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A Movie A Day: Quint watches PAPILLON (1973)
McQueen wrestles a live Croc!

YES!!! by Budcrud	Jun 4th, 2008 02:59:01 PM

Twice in one week!!! by Budcrud	Jun 4th, 2008 02:59:12 PM

Guess I'll read the article now... by Budcrud	Jun 4th, 2008 02:59:57 PM
...now that I'm first.
Awesome Flick by Prof. Pretorious	Jun 4th, 2008 03:02:50 PM
I love the leper part, "how'd you know I have dry leprosy?"
love crocadile?!?!?!?! by unkempt_sock	Jun 4th, 2008 03:08:50 PM
eww
Haven't seen it either by Flying Spaghetti Monster	Jun 4th, 2008 03:11:41 PM
But got it in the mail today, along with Jeremiah Johnson??(Recommended by a buddy along with with Papillon) God bless netflix
Nothing wrong with not seeing these great flicks late by Aloy	Jun 4th, 2008 03:12:58 PM
I only saw Papillion for the first time about 4 years ago and since I got TCM a couple of years ago there's a ton of flicks that I'm catching up on (and that I can appreciate more now anyway). It's nice to get a first time perspective from you Quint.
Based on a true story... by Scorpio1031	Jun 4th, 2008 03:13:58 PM
This movie is based on a true story. I read the book when I was a kid, because my Mom wouldn't let me see the movie. It is a amazing movie and even a better book. I was in 3rd grade and did a 21 page summer book report on it. My 4th grade teacher freaked. True story.
Awesome Flick by Series7	Jun 4th, 2008 03:14:58 PM
I like this movie it was pretty hellish. Like the scene where it showed what they were eating. Hey quint, was it you that was doing the One thing I love a little while back? Becuase who ever did it did something about an aswesome Speed Racer collectors DVD set and I can't find it anywhere nor the story on this site.
Love this movie by I am the most horrible	Jun 4th, 2008 03:15:41 PM
I've seen it so many times, but when I'm surfing channels and pass by this flick I always linger, sometimes 'til the end. That says something. Great character actors throughout. I love seeing that dude from the Clint Eastwood movies, whose name escapes me. He was the tattoo faced bounty hunter guy they encountered on escape attempt. What ever happened to that guy?
The butterfly by MovieWhore	Jun 4th, 2008 03:15:46 PM
Holy Shit Quint!! Your a Move Whore and it took you this long to see Papillon .. my daddy introduced it to me at the tender age of 8 or 9 with a double feature of the Great Escape and Ive loved Steve McQueen ever since
Spag Monster by I am the most horrible	Jun 4th, 2008 03:17:06 PM
The scene in Jeremiah Johnson with the beaver lodge is based on a true story too. I believe it happened to John Coulter after the Lewis and Clark expedition.
great f'n movie by JeanLuc Dickhard	Jun 4th, 2008 03:18:40 PM

still haven't seen it... by dannyocean	Jun 4th, 2008 03:21:57 PM
which is weird, because I have seen really bad McQueen movies like Tom Horn.
Great ,Great Film by npjs55	Jun 4th, 2008 03:25:51 PM
The ending where they say farewell, never read the book or the follow-up.
Damn fine film by HeWhoCannotBeNamed	Jun 4th, 2008 03:31:06 PM
damn fine. Now to read the review.
i'm a fan... by blackthought	Jun 4th, 2008 03:31:40 PM
of this flick...what took u so long to see it quint? was it episodes 1,2,3 of star wars or something similar?
I know what I'm renting tonight. by g-ride9000	Jun 4th, 2008 03:31:56 PM
yes folks, we have video/DVD rental places that have this and other rare titles, here in San Francisco. Go to the local video store, blow up blockbuster.
struggling with a love crocodile. by frankenfickle	Jun 4th, 2008 03:35:56 PM
i'm struggling with a booze crocodile. crocodiles are assholes.
g-ride9000 by HeWhoCannotBeNamed	Jun 4th, 2008 03:35:59 PM
You're in for a treat as you can well surmise. Happy viewing.
