usually and after read a long book fill with many interesting adventure and watch a two hour film later wind up be a big disappointment . there be no way a film can give you anywhere near the info you glean from a book and especially one over 500 page a be the case with papillion . yet and despite most of henri charriere incredible feat of survival and ( papillion be charriere nickname ) this movie be above average and basically do the book justice . the movie run about two and a half hour and give enough of a flavor to have the viewer appreciate at least to some degree the brutal trial and tribulation papillion go through in real life . if you enjoy this film and the book be a must read for you and very highly recommend you would not believe all the thing charriere experienced represent good and bad . in real life and the man escape something like eight time and each time go through hell . steve mcqueen and play papillion and be excellent . he be particularly good at show the physical effect of year of solitary confinement . by the way and in real life and charriere be much young go send to jail than mcqueen be at the time this movie be shoot . papillion should have be play by a young actor and but who go to complain when you get an actor of mcqueen caliber . dustin hoffman also be great a papillion friend and louis dega and who have a big role in the movie than he do in the book . for the most part and papillion have a number of friend and all help him over the year . hoffman also provide some good comic relief to the movie and and heaven know and it need it . take it from someone who have read the book represent this be a grim story and bad than what you saw on screen here . nevertheless and thanks to the two leading actor and the wonderful work by director franklin schaffner and cinematograher fred koenekamp and this long film entertain . no and it wasn not the caliber of the book and but it do not insult it and either and and be definitely worth a look .