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Papillon (1973)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
16 joulukuu 1973 (USA)
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Tagline:
The greatest adventure of escape ever filmed! more
Plot:
A man befriends a fellow criminal as the two of them begin serving their sentence on a dreadful prison island, which inspires the man to plot his escape. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Escape
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French
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South America
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French Guiana
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Tattoo
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Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 2 wins
&
1 nomination
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User Comments:
A Fine Film Which Does The Book Justice
more (114 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Steve McQueen | ... | Henri 'Papillon' Charriere |
 | Dustin Hoffman | ... | Louis Dega |
 | Victor Jory | ... | Indian Chief |
| Don Gordon | ... | Julot |
| Anthony Zerbe | ... | Toussaint |
| Robert Deman | ... | Maturette |
 | Woodrow Parfrey | ... | Clusiot |
| Bill Mumy | ... | Lariot |
| George Coulouris | ... | Dr. Chatal |
| Ratna Assan | ... | Zoraima |
 | William Smithers | ... | Warden Barrot |
 | Val Avery | ... | Pascal |
| Gregory Sierra | ... | Antonio |
| Vic Tayback | ... | Sergeant (as Victor Tayback) |
 | Mills Watson | ... | Guard |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
150 min
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints) |
Mono (35 mm optical prints)
Certification:
Canada:13+ (Quebec) |
Canada:AA (Ontario) |
Iceland:16 |
Hong Kong:IIB |
Canada:A (Nova Scotia) |
Canada:PA (Manitoba) |
Australia:M |
South Korea:18 |
Canada:14A (video rating) |
Brazil:12 |
Argentina:13 |
Finland:K-18 |
Ireland:18 |
Netherlands:12 |
Norway:15 |
Norway:16 (1974) |
Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) |
Singapore:PG |
Sweden:15 |
UK:18 (video rating) (1986) |
UK:AA (original rating) (cut) |
West Germany:16 |
UK:15 (video rating) (2000) |
USA:PG (re-rating on appeal) |
USA:R (original rating)
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Although billed as a true story, the French in French Guiana claim that much of the story of Henri Charrière (Papillon) is fabricated. Papillon was documented to have been incarcerated in Saint Laurent and may have escaped from there, but he never served any time on the Devil's Islands (now known as Iles du Salut or Salvation Islands). The book and movie both present Devil's Island as having rocky cliffs, when in fact, though the entire island is rocky, it gently slopes into the surrounding sea.
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Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: Newer prints, with improved resolution and brighter tone reveal that the leader of the leper colony's mouth isn't moving at the end of the "cigar" conversation, when he talks to McQueen.
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Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Teenage Caveman (#4.15)" (1991)
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (114 total)
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Usually, after reading a long book filled with many interesting adventures, watching a two-hour film later winds up being a big disappointment. There is no way a film can give you anywhere near the info you glean from a book, especially one over 500 pages as is the case with "Papillion." Yet, despite most of Henri Charriere's incredible feats of survival, ("Papillion" was Charriere's nickname) this movie is above average and basically does the book justice. The movie runs about two-and-a-half hours and gives enough of a flavor to have the viewer appreciate - at least to some degree - the brutal trials and tribulations Papillion went through in real life.
If you enjoyed this film, the book is a "must-read" for you and very highly-recommend You won't believe all the things Charriere experienced: good and bad. In real life, the man escaped something like eight times and each time went through hell.
Steve McQueen, playing "Papillion," was excellent. He was particularly good at showing the physical effects of years of solitary confinement. By the way, in real life, Charriere was much younger went sent to jail than McQueen was at the time this movie was shot. Papillion should have been played by a younger actor, but who's going to complain when you get an actor of McQueen's caliber?
Dustin Hoffman also was great as Papillion's friend, "Louis Dega," who had a bigger role in the movie than he did in the book. For the most part, Papillion had a number of friends, all helping him over the years. Hoffman also provided some good comic relief to the movie and, heaven knows, it needed it. Take it from someone who has read the book: this is a grim story, worse than what you saw on screen here.
Nevertheless, thanks to the two leading actors and the wonderful work by Director Franklin Schaffner and Cinematograher Fred Koenekamp, this long film entertained. No, it wasn't the caliber of the book, but it's didn't insult it, either, and is definitely worth a look.