Papillon (film)
Papillon is a 1973 historical adventure drama prison film directed by Franklin J.
Papillon is a 1973 historical adventure drama prison film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner. It stars Steve McQueen as Henri Charrière and Dustin Hoffman as Louis Dega, and is based on Charrière’s 1969 autobiography of the same name. The title is French for “butterfly,” referring to Charrière’s nickname and chest tattoo.
Plot
Papillon depicts Henri Charrière’s imprisonment in French Guiana and his repeated efforts to escape. The film centres on his endurance, punishments, and relationship with fellow inmate Louis Dega.
Production
The film was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and adapted by Dalton Trumbo and Lorenzo Semple Jr. from Charrière’s book. It was produced and released in the early 1970s as a major English-language adventure drama.
Source material
The film is based on Charrière’s 1969 book Papillon, presented by its author as autobiographical. The story has long been discussed for its claims about how closely it reflects Charrière’s real life.
Reception
Papillon became a notable commercial film of 1973 and remains known for its performances and prison-escape narrative. It is commonly discussed as one of the period’s major adventure-drama films.
Key facts
- The film is an adaptation of Henri Charrière’s 1969 autobiographical book.
- Steve McQueen plays Charrière, whose nickname is Papillon.
- Dustin Hoffman plays Louis Dega, Charrière’s fellow prisoner and ally.
- The story follows attempts to escape from a French Guiana penal colony.
- The film was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and written by Dalton Trumbo and Lorenzo Semple Jr.
Papillon has been widely distributed and discussed in Canada as part of the international canon of 1970s English-language cinema, and it is familiar to Canadian viewers through television broadcasts, repertory screenings, and home media.
Frequently asked questions
What is Papillon?
Who directed Papillon?
Who stars in Papillon?
What is Papillon based on?
What does the title Papillon mean?
References
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papillon_(1973_film)Supports: Director, cast, year, genre, and basis on Henri Charrière’s book.
- IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070511/Supports: Release year and plot synopsis for the 1973 film.
- Knoji — https://www.knoji.com/article/steve-mcqueen-in-papillon-1973-movie-trivia-fun-facts/Supports: Book basis, Charrière background, and box office note.