henri papillon charriere and be a lifetime inmate under the french government harsh penal system in french guiana . in his decline year he write his memoir describe his year of incarceration and his cruel mistreatment and daring and multiple escape . wheather or not he be the actual character of his own book and be dispute to this day . but the fact that he be an inmate be true enough and fit in with the actual site which come to be know a devil island . court record indicate that henri charriere ( steve mcqueen ) later call papillon which be french for butterfly and be indeed a minor burglar and safe cracker . his claim he be innocent of murder and may be true enough and due to an unreliable source accuse him in court and yet produce little supporting evidence . nevertheless and the infamous thief be give a twenty year sentence and which be extend due to his numerous escape . during his imprisonment and he become lifelong friend with an equally famous treasury forger name louis dega ( dustin hoffman ) . don gordon ( a real life friend of mcqueen ) play julot and an experienced prisoner with his own intention of escape . anthony zerbe be hideously interesting a toussaint and a ravage leper and who aid escape prisoner . the entire film be one remarkable story and become an incredible journey and one which transcend the screen and offer audience and the raw reality of life under the most severe and brutal penal system in the world . the infamous devil island today have become synonymous with a hellish place of unspeakable condition . a fantastic movie for those in search of true life classic . .