Hollywood needs to take a walk down memory lane by rogueleader66	Jun 4th, 2008 03:36:43 PM
Today's film makers need to look at movies like Papillon, and see what great movie making really is. Hollywood lost it's greatness a long time ago, they need to get their imaginations back. Sadly, it doesn't look like that's gonna happen anytime soon. Just read in VARIETY magazine: Remakes on the Hollywood horizon-The Karate Kid, Super Mario Brothers, The Goonies, Back To The Future, Vacation, Fast Times At Ridgemont High, Die Hard. Brett Ratner, Uwe Boll, Paul WS Anderson, and Michael Bay, Have decided to put the names of those movies in a hat and they will take turns picking what films they will "Reimagine".
I was about 8 or 9 when I saw it first too by HeWhoCannotBeNamed	Jun 4th, 2008 03:37:37 PM
Wow. I remember really feeling fulfilled during the final shots/credits.
Don't make em like that anymore by skimn	Jun 4th, 2008 03:38:00 PM
Good ol' pro direction from Schaffner. Another collaboration with Jerry Goldsmith. Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, when he bothered to act instead of nowadays.
I hate Hollywood by HeWhoCannotBeNamed	Jun 4th, 2008 03:42:47 PM
but I love film. Rhetorical question the first: What the hell happened?
Quint, I'm going to give you another WTF.. by Gwai Lo	Jun 4th, 2008 03:43:49 PM
You haven't seen Rio Bravo? WTF??? Nah, it's alright. I've only seen it once and I barely remember it at all. And I haven't seen Papillon! But when it comes down to prison escape movies, my favorite is Le Trou. It's better than the Great Escape, better than Escape From Alcatraz.. Those Frenchies really know how to make digging out of jail suspenseful as fuck.
It's been a while... by mooli_mooli	Jun 4th, 2008 03:46:27 PM
But if I remember right the film is missing the scene in the book where he fucks a bull...
I've seen Papillon... by Boba Fat	Jun 4th, 2008 03:49:59 PM
and yes I love it. It's been a while though and this write up makes me want to see it again. Sort of the movie a day idea working in reverse. I love the Leper scene, smoking the cigar between those nubs and Hoffman, eatings bugs etc. There's a great chapter in Steve Martins book "Born Standing Up" about the time he dated Trumbo's daughter and a dinner party at this house.
Don't Forget Goldsmith! by Morlock1	Jun 4th, 2008 03:52:08 PM
One of Jerry Goldsmith's best scores. And that is saying something.
I saw this when I was 7 by messi	Jun 4th, 2008 03:55:53 PM
fucking awesome film.
The Jail bit and the cutting on the boat stuck with me by messi	Jun 4th, 2008 03:56:45 PM
those are scenes and imagery that always stayed with me, aswell as Hoffman being distant at the end.
papillon is awesome by m_reporter	Jun 4th, 2008 03:57:30 PM
But seriously dude, how come you never saw Rio Bravo? Papillon I can kinda understand. But Rio Bravo? Point Blank being on that list is also... you know... kinda embarrassing.
Great Flick. Saw it as a kid by Knobules	Jun 4th, 2008 04:17:46 PM
And the first scene is a guys head flying off into the camera, blood and all.
Papillon, along with Midnight Express... by Sledge Hammer	Jun 4th, 2008 04:30:00 PM
...is one of the movies that really stuck with me as a kid, and helped form not just my love of film, but also helped form my appreciation of the 'punch in the gut' power that film could have. Great, great stuff.
God, I hated this movie... by grendel824	Jun 4th, 2008 04:30:38 PM
I watched this years ago when a friend brought it over - he fell asleep about 7 hours into the movie, so he missed half of it. By the time the pro-wrestler jumped out of the forest at them, I hated this movie...
length by calvinballs	Jun 4th, 2008 04:37:52 PM
good movie...pretty damn long though...A Man Escaped is bettah
Everyone has classic 'name' films that they've never seen for wh by Sledge Hammer	Jun 4th, 2008 04:38:43 PM
...I, myself, have still, to this day, never seen E.T., how's that for shocking? Gotta remember too, that before the age of the internet and dvd, we were all basically slaves to whatever the local video store had in stock, or what played the local movie house or on tv. Movie fans these days don't realise just how lucky they've got it, living in a world where, one way or another, almost anything can be gotten and watched if you want it bad enough.
