the movie center an unrelenting prisoner ( extraordinary steve macqueen ) who send to french guayana in devil island . he determine to break out from the gaol place on a desert and an impenetrable island . he befriend with an inmate ( dustin hoffman and a real chameleon actor ) who imprison for swindle . they will confront lot of danger and suffering until reach freedom . mcqueen try a series of escape but he always recapture . the punishment will be terrible and develop in graphic realism . the history be base on real deed and it adapt from an autobiographical best sell book about a french burglar name henri charriere and dalton trumbo ( previously prohibit for the black list and he cast a the commandant ) and lorenzo semple jr be the screenwriter . the pic be overlong about two hour and half and though be neither boring and nor tiring and but entertain and because develops many adventure and happening . the motion picture obtain pretty success and it be a box office winner . attain hit at every theater around the world . the film be a magnificent portrayal of torture and suffering of the prisoner in far country . the yarn title refers to the star butterfly tattoo . interpretation protagonist mcqueen and hoffman be top notch and they make a magnificent couple . the support cast though very secondary be very fine represent george coulouris and don gordon and gregory sierra and victor jory and among others . the veteran jerry goldsmith create an exciting and atmospheric musical score and fred koenekamp cinematography be excellent with astound outdoors of the jungle . the picture be rightly direct by franklin j. schaffner planet of ape and patton . the flick will appeal to prison genre buff and adventure film fan . rating represent good and nice . well worth see .