Butterfly
Papillon movie storyline. A semi-fictional account of Henri Charrière’s time in the penal system in French Guyana – some of it spent on infamous Devil’s Island – is presented. It’s the early 1930s. Charrière – nicknamed Papillon because of his butterfly tattoo – and Louis Dega are two among many who have been convicted. in the French judicial system, they now being transferred to French Guyana where they will serve their time, never to return to France even if they are ever released.
A safe-cracker by criminal profession, Papillon is serving a life sentence for murdering a pimp, a crime for which he adamantly states he was framed. Dega is a wealthy counterfeiter, who expects his well-to-do wife eventually to get him released. On Papillon’s initiative, Papillon and Dega enter into a business arrangement: Papillon will provide protection for Dega, while Dega will finance Papillon’s escape attempt. As Papillon and Degas’ time together lasts longer than either expects, their burgeoning friendship ends up being an important factor altering their original plans, needed as they work with and against others who are trying to achieve their own goals, sometime conflicting with Papillon and Dega’s.
Papillon is a 1973 historical period drama prison film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner. The screenplay by Dalton Trumbo and Lorenzo Semple Jr. was based on the 1969 autobiography by the French convict Henri Charrière. The film stars Steve McQueen as Charrière (“Papillon”) and Dustin Hoffman as Louis Dega. Because it was filmed at remote locations, the film was quite expensive for the time ($12 million), but it earned more than twice that in its first year of release.] The film’s title is French for “Butterfly,” referring to Charrière’s tattoo and nickname.
Papillon – Butterfly (1973)
Directed by: Franklin J. Schaffner
Starring: Steve McQueen, Dustin Hoffman, Victor Jory, Don Gordon, Anthony Zerbe, Robert Deman, George Coulouris, Ratna Assan, William Smithers, Gregory Sierra, Mills Watson
Screenplay by: Dalton Trumbo, Lorenzo Semple Jr.
Production Design by: Anthony Masters
Cinematography by: Fred J. Koenekamp
Film Editing by: Robert Swink
Costume Design by: Anthony Powell
Art Direction by: Jack Maxsted
Music by: Jerry Goldsmith
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Allied Artists (USA), Columbia Pictures (Non-USA)
Release Date: December 16, 1973
Visits: 394