The guillotine scene by KnightShift	Jun 4th, 2008 04:40:16 PM
Yes, it's obvious that it's a dummy's head that lands in the basket. But everything else about that scene is scary as hell, especially how the poor shlub about to get his noggin sliced off is FREAKING OUT, his eyeballs are completely bulging from his skull as he's screaming and spitting. Then the way the camera looks up into his face from the basket as the lunette closes, he goes quiet, not knowing when the moment comes, the warden nods and the blade comes down. The head drops and the blood flies and THEN comes the really hilarious part, the prisoner behind Dustin Hoffman casually asks: "Mr. Dega, did you get the money?" Darn, I need to watch this again after reading this write-up. Glad you liked it Quint! :-)
Terrific movie, haven't seen it in a while by psychedelic	Jun 4th, 2008 04:41:12 PM
The scenes that left the biggest impressions on me are the ones of McQueen in solitary. It truly is a hellhole and these scenes might be the finest acting of McQueen's career. There's a scene he imagines in solitary where he walks up to a council. He pleads innocence to his crimes, then they say he's guilty of living a wasted life. He walks away saying, "Guilty, guilty, guilty." It's a scene that's always stuck with me. My inclination is to wait for a Blu-Ray release where hopefully it will be cleaned up, looking marvelous. I'll get it at that time to watch again. That would be fun.
I have never seen: by Gwai Lo	Jun 4th, 2008 04:44:27 PM
Gone With The Wind, Doctor Zhivago, The Sound of Music, Titanic (I watched the last hour but that's it), It's a Wonderful Life, The English Patient, hmmmm let me think...
I pray to Steve McQueen by Liberty Valance	Jun 4th, 2008 04:50:21 PM
He's more of a god than any of those frauds from a few millenia ago.
Speaking of McQueen's finest acting roles... by Sledge Hammer	Jun 4th, 2008 04:54:23 PM
Quint, you absolutely need to watch The Sand Pebbles if you haven't done so already. Probably my favourite McQueen performance, and without doubt one of his most under appreciated films.
And it was also directed by one of the greats by football	Jun 4th, 2008 04:54:39 PM
Quint, your review failed to mention Franklin J. Schaffner. His previous movies Patton and Planet of the Apes were damn good aswell. Anyway, I share your love for this movie. First saw it on the big screen, front row, and I've never forgotten it.
I have never seen cont: by Gwai Lo	Jun 4th, 2008 05:04:17 PM
Well I was pleasantly surprised to find out I made it to #30 in the IMDB top 250 before I hit something I hadn't seen. Let me continue through the list, I have never seen: The Treasure of Sierra Madre (#50, own on DVD haven't watched), Double Indemnity (#54, have always meant to watch), Das Boot (#63, have seen parts of this on cable but never the whole thing), Modern Times (#74), Rebecca (#75), Singing in the Rain (#77), All About Eve (#78), City Lights (#85), On the Waterfront (#89, I KNOW I KNOW), Cinema Paradiso (#94). The numbers are gettting annoying so I'm dropping them. The Great Dictator, Strangers on a Train, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Bicycle Thief (own this, no excuse), High Noon, The Big Sleep, Notorious, Cool Hand Luke (four more movies I have no excuse for not getting around to yet) It Happened One Night, Lights of Cabiria, Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Killing (for some reason I have owned this DVD for years and haven't watched it. Along with Killer's Kiss it is Kubrick that I have inexplicably delayed) Les Diaboliques (I REALLY want to see this but haven't yet), Brief Encounter, Night of the Hunter (own, passed out one night after watching 15 minutes and haven't gone back to it yet), Judgement at Nuremburg, The Princess Bride (it looks shitty to me. Shut up.), Gandhi, Shadow of a Doubt, Witness for the Prosecution, Gone With the Wind, The African Queen, Harvey, The Grapes of Wrath, The Adventures of Robin Hood (haven't seen this but I have seen Errol Flynn's pirate shit.), The Gold Rush, Duck Soup, Patton (own), The Best Years of Our Lives, Sleuth, Beauty and the Beast (I have seen the Disney version!), The Lost Weekend, The Day the Earth Stood Still (I did see this when I was like 5 but it might as well not count at that age), Glory, Umberto D, Stalag 17, The Oxbow Incident, Grave of the Fireflies (downloaded recently, haven't watched), Sunrise, The Philadelphia Story, Anatomy of a Murder, Dial M For Murder, Rope, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Roman Holiday, Harold and Maude, Infernal Affairs, Howl's Moving Castle, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Kid, Bringing Up Baby, La Dolce Vita, Wings of Desire, Great Expectations (own these last two and haven't watched yet.) PHEW. A lot of inexcusable titles in there but not bad for a 24 year old if I don't say so myself. This has actually been quite an interesting exercise, I am going to make a point of watching any of these films I can get my hands on now.
"I'm still here, you bastards" by No Respectable Gentleman	Jun 4th, 2008 05:16:41 PM
PAPILLON -- notwithstanding a couple of hokey scenes, this is a GREAT GREAT film, superbly crafted, richly atmospheric, and manly as hell. Barack Obama is right: America needs CHANGE. And so does Hollywood. Sweep out the spineless sequel-addicted executives and bring in book-readers with the balls to greenlight epics like PAPILLON. You can start with SHANTARAM. STEALING THE GENERAL is another. And A SENSE OF THE WORLD (look 'em up on Amazon).
Gwai Lo by Knuckleduster	Jun 4th, 2008 05:18:10 PM
Go watch City Lights now! Right fuckin now, you hear me? Bad Gwai Lo.
You're better off... by Lenny Nero	Jun 4th, 2008 05:23:10 PM
...not watching "The Sound of Music," if that's the musical to which you refer. Utter overrated piece of schmaltzy shit, and this is coming from the guy who defended the "Sex & The City" movie.
Don't let them give you crap, Quint by psychedelic	Jun 4th, 2008 05:30:01 PM
Everybody has gaps in their movie watching. I hadn't seen Doctor Zhivago from beginning to end until last month. Fortunatly, I got to see it in all it's glory on a big screen. Here are the movies on IMdB's all-time top 250 that I have not seen: Once Upon A Time In The West, M, To Kill A Mocking Bird [want to read book first], City Lights (1931), The Elephant Man [and I adore David Lynch], The General (1927), Wild Strawberries, Judgment At Nuremberg, The Grapes of Wrath [want to read book first], The Lion King [my sister and mother said it sucked when it first came out, so I never bothered] Umberto D, Stalag 17, The Ox-Bow Incident, Stalker (1979), The Kid (1921), Bringing Up Baby [saw parts of it years ago], Great Expectations (1946) [fell asleep in a movie theatre while watching].
It's actually quite remarkable by Gwai Lo	Jun 4th, 2008 05:31:16 PM
How hard it is to watch EVERYTHING. I wish I could trade in some of the shittier movies I've watched, I mean I have no need for the experience of stuff like Van Helsing, Elektra or Blade 3 anywhere in my brain.
psychedelic by Gwai Lo	Jun 4th, 2008 05:32:00 PM
Once Upon a Time in the West is my all time favorite film. The Elephant Man is probably top 20 as well.
Oh and.. by Gwai Lo	Jun 4th, 2008 05:44:56 PM
I didn't notice Stalker in there as well. It's a mind fuck. I've only seen three of Tarkovsky's films (Solyaris, Andrey Rublyov and Stalker) but they're all masterpieces and all in my top 30 or so. The guy just works in God Mode at all times. Someone told me that he shot Stalker on some sort of experimental film stock that the Russian government gave him, but then the whole fucking thing turned out to be unusable. He was in despair for a while but then decided to re-film the entire movie and the end result is what we have today. No idea if that's true or if I'm getting the details right but that's a little factoid from my brain that came from somewhere.
Steve McQueen in the Great Escape by Gwai Lo	Jun 4th, 2008 05:51:30 PM
Does anyone else think that Michael Keaton in Jackie Brown was playing Steve McQueen in the Great Escape? Whenever I watch Jackie Brown I just imagine that's the direction that Tarantino gave him. "Be Steve McQueen in the Great Escape." It's kind of eerie. But no, Danny Glover's Dick Blood, I have not see Love With a Proper Stranger. But you know who is hot? Anna Karina. Yeah. I want to Stay Tuned into Pierrot Le Fou and give her a crotch hickey.
Excellent film by TRON	Jun 4th, 2008 05:55:33 PM
I happened to stumble upon this gem some years back.... definately a character driven story.... Somehow prison storys happen to be the best dramas for film... Birdman of Alcatraz (Karl Malden was excellent)and Shawshank Redemption are also great prison films. In fact I just rented this the other day... Another great Dustin hoffman flick is Little Big Man....
Just watched this for the first time by scruffytbk	Jun 4th, 2008 05:55:53 PM
Just finished watching papillon for the first time. I'm sorry to say that if it wasn't for this column I still wouldn't know that this film existed. Thanks for that because the film was awsome! My favourte part is when papillon is in solitary and he is put on half rations. I love that there's almost no dialogue during that sequence it's just carried by Steve McQueen acting his balls off. Also the whole part on the leper colony is great. The leper sitting in the shadows smoking a cigar was pretty creepy. Thanks again for turning me on to this, it was a great film. Hopefully there will be more films this good that i've never heard of!
