<PAGE>
JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE LIFE ACCOUNT S
SUPPLEMENT DATED MAY 1, 1997
TO PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 14, 1997
On PAGE 2 of the Prospectus, the first sentence in the first paragraph should
be revised to read:
THE MINIMUM TOTAL SUM INSURED THAT MAY BE BOUGHT AT ISSUE IS $500,000.
On PAGE 10 of the Prospectus, the first sentence under the subheading
"Requirements for Issuance of Policy" should be revised to read:
THE POLICY IS GENERALLY AVAILABLE WITH A MINIMUM TOTAL SUM INSURED AT
ISSUE OF $500,000 AND A MINIMUM BASIC SUM INSURED OF $250,000.
On PAGE 13 of the Prospectus, the last sentence on the page should be revised
to read:
JHVLICO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ANY WITHDRAWAL REQUEST THAT WOULD
CAUSE THE POLICY'S DEATH BENEFIT TO FALL BELOW $500,000.
On PAGE 15 of the Prospectus, the second sentence of the fourth paragraph
should be revised to read:
JHVLICO MAY REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY REQUEST TO REDUCE THE ADDITIONAL SUM
INSURED (A) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE POLICY'S CURRENT TOTAL SUM INSURED TO
FALL BELOW $500,000 OR (B) IF IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE REDUCTION, THE
POLICY'S CURRENT DEATH BENEFIT WOULD REFLECT AN INCREASE NECESSARY FOR THE
POLICY TO CONTINUE TO QUALIFY AS LIFE INSURANCE (SEE "DEATH BENEFITS--
DEFINITION OF LIFE INSURANCE") OR AN INCREASE PURSUANT TO THE OPTIONAL
EXTRA DEATH BENEFIT FEATURE.
S8143 11/97 SUPPL
<PAGE>
JOHN HANCOCK VARIABLE LIFE ACCOUNT S
SUPPLEMENT DATED MAY 1, 1997
TO PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 14, 1997
On PAGE 2 of the Prospectus, the first sentence in the first paragraph
should be revised to read:
THE MINIMUM TOTAL SUM INSURED THAT MAY BE BOUGHT AT ISSUE IS $500,000.
On PAGE 11 of the Prospectus, the first sentence under the subheading
"Requirements for Issuance of Policy" should be revised to read:
THE POLICY IS GENERALLY AVAILABLE WITH A MINIMUM TOTAL SUM INSURED AT
ISSUE OF $500,000 AND A MINIMUM BASIC SUM INSURED OF $250,000.
On PAGE 14 of the Prospectus, the second sentence of the eighth
paragraph should be revised to read:
JHVLICO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ANY WITHDRAWAL REQUEST THAT WOULD
CAUSE THE POLICY'S DEATH BENEFIT TO FALL BELOW $500,000.
On PAGE 16 of the Prospectus, the second sentence of the third paragraph
should be revised to read:
JHVLICO MAY REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY REQUEST TO REDUCE THE ADDITIONