Page

Papillon

❚ We may earn commission from links on this page. Our editorial is always independent (learn more).

Watch trailer

03:09

Papillon

Save

Summary

Drama based on a true story, starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman. Henri Charrière, nicknamed Papillon, is sentenced to life imprisonment on the notorious Devil's Island, French Guiana, for a crime he did not commit. For 13 years, Papillon is subjected to savage punishment and hardships, but his resolve to escape to freedom remains.

Ad

Powered By

IMDB

Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

David Parkinson

On its original release, the critics had few good words to say about this adaptation of Henri Charrière's autobiographical account of his escape from Devil's Island. But time has looked favourably on The Shawshank Redemption of its day, with director Franklin J Schaffner's stately pace and careful development of the forbidding prison atmosphere adding greatly to a harrowing study of confinement and single-mindedness. Steve McQueen plays the convict bent on breaking free and is perhaps a little too enigmatic for his own good at times. But Dustin Hoffman (as a fretful counterfeiter who's taken under Papillon's wing) produces a splendid depiction of cunning corruption that acts as a perfect balance to McQueen's superstar charisma.

imdb-square

8.0/10

How to watch

Loading

Streaming

Credits

Cast

rolenameHenri Charrière, PapillonSteve McQueen (1)Louis DegaDustin HoffmanIndian ChiefVictor JoryJulotDon GordonToussaintAnthony ZerbeMaturetteRobert DemanClusoitWoodrow ParfreyLariotBill MumyDr ChatalGeorge CoulourisWarden BarrotWilliam SmithersZoraimaRatna AssanSergeantVictor TaybackMasked BretonJohn QuadeAntonioGregory SierraGuardMills WatsonPascalVal AveryMother SuperiorBarbara MorrisonSantiniRon SobleOld trusteeLiam DunnCommandantDalton TrumboMrs DegaAnne Byrne HoffmanNunEllen MossButterfly traderDon HanmerOld conE J AndreDeputy wardenFred SadoffTurnkeyAllen Jaffe

Show more

Crew

rolenameDirectorFranklin J Schaffner

Details

Theatrical distributor

Columbia-Warner Dists

Released on

1974-07-14

Languages

English | Spanish

Guidance

Contains violence, swearing and nudity.

Available on

video and DVD

Formats

Colour

Ad

Ad

Ad