In the 1973 film "Papillon," Steve McQueen escapes from which penal colony island?

Papillon is an autobiography written by Henri Charrière, first published in France on 30 April 1969. Papillon is Charrière's nickname, deriving from a butterfly tattoo inscribed on his chest. The novel details Papillon's incarceration and subsequent escape from the French penal colony of French Guiana, and covers a 14-year period between 1931 and 1945.

The book is an account of Papillon's life (October 26, 1931 to October 18, 1945), beginning when he was wrongly convicted of murder in France and sentenced to a life of hard labor at the Devil's Island penal colony in French Guiana. He eventually escaped from Devil's Island and settled in Venezuela.

The penal colony of Cayenne commonly known as Devil's Island. It was a famous prison of the 19th and 20th century. It operated at several locations in French Guiana. Opened in 1852, it was notorious for being used for internal exile of French political prisoners during that period, the most famous of whom was Captain Alfred Dreyfus. It is also known for its harsh treatment of criminals, who were deported there from all parts of the French empire. The system was closed down in 1953.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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41 Comments

fabitzer

What a great story, and movie. McQueen was my hero.

Kevin Twitty

Facts I didn't know.

Kim Teresa Lawrence- Jeffries

It was filmed on the Ke`anae coast on Maui

John Grubb

Great movie, being a prisoner there was deadly!!!

wordster

Carl Belken, Indeed! Sad to watch Matthew McConaughy try to be the new Mr. Cool, when he just ain't got it. McQueen was cool, so was Paul Newman, maybe Redford, Connery, Bogart, not many, a rare breed.

Todd Van Dell

Interesting that in one sentence the original story of Papillon was called an autobiography. Then a few lines later, it was called a novel. Autobiographies are usually nonfiction. Novels are always fiction. Now, having said that? If it is a fictional autobiography, or an autobiographical novel, meaning the author has taken some liberties, and some authorial license, with the truth? Then that's different. But, at that point, it becomes an autobiographical novel, leaving the reader to parse which elements are indeed true, and which, are fictionalized. Often certain elements such as various character's identities, have to be fictionalized to a certain extent. Especially if the author is striving to protect someone's identity. Or to allow them to maintain some level of privacy, and anonymity. And even dignity. Otherwise, autobiographies are usually considered nonfiction. Novels are fiction. Although, as the novelist Dave Eggars has proven, on more than one occasion? Autobiographies and their counterparts, memoirs, can be fiction novels as well. (As can diaries, for all of that.)

jack patti go

Steve McQueen, was my favorite acyor in the 60's! Very handsome! Bullit, I loved.

Lynne Zeman

Great movie!

robert karel

Good movie!

d p catalano

My hero. Steve McQueen. 😎

Carl Belken

McQueen was the king of cool.

Tom Seigo

I had heard of the movie but never saw it. I recall seeing something on television many years ago about this "Devil's Island and the atrocities committed there.