Review of Papillon (1973) by Timothy J — 06 Feb 2013

What can you say? Just a fantastic movie. Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman are great in this movie. Based on the autobiography of Henri Charriere and his experience's trying to escape from Devil's Island Prison off the coast of Guyanna.

(Papillon is French fo butterfly and referred to the Butterfly Tattoo that Henri had on his chest). In later years former inmates and guards at Devils Island claimed that a lot of Charriere's autobiography was embellished or outright fiction.

So when you watch the movie it is difficult to know which scenes are fake or fact. It is either a great work of fiction. An interesting look into a life. Or a little if both. Either way, one of the best movies ever made.