THE GREATEST ADVENTURE OF ESCAPE EVER FILMED!

The incredible life of Henri Charriére, confined for thirteen years in the famous penal settlements of French Guiana and Devil’s Island, is the subject of this classic film, Papillon, starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.

Nicknamed “Papillon” because of the butterfly (symbol of freedom) tattooed on his chest, Charriére devoted his entire energies to escape and suffered savage punishments – including two long periods of solitary confinement – before he finally made it to freedom.

His experiences, from the time he was sentenced to life imprisonment at the age of 25 for a murder he always protested he hadn’t committed, became an international best-seller.  His courage, self-discipline and indestructible spirit triumphed over all the inhumanities heaped upon him and he survived to see the film of his life in production before his death in 1973.

Steve McQueen, in one of his finest screen portrayals, plays the title role with Dustin Hoffman as his fellow prisoner and friend, Dega.

The multi-million dollars production, filmed in Panavision on locations in the Caribbean, was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, who won an Academy Award for his direction of “Patton”.  Schaffner also co-produced the film with Robert Dorfman, from a screenplay by distinguished writers Dalton Trumbo and Lorenzo Semple Jnr. Based on Charriére’s book. The executive producer was Ted Richmond and the stirring music for the film was written by Jerry Goldsmith.

More than a year was spent in researching the film and set construction, and over 1,000 extras were used for scenes of the convicts boarding the ship to be transported to the colony.