Brilliant, unique film by loafroaster	Jun 4th, 2008 06:03:40 PM
The ending still sticks with me after seeing it over ten years ago. Just awesome.
Quint by Gwai Lo	Jun 4th, 2008 06:03:45 PM
Also get the Stepfather released on DVD. Do It. Now. Shake My Hand. Do It. Terry O Quinn. Do It Now.
Watched it yesterday by ThornBalls	Jun 4th, 2008 06:20:19 PM
A couple of thoughts: - It was hard for me not to compare it with Shawshank. And since that's one of the best films ever I had a hard time appreciating Papillon. - I don't usually go back and watch older movies so things stick out when I do. What really stuck out for me on this is the long stretches of silence that would have been filled with mood music to some degree in any film made today. The silence wasn't a good thing. All in all though I liked it. It's probably one I'll never see again though.
"Straight Time"... by REDD	Jun 4th, 2008 06:42:21 PM
...great Dustin Hoffman flick from 1978. It's available on DVD (it has an interesting commentary Hoffman and director Ulu Grosbard). Harry Dean Stanton, M. Emmet Walsh are great in it also (and look for a young Gary Busey, Theresa Russell and Kathy Bates).
The Silence in Papillion by Flummage	Jun 4th, 2008 06:57:50 PM
I can understand that, Thornballs. However, for me, the quietness of Papillion is one of it's greatest strengths, I found. What more appropriate time for silence than solitude? And this particular (cinematic) kind of solitude. It fits the nature of the story, at least. And if not something so weighty, just having MqQueen and Hoffman's faces on screen, doing some of their better storytelling, kind of goes someway to making up for any absence in the typical sensory outputs... Like I said, for me anyhow. And this talkback is not the first time I've been told that the book is even better than the film. Yup, I guess I should probably do something 'bout that. Another thing to look forward to, another to tell me that I'm still stumblin' to catch up no matter how fast my loping, lanky legs will carry me. Gods damn you, and your overabundance of beauty, Humanity.
Love with the Proper Stranger... by Lance4431	Jun 4th, 2008 07:01:28 PM
That is a great, romantic movie. DG Dickblood is right: Natalie Wood is as hot as it gets, at least I always thought so.
The Man who would be King (1975) by teacherman	Jun 4th, 2008 07:09:43 PM
Sean Connery and Michael Caine in a great film directed by John fucking Huston !
Damn You Michael Bay by MCMLXXVI	Jun 4th, 2008 07:14:44 PM
Damn You Michael Bay
Just seeing Papillon now? You're a poser. by Vulcan Deathgrip Productions	Jun 4th, 2008 07:15:36 PM
You got no business writing for this website if you're just seeing this movie for the first time now. Quit and write for the Drudge report or something.
Same goes for Point Break. You suck. by Vulcan Deathgrip Productions	Jun 4th, 2008 07:18:18 PM

This Just In... by loogenhausen	Jun 4th, 2008 07:28:31 PM
Vulcan Deathgrip Promotions is a poser. Pass it on...
Vulcan Deathgrip Productions by Gwai Lo	Jun 4th, 2008 07:41:31 PM
He's not talking about Point Break.
Fantastic movie. by mrfan	Jun 4th, 2008 07:55:26 PM
Glad to see so many people enjoyed it and so many willing to see it. First time I saw it was about ten years ago.Better to see this now than the crap they have out there to watch.
I still can't believe that The Man Who Would Be King... by Sledge Hammer	Jun 4th, 2008 08:02:06 PM
...still doesn't have a proper dvd release. I mean this thing is only out on a featureless flipper disc for fuck's sake. Such a great, great movie too. Straight Time and especially Little Big Man, both mentioned above, are really great too.
by Spymunk	Jun 4th, 2008 08:15:07 PM
PAPILLON is a fantastic movie. I'm surprised you've never seen it, Quint. But now that you have, I hope to someday discuss it with you. And, by the way - you've never seen RIO BRAVO either? Oh my gosh, you're in for a treat.
