Steve Mcqueen thirsts for freedom in ‘Papillon’
Steve Mcqueen and Dustin Hoffman might seem to be an unusual teaming, and it’s exactly their differences that make their partnership in “Papillon” work so effectively. Turner Classic Movies shows the 1973 drama Wednesday, May 25, as it details the true saga of inmate Henri Charriere (Mcqueen) ... who had escape on his mind from the moment he arrived on Devil’s Island.
While Mcqueen gets the more overt heroics under the direction of Franklin J. Schaffner (“Patton”), Hoffman also is excellent as bookish fellow prisoner Louis Dega. Another highlight of the picture is the typically excellent music by Jerry Goldsmith ... the main reason the film is being shown, since it’s part of a TCM night of
movies with Goldsmith scores.