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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 6023
Released: May 31, 2005 |
| Our Price: $12.01 |
| Used Price: $7.98 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
They called him Papillon, meaning "butterfly." If only he had wings to go with the name. Unable to fly, Henri Charriere virtually willed himself free. He persisted until he did the impossible: escape Devil's Island. Based on Charriere's bestseller and shot in Spain and Jamaica, Franklin J. Schaffner's film of Papillon united two stars at key career junctures. After a decade of fine work in The Great Escape, The Sand Pebbles and Bullitt, Steve McQueen found in Charriere another ideal tough-guy role. Coming off The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy and Little Big Man, Dustin Hoffman again distinguished himself as Dega, Charriere's scruffy friend.
DVD Features:Other:Vintage Featurette: The Magnificent RebelTheatrical Trailer:
Description of Papillon:
Franklin J. Schaffner (Patton) directs this true story of Henri Charriere (better known as "Papillon" or "the butterfly"), a prisoner so determined to escape the notorious Devil's Island, he attempted it multiple times until he reached old age. Steve McQueen plays Charriere, and Dustin Hoffman is very good as the hero's anxious, defenseless friend. Based on Charriere's own memoir and uncompromisingly adapted by screenwriters Dalton Trumbo (Johnny Got His Gun) and Lorenzo Semple Jr. (Three Days of the Condor), the film is tough going (it is set, after all, on Devil's Island) but not gratuitously violent. There are sequences that stay with one for a long time, such as Papillon's brief stay at a leper colony and the long periods of starvation and solitary confinement he endures after each attempted flight. --Tom Keogh
Papillon Reviews:
One of McQueen's last great roles 
2009-11-24 - The late Steve McQueen sure had a run of good luck with iconic roles like "Bullit", "The Sand Pebbles" (his only Oscar nomination), "The Getaway" and this epic tale which paired him for the first and only time with Dustin Hoffman whom I believe was playing a composite of 2 characters that Henri Carriere had encountered while imprisoned. Character actor that he is, I think Hoffman did a great job but this is McQueen's movie all the way. In an interview with Larry King, Hoffman felt that McQueen was vastly under-rated like Clint Eastwood because he played "close to the vest". In otherwards, in his element which were "action roles" like this or "The Getaway", "Bullit"--he was excellent. But put him in a classical mode like Ibsen's "Enemy of the People" or Shakespeare--and he appears wooden or lost. This film and "The Towering Inferno" was probably the last decent films that McQueen made--forget about "Tom Horn" or "The Hunter". If you're a McQueen fan,do check this one out since it boasts excellent direction from Franklin Schaffner (Patton, Planet of the Apes) and a rousing score from Jerry Goldsmith plus a fine supporting cast which includes frequent cohort, Don Gordon (Bullitt), William Smithers, Anthony Zerbe and Victor Jory. Now all that's needed is that it should be released in Blu-ray!!
2 different ratings? 
2009-09-24 - I just watched this movie for the very first time. I'm a Steve Mcqueen fan, and I always wanted to see this movie. It's one of Steve Mcqueen's best. Steve Mcqueen plays Papillion, a man who was framed for killing a pimp. Dustin Hoffman plays a man who was envolved in a money scam. The two men meet in the french prison and bond after time. I almost didn't want this movie to end it was so good. Papillion faces a lot of hard times in the prison. But in the end his hard work pays off and he escapes. I do have one question, this movie rated "R" on this website. But I went to Walmart and purchased a double feature movie dvd of Steve Mcqueen. "Bullit" and Papillon"
On the back it said Papillon was rated "PG". I don't buy Rated "R" movies, so I don't know what's going on. Did they change the rating? Or was it a miss print?
Great acting
2009-08-23 - Over the years I have watched this movie 50 times. I finally decided to purchase the dvd. It is a story that you will never forget. It's not a sad movie or a happy movie. It's a great movie. It is a true story. You will cheer for Papillon because he never gives up.
It's a good, old McQueen Film.
2009-08-20 - I had fond memories of seeing this film when it first came out. I recently read the book Papillon, & wanted to see it again. Obviously, the book is better. I dig McQueen, & Hoffman does a good job here, too. It's well-worth the price.
awesome movie
2009-08-08 - This an an all time great movie! Really glad to finally own it! Arrived when promised and in new condition.