Little Big Man by Roy Neary	Jun 4th, 2008 08:15:08 PM

great flick..... by cameron fry	Jun 4th, 2008 08:16:18 PM
love the column....and you're improving my netflix list...was running out of good shit and didn't really want 'Rambo'....I haven't seen a lot of these either...though Point Blank is one of my all time favorites, you'll love it.....
Little Big Man by Roy Neary	Jun 4th, 2008 08:23:32 PM
was one of Hoffman's best and is one of the most under appreciated films of that era. No one ever seems to mention it. I saw it as a kid and I watch it when I've come across it ever since. I've never liked Dances With Wolves because of it. Sorry.
thanks by 40ozToFreedom	Jun 4th, 2008 08:27:55 PM
Loved the review, Quint, and thanks for sparking some actual film conversation on these talkbacks. Much better than the complaining and insult hurling I usually see around here. Here's hoping the column has a long run!
these are always my favorite talkbacks quint by Jackie Boy	Jun 4th, 2008 08:29:45 PM
people just discussing their love of film. No flaming, no hating, no fighting. Just passionate discussions of film. it's beautiful.
The acting in Papillon.... by Sparhawk38	Jun 4th, 2008 08:56:14 PM
has got some special sauce going, to me. Some times the lightning strikes with great talent and great material. I love Shawshank, but I don't think the acting is a match. I don't mean the acting is bad in that movie...it is very good. I just think movies like Papillon take it all to another level.
You are an ignorant! by darthlapin	Jun 4th, 2008 09:14:16 PM
You see fit to mention native boobs, but not the fact this movie was inspired from a book that Mr Papillon wrote himself from his personel experience in that jail. This is a true story! You are pathetic.
One of the coolest deliveries ever . . . by ScottsWillie	Jun 4th, 2008 09:15:17 PM
I don't remeber the exact line but . . . After he smokes the cigar offered by the leper. L - "How'd you know I had dry leprosy and not infectious?" P - "I didn't." Just cool.
Don't wanna knock THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION ... by No Respectable Gentleman	Jun 4th, 2008 09:23:44 PM
... which is a fine flick, but it borrows heavily from ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ, BIRDMAN FROM ALCATRAZ, PAPILLON and other, earlier prison movies ... making its inordinately high rating on the IMDB 250 list a little vexing.
Jerry Goldsmith's score is genius by Nasty In The Pasty	Jun 4th, 2008 09:55:25 PM
NO ONE can write that blend of hard-edged horror/suspense and heartbreaking melody anymore. Terrific movie, as well (and if it makes you feel better, Quint, I never saw it until two years ago myself.
Haven't thought about this movie... by KCViking	Jun 4th, 2008 10:03:54 PM
In years! Was one of those films I was allowed to stay up and watch as a youngin' 'cause my father loved it. I'll have to watch it again because I seem to have forgotten parts of it (crocodile wrestling?).Come to think of it I have never seen it w/out commercials.
Kinda Boring by Funketeer	Jun 4th, 2008 10:05:33 PM
It seems a lot of people here really like it but I thought it was kinda boring. Maybe it's just because I expected a different kind of movie out of McQueen but I was disappointed.
I don't understand why Shawshank is number 2 by messi	Jun 4th, 2008 10:08:48 PM
and I never will. All i hear is Morgan Freeman's voiceover. Great heart warming film where justice seems done in the end but number 2!?
"How Do I Look?"... by Felix_Happer	Jun 4th, 2008 11:20:02 PM
"How Do I Look?"
Shawshank by ThornBalls	Jun 4th, 2008 11:37:11 PM
Shawshank is such a great film. But this isn't the thread to argue that though. I brought it up earlier to make a point that I totally missed finishing. That point is that this movie was made before I was born. So like most people my age or younger I saw Shawshank before Papillon and loved it. So when I finally saw Papillon there were a lot of similarities between the two and I had a hard time appreciating this film since I consider Shawshank to be the better of the two. To use another situation - I think the original Halloween is the best slasher type horror movie ever made. But someone who was born in 1987 might have been exposed to a lot of inferior movies from the same genre that have used the same scare tactics that Halloween originated. Then they go to watch Halloween and they can't see what a monumental film it really was because they've seen too many similar examples. I'm sure if I had seen Papillon in 1975 I would have appreciated it much more because it would have seemed much more original.
Just finished watching it... by Flying Spaghetti Monster	Jun 5th, 2008 12:06:12 AM
I thought it was really well done. Acting, setting, everything was pretty freaking awesome, but I can't help feel like after they get off the island and hit the shores of honduras, everything feels kinda foggy, like a dream. I totally thought it was going to pull a Jacobs ladder and Papillon would wake up in his cell. By the way, i absolutely loved the POV shots in solitary confinement.
