Papillon
1973 - 150 min. - Color
Genre: Action
Rated PG
Country: USA

LaserDisc Movie Storyline:
Papillon, a prisoner relegated to the squalid confines of a notorious South American penitentiary, maintains he's innocent of the crime for which he's doing time: murder. His cell-mate, Dega, however, is a counterfeiter whose guilt is unquestionable. Though he's a civilized business-type, Dega is easily vitiated by the depraved mores of prison life.  
   As the interned continue to be treated shamefully and subjected to several cruel and unusual punishments, Papillon grows weary of the mistreatment. Misery leads him to attempt a breakout despite the consequences of possible failure. After several unsuccessful endeavors, Papillon finally manages to break out, but not before he's been through hell and back.

LaserDisc Movie Review:
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 pugnacious Charriere (known as "Papillon," or "butterfly," because of a prominent tatoo), incarcerated --- wrongly, he claims --- for murdering a pimp. He save 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 Guinea. 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.

Although it's overly exhaustive as it catalogues its protagonist's many attempts to regain his freedom, Papillon remains the mother, or at least the master, of all prison-escape flicks. Less of a straight-up procedural than such heirs to the throne as Escape From Alcatraz, the film tempers its unashamedly psychological approach (dream sequences, tests of will, and triumph-of-the-downtrodden hokum) with enough gritty realism (knife fights, guillotines, malaria, and leprous smugglers) to appease those who want their depravity served up extra stark. Escape-film vet Steve McQueen showcases his range both physically and mentally as his character seems to age forward and backward and go in and out of sanity depending on the barbarity of his method of incarceration at any given time. Dustin Hoffman, meanwhile, gets to have it both ways, outrageous vocal and physical tics and subtle psychological shadings, as the rich counterfeiter whose colonic stash of cash finances several of Papillon's attempts to bust out. Viewers may watch the closing credits incredulously, unable to believe that after 150 minutes, director Franklin J. Schaffner still has to resort to a spoken-word epilogue to wrap up loose ends, but for devotees of the genre and fans of McQueen's tough-guy oeuvre, Papillon is worth the investment of time

Cast for Papillon

Steve McQueen - Papillon
Dustin Hoffman - Dega
Victor Jory - Indian Chief
Don Gordon - Julot
Anthony Zerbe - Leper Colony Chief
Robert Deman - Maturette
John Quada - Masked Breton
Dar Robinson - McQueen's Cliff Stunt
Fred Sadoff - Deputy Warden
Woodrow Parfrey - Clusiot
Bill Mumy - Lariot
Ellen Moss - Nun
Dalton Trumbo - Commandant
Mills Watson - Guard
Gregory Sierra - Antonio
William Smithers - Warden Barrot
Vic Tayback - Sergeant
Ron Soble - Santini
George Coulouris - Dr. Chatal
Billy Greene
Don Hanmer - Butterfly Trader
Ratna Assan - Zoraima
Jack Denbo - Classification Officer
Val Avery - Pascal
Liam Dunn - Old Trustee
Barbara Morrison - Mother Superior
E.J. Andre - Old Con
Harry Monty
Allen Jaffe - Turnkey
Richard Angarola - Commandant
Jim Malinda - Guard
Len Lesser - Guard



Crew for Papillon

Franklin J. Schaffner - Director / Producer
Robert Dorfmann - Producer
Henri Charriere - Book Author
Lorenzo Semple, Jr. - Screenwriter
Dalton Trumbo - Screenwriter
Fred Koenekamp - Cinematographer
Jerry Goldsmith - Composer (Music Score)
Robert Swink - Editor
Tony Masters - Production Designer
Jack Maxsted - Art Director
Ted Richmond - Executive Producer
Hugh Scaife - Set Designer
Anthony Powell - Costume Designer
Charles Schram - Makeup
Alex C. Weldon - Special Effects
Jos Lopez Rodero - First Assistant Director
Juan Carlos Lopez Rodero - First Assistant Director
John Courtland - Camera Operator
Derek Ball - Sound/Sound Designer
Richard Portman - Sound/Sound Designer
Jack Baur - Casting
Emmett Emerson - Production Manager



Awards for Papillon

Best Score (nom) Jerry Goldsmith 1973 Academy
Best Actor - Drama (nom) Steve McQueen 1973 Golden Globe


LD Release Date: 9 Feb 1999
Catalog Number: 916
UPC: 012569091665
Manufacturer: Mitsubishi
Publisher: Warner Home Video

Diameter: 12"
Sides: 3
Cover: Jacket
Sound Analog Right: Dolby Digital 5.1
Closed Caption: English
Spoken Language: English
Country: USA
Video Format: NTSC