Prisoners Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman plot their escape from infamous Devil's Island in director Franklin J. Schaffner's classic adventure movie, Papillon.

Papillon tells the fact-based story of Henri Charriere -- a.k.a. "Papillon" (Steve McQueen) -- and the hardships he endured while a convict at the penal institution in French Guiana in the 1930s. Determined to escape his hellish imprisonment, Papillon strikes up a friendship with fellow convict Louis Dega (Dustin Hoffman), with the two eventually securing a boat and setting off on one of Hollywood's greatest adventures.

Henri Charriere Writes Papillon

Papillon was based on the nonfiction book of the same title by Henri Charriere (1906-1973), a Frenchman who was known in the Parisian underworld as "Papillon" -- French for butterfly. Wrongly convicted in the murder of a pimp, Papillon was sentenced to hard labor for life in 1931, a sentence which landed him at the jungle prison in French Guiana, also known as Devil's Island.

Eventually winning his freedom in 1945, Papillon settled in Venezuela. Here he penned his memoirs, filling 13 spiral notebooks in longhand. The manuscript, typed by volunteers in his adopted country, was then sent to Paris literary agent Jean-Pierre Castelnau. The result was Papillon, published in June of 1969 by Robert Laffont. By April 1970, the book had sold over one million copies in France, and in time became an international bestseller as well. Charriere followed with a second book, Banco, published in 1972.

The Movie Rights

Papillon's movie rights were purchased by European producer Robert Dorfmann for a staggering $600,000. Initially hired to write the screenplay were Robert Benton and David Newton, who were replaced by William Goldman. When Goldman's script was found to be lacking, Dalton Trumbo got the nod, with he and Lorenzo Semple Jr. writing the final draft.

The Cast

It was Dorfmann's original idea to cast Europe's leading box-office sensation, Jean-Paul Belmondo, in the title role. But when Dorfmann factored in the lucrative American market in the picture's eventual release, it was decided to go with international movie star Steve McQueen.

The wary McQueen came with a big price tag, demanding a fee of $2 million and a hefty percentage of the profits. Dustin Hoffman, who played the bespectacled counterfeiter Louis Dega, a minor figure in the book whose role was expanded in order to accomodate the actor, did not come cheaply either, receiving $1.25 million for his services.

Others appearing in the cast included Don Gordon (Julot), Victor Jory (Indian Chief), Anthony Zerbe (Toussaint the Leper Chieftain), Robert Deman (Maturette), Woodrow Parfrey (Clusiot), Bill Mumy (Lariot), Gregory Sierra (Antonio) and Dalton Trumbo (Prison Commandant in France).

Filmed in Spain, France and Jamaica

Made for $14 million, Papillon was filmed in Spain, France and Jamaica. In the former, a replica set of the original prison at French Guiana was constructed.

By most accounts Papillon was a tough shoot, with budget overruns plaguing the picture, stars McQueen and Hoffman eventually giving each other the silent treatment when off camera, and McQueen struggling with a weight problem exacerbated by his love for Red Stripe Jamaican beer.

You Are the Property of the Penal Administration, French Guiana...

Papillon opens in France, where armed guards march a throng of prisoners to the docks to be transported to French Guiana. Among the convicts is Papillon, a safecracker who received a life sentence for the murder of a pimp.

Aboard ship Papillon makes the acquaintance of Louis Dega, a master counterfeiter of National Defense Bonds, Series 1928. In exchange for Papillon's protection, Dega agrees to finance any escape attempt his protector may wish to undertake once they reach the French penal colony.

French Guiana quickly lives up to its unoffical moniker -- Devil's Island -- where brutal guards, disease and horrific prison conditions take their toll. Although unsuccessful in his previous escape attempts, the resilient Papillon never loses his spirit, forever planning one more cavale in his quest for freedom.

Release and Reviews

Papillon hit movie theaters on December 16, 1973. "Schaffner has really made an exhilarating movie out of the most dangerously depressing material," wrote Andrew Sarris of The Village Voice.

Nominated for one Oscar -- Best Music, Original Dramatic Score (Jerry Goldsmith) -- Papillon was a huge winner at the box office, grossing $22.5 million, placing it #4 on the top moneymaking films of 1973.

Papillon: Tarnished Memoir?

Although Henri Charriere's book was supposed to be a true story, not everyone bought his line. Among the doubters was Franklin J. Schaffner, who earned $750,000 to direct Papillon. Said actor Don Gordon: "Schaffner told me that he never believed half the things he (Papillon) said in the book, that Charriere was a lying son-of-a-bitch."

"Hey, you bastards! I'm still here!" a defiant Steve McQueen mutters to his tormentors on the island of Saint Joseph.

It's classic McQueen (1930-1980) -- the King of Hollywood Cool -- who had previously delighted audiences with the same rebel spirit in such pictures as The Magnificent Seven (1960), The War Lover (1962), The Great Escape (1963) and The Cincinnati Kid (1965).