classicsoncall "Papillon" is the kind of movie that shows to what lengths persevering men will go to, to achieve freedom. I've not read the Henri Charriere novel that was the basis for the film, though I'm guided in that direction by the film and other reviewers here. Just contemplating the horrors of being an inmate at St. Laurent Prison is enough to make one ill; seeing some of them depicted is downright nauseating. Eating bugs and going dark in solitary is not a pleasant prospect.Steve McQueen is excellent in one of his career defining roles, and it was interesting to see hints of Ratso Rizzo ("Midnight Cowboy") and the future Raymond Babbitt ("Rain Man") in Dustin Hoffman's portrayal of Louie Dega. The one disconnect I had with the picture though was with Dega's reputation as the best counterfeiter in France. Bereft of any possessions in prison, especially when banished to a French Guiana penal colony, what resources did he have to produce all the currency Papillon used for his various bribes? An additional scene or two, even brief ones, might have shed some light on that.But overall, this is an engaging film with an established star of the era (McQueen), and a notable celebrity in the making (Hoffman). It's taken me a long while to get around to this picture and now I'm glad I did. If this is anyone's first look at McQueen, be sure to take note of those incredibly blue eyes of his. They're almost unnatural.

areatw 'Papillon' is an entertaining prison escape drama with a great script and some terrific acting performances. For its time, 'Papillon' is a very well made and brilliantly shot film. It does a great job at blending various themes and elements, from pulsating tension and drama to some amusing moments.Of course, any prison film is certain to draw comparisons with the Shawshank, a film that is and always will be one of the greatest films ever made, and hands down the best in the prison genre. However, 'Papillon' is certainly a film I will remember due to its highly enjoyable plot and equally great cast. Recommended.

gridoon2018 This isn't one of those gung-ho, happy-go-lucky prison-escape Hollywwod pictures; it is long (almost 2 and 1/2 hours!), grim (even the humor is grim), and quite adult (there is a beheading, an impaling, female nudity, male homosexuality, verbal mention of masturbation - not things you normally see in a mainstream Hollywwod movie). It does go on longer than necessary, but it remains gripping most of the time; the solitary-confinement segment is particularly compelling. Director Franklin Schaffner is not just a solid storyteller, he has some visual ideas as well (the second hallucination offers the single most unforgettable image in the film, IMO). The film also features one of Steve McQueen's most difficult and demanding (physically and emotionally) roles - and he is excellent. *** out of 4.

hudsonmichelle Steve McQueen as Papillon is sent to the French Guyana prison camp on Devil's Island for murder. On the road he makes friends Louis Dega, a counterfeiter, and their friendship lasts quite a long time, this proves that this is the only thing that makes 2 men to hang on to as the long years of captivity.McQueen and Hoffman are excellent, director Franklin J. Schaffner creates an great atmosphere in the prison as well as in the jungle. The movie has a different climax. This probably has something to do with sense of justice the director seems to be suffering from. This is one of the contrasting features from the the known classics.