A great movie! by Motoko Kusanagi	Jun 5th, 2008 12:06:28 AM
I really like it.
Hoffman could do just about anything back then by BenBraddock	Jun 5th, 2008 12:45:47 AM
And I agree, both Little Big Man and especially Straight Time are brilliant movies. Totally engrossing, well acted and directed. Why haven't they been remade yet? ;-)
since when have caimans been crocodiles? by beamish13	Jun 5th, 2008 01:15:17 AM

The leper was played by Anthony Zerbe by Clancy Van Lustbader	Jun 5th, 2008 05:21:28 AM
... a character actor who's showed up in many a great genre film over the years (particularly in the early 70s). Thought he was great in his small role in this film. Among other things Zerbe played a dissident Irish miner in 'The Molly Maguires', a sadly neglected film from '68 which co-starred Sean Connery and Richard Harris. I'd like to see this column cover that one at some point. It's well worth a reappraisal.
Hoffman's run by Napoleon Park	Jun 5th, 2008 05:39:02 AM
Dustin could do no wrong there for a while, then he took "who is Harry Kellerman and why is he saying those horrible things about me?" and "John and Mary," a casual sex romance with Mia Farrow. though his tan corduroy slacks in that one were the tits.
Harry should give Quint a box by Napoleon Park	Jun 5th, 2008 05:41:10 AM
like the ones at the bottom of the page for comics, dvds and harry's reviews, or Herc's Coaxial sidebar. Someplace to cluster these movie a day reviews together for the benefit of the folks who may not come here every single day. This is truly an awesome undertaking and deserves to be archived in a way that keeps it accessible.
Here's one for you to watch Quint by KnightShift	Jun 5th, 2008 06:49:05 AM
"Mother, Jugs & Speed". The movie that dared to put Bill Cosby, Harvey Keitel and Racquel Welch in the same ambulance. Funny as hell and probably the darkest comedy that the Cos has EVER done. If you've never seen it before, put it on your must-watch list post-haste!
wasn't Billy Mumy in this? by Maniaq	Jun 5th, 2008 06:52:13 AM
oh the pain! the pain! Actually I thought this shat all over The Great Escape. I'd like to say it was better than Shawshank, but that's a tough one coz they're quite different... I will say one thing about Papillon - Michael Schofield OWNS his ass!
What's wrong with tan corduroy slacks? by BenBraddock	Jun 5th, 2008 08:11:17 AM
Looks down
Damnit by Series7	Jun 5th, 2008 08:13:51 AM
Little Big man was on a couple weeks back on TCM and I didn't have enough DVR space to record it. Damn you 30 days of Oscars! Taking up all my DVR space with movies I haven't found the time to watch......and mind of mencia reruns. (no JK I would never hurt my TV like that).
I talked with an old man by CuervoJones	Jun 5th, 2008 08:26:00 AM
who met Papillon in a whore house i nSouth America. What a moment.
Excellent column by m_prevette	Jun 5th, 2008 08:32:16 AM
People need to be watching THESE movies and not every damn Asian Monkey Fu thing that hits DVD or God Forbid Fucking Apatow piece of shit movies. Damn people...watch some real movies. Although I understand, younger readers just were not around to see these movies originally, it's great to see them getting some geek love. Eat 'em up people.
Dalton Trumbo is an American treasure. by rbatty024	Jun 5th, 2008 08:43:17 AM
He's one of our greatest screenwriters. I can't wait for Gun Crazy. I just wrote a term paper on it (along with several other movies). He's a damn fine novelist too. If you have the time pick up Johnny Got His Gun. Great book.
They should totally remake this... by JAGUART	Jun 5th, 2008 10:37:10 AM
With Damon and Affleck, the greatest actors of this generation.
Mother, Jugs, & Speed by psychedelic	Jun 5th, 2008 11:00:08 AM
It's totally worth checking out, Quint. It has it's value just in novelity factors but it is quite good and entertaining too.
MJ&S by Quint	Jun 5th, 2008 11:24:22 AM
I have seen that one a few times, actually. Where else would you hear Bill Cosby say that "Bambi's mom had nice tits,"?
