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Papillon
1973 151 min United States of America PG 18+
★7.9
Crime, Drama
Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
📖 Based on the novel
«Papillon»
byHenri Charrière
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
A man befriends a fellow criminal as the two of them begin serving their sentence on a dreadful prison island, which inspires the man to plot his escape.
Budget:
$12M
US Gross:
$53.27M
Worldwide:
$53.27M
Starring
Steve McQueen
Actor
Dustin Hoffman
Actor
Victor Jory
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 1974
— Best Score for a Drama
Golden Globe 1974
— Best Actor (Drama)
Key opinion
Papillon is widely regarded as a masterful, stirring prison drama that centers on the indomitable human spirit and the profound bond between its two leads. While critics were initially lukewarm, the film has gained a reputation as a genre-defining classic, noted for its grueling atmosphere and exceptional performances.
| Acting | Steve McQueen delivers a powerful, understated performance that effectively anchors the film's themes of endurance and yearning for freedom. | |
| Acting | Dustin Hoffman provides a nuanced and complex performance that serves as a compelling foil to McQueen’s character. | |
| Score | Jerry Goldsmith's atmospheric score is masterfully integrated, successfully heightening the film’s emotional shifts. | |
| Direction | Director Franklin J. Schaffner creates a stifling, immersive atmosphere that effectively conveys the brutality of the penal colony. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography is highly regarded for its detailed contrast between tight, oppressive prison interiors and sweeping, beautiful outdoor landscapes. | |
| Pacing | Opinions on the film's tone are mixed; while many praise it as a stirring, meditative epic of human survival, others find the slow, contemplative pacing and episodic narrative structure to be a departure from traditional high-octane adventure films. |