the greatest forger in France. He had masterminded a huge
scam involving French Defense Bonds that caused huge losses to
investors. That includes many people he now finds as his fellow
prisoners. Small with terrible eyesight (Hoffman wore contact lenses
to counteract the effects of the Coke bottle lenses he wore for the
character), he realizes that he will need a protector. What he has
is a great deal of money, which the prisoners smuggle in using an
intimate and unpleasant technique. Papillion needs money to fund
escape attempts. They form a partnership that develops into a
profound friendship over their years together in various prisons.
That relationship forms the core of the story. Louis believes he can outsmart the system. Hoffman excels as he shows the slow
erosion of that belief. McQueen’s Papillion believes he can
outlast the system. It will do everything in its power to destroy
him.
plays the greatest forger in France. He had masterminded a huge
scam involving French Defense Bonds that caused huge losses to
investors. That includes many people he now finds as his fellow
prisoners. Small with terrible eyesight (Hoffman wore contact lenses
to counteract the effects of the Coke bottle lenses he wore for the
character), he realizes that he will need a protector. What he has
is a great deal of money, which the prisoners smuggle in using an
intimate and unpleasant technique. Papillion needs money to fund
escape attempts. They form a partnership that develops into a
profound friendship over their years together in various prisons.
That relationship forms the core of the story. Louis believes he can outsmart the system. Hoffman excels as he shows the slow
erosion of that belief. McQueen’s Papillion believes he can
outlast the system. It will do everything in its power to destroy
him.
Other
than one rather weird dream sequence, the movie is pretty
straightforward. It’s a prison movie, an escape movie, a buddy
movie. It is a story of one man’s refusal to remain captive for a
crime he says he did not commit. In his own style, Charriere is an
honest and honorable man caught in a violent and inhumane system.
than one rather weird dream sequence, the movie is pretty
straightforward. It’s a prison movie, an escape movie, a buddy
movie. It is a story of one man’s refusal to remain captive for a
crime he says he did not commit. In his own style, Charriere is an
honest and honorable man caught in a violent and inhumane system.
The
movie doesn’t force the action, so it feels slow at times. But
wonderful performances not to be missed.
movie doesn’t force the action, so it feels slow at times. But
wonderful performances not to be missed.
Rating
– **** Recommended
– **** Recommended
Stories Are My Life 
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