More MJ&S by psychedelic	Jun 5th, 2008 11:49:17 AM
...Or Bill Cosby getting a massage from naked women who use dildos...or Bill Cosby burbing into a CB mic...
Oh, excuse me by psychedelic	Jun 5th, 2008 11:53:24 AM
That's VIBRATING dildos.
Prequel to Le Scaphandre et le Papillon,' oui? by Prague23	Jun 5th, 2008 11:57:18 AM
I'm just le kidding.
That old nun in Papillion was a bitch by Tacom	Jun 5th, 2008 12:10:50 PM
I hated her guts.
"The greatest adventure of escape" ? by ArcadianDS	Jun 5th, 2008 12:38:32 PM
What the hell does that even mean?
Nice, it's got a real by g-ride9000	Jun 5th, 2008 01:37:33 PM
don't ever stop giving it to the man kinda vibe.
Did you cry? by FILMFUNK	Jun 5th, 2008 02:45:07 PM
I frickin love films like this! Films that seemed real and carved from life in places you can't imagine! Seeing them young is amazing not knowing who Hoffman or McQueen even were just soaking up the horror and humour and adventure of it all! stuff like this and Midnight Express and watching the Warriors and 48 Hours with my dad and not having the Baggage of knowing Eddie Murphy because he just got Scary Spice up the duff or is planning a PG Beverly Hills Cop4! I'm sure it's the same for kids these days but i can't imagine how all these CG remakes can possibly be as mindblowing as curling up on the sofa next to your mum aged 10 and shitting it thru The Thing or Marathon Man or Taxi Driver.
I didn't realise Steve McQueen almost played RAMBO!!! by football	Jun 5th, 2008 05:45:19 PM
I was jut reading David Morrell's June WHAT'S NEW page where he talks about the recent death of Sydney Pollack, who was one of his five favorite film directors. And that he was originally scheduled to direct FIRST BLOOD when Steve McQueen was scheduled to play Rambo.
Yeah, that nun was a bitch by I am the most horrible	Jun 5th, 2008 09:01:56 PM
I hated her guts as well...nobody likes a narc. I am amzaed at how riled up I got just being reminded of that horrible old twat.
John Quade by I am the most horrible	Jun 5th, 2008 09:06:01 PM
...was the "Masked Breton" in Papillon to answer your question. Wait, that was my question. Thanks for nothing cinema brainiacs! I sure would like to know what ever happened to that guy though. Anyone? wikipedia disappoints.
have you people lost all.. by nolan bautista	Jun 5th, 2008 10:37:25 PM
..sense of credibility? How could anybody forget Vic Taybacks performance? 'Mel' from the T.V. series "Alice" as a prison guard. The billing should have been Tayback/McQueen/Hoffman and Tony Zerbe as the dry leper dude..
FILMFUNK, FOOTBALL by BenBraddock	Jun 6th, 2008 04:56:36 AM
Hoffman was to play Rambo too. No joke! As for watching Taxi Driver aged 10, curled up on the sofa with my mum, err, no thanks. But I absolutely get where you're coming from
I think McQueen would've been better than Dustin as Rambo by football	Jun 6th, 2008 01:38:41 PM
Thanks for the extra info though, BenBraddock.
My favorite part? by XxSoulFlyxX	Jun 7th, 2008 01:37:27 PM
When he escapes of course! Just the right wave after jumping off the cliff. Cowabanga! In all honesty. Its one of my favorite movies ever.
just caught it last night... by just pillow talk	Jun 17th, 2008 08:02:23 AM
Good, solid movie. I'll tell you, good 'ol Stevie really showed that solitary confinement beat the living shit out of him...but not quite. Thanks for this column Quint!
I thought it was TWO years in solitary... by jawsfan	Jul 2nd, 2008 11:01:22 PM
I thought Pappy got 2 years in solitary for his first escape attempt (it was 5 years for the second attempt).
GIVE ME THE AMULET, YOU BITCH!!!! by DRACULA_WANTS_THE_AMULET	Jul 5th, 2008 10:53:05 PM

MIDNIGHT EXPRESS by alcester	Aug 13th, 2008 10:53:10 AM
best prison movie ever! sorry Turkey.

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A Movie A Day: Quint watches PAPILLON (1973)
McQueen wrestles a live Croc!

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A Movie A Day: Quint watches PAPILLON (1973)McQueen wrestles a live Croc!

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A Movie A Day: Quint watches PAPILLON (1973)
McQueen wrestles a live Croc!