Papillon

Forget the Shawshank Redemption this great adventure story based on real events is the best prison movie ever made. As a child this was the first movie that really had a profound impact on me & moved me to tears. Even now the final scenes of Papillon on Devils Island trying to convince his friend Dega to make one last final break for freedom with him swell the emotions within me! Great performances from McQueen & Hoffman and great location work coupled with an arousing musical score. Once you have seen this film it is hard to ever forget it. A true classic of cinema. It may be a little long and slow paced at times ... but then that is the solitude & boredom of a dismal penal colony existence.

This is the second greatest "run after freedom" movie i've ever seen. Two great actors Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen are able to present you disappointment, happiness, loyalty, patience, hope, insanity, friendship and depression perfectly. Every single scene in the picture has a lot of things to say to you. You might get emotionally confused when watching this movie, you might even sense a little bit of friendship or love between the prison guardians and the prisoners and at the same time you might be able to sense the unreasonable hate. When you are not free, then you have nothing else to lose thus you have to run after your freedom, however do not believe in freedom until you get what you used to have before losing it.

In my top 20 films of all time. Probably the best performance both Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman have ever given in a film enthused with absorbing detail in every scene, not only of the harshness of Devil's Island but of the psychological impact on the main players and the injustice and cruelty of the life sentences. It works on two levels - psychological and emotional whilst at the same time tells an exciting and dramatic story of escape. It's riveting cinema that went unrewarded by critics - shame on them. Thankfully its proved amongst the public to be an enduring classic.

I remember seeing "Papillon" in the theater (Bellerose, NY). I've seen it many times since. It never gets old. It still packs a punch. Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman both give very good performances. The supporting cast is also very good. The location photography and the music are both top-notch. The violence still shocks. "Papillon" doesn't waste any time. The story starts right away and never lets up. This movie made a big impact on me when I was a kid. All these years later, it still makes an impact on me. "Papillon" is a classic.

Great, epic prison/escape drama. Interesting, captivating plot. Solid direction. Good performances from Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman in the lead roles.

Papillon is one of my all-time favorites films. Steve McQueen is fantastic in the lead role. Dustin Hoffman is at his finest as Louie Dega. Very memorable, unforgettable performances, shocking action scenes and psychological thrills and twists. I cannot write enough good things about this film. After years of looking, I recently found this film on DVD and added it to my collection. This is the kind of movie that you can watch again and again and continue to see things you've never noticed before. This film never gets old and you never grow tired of watching Papillon. Some of the cast includes Vic Tayback also known as Mel from the hit TV series "Alice." He is convincing as a mean, surly prison guard. Also, Billy Tumy known for his role in "Lost in Space" as Will Robinson, plays a young, doomed inmate. There are other character actors included in the cast that you will more than likely recognize throughout the film. I give this film the strongest and highest of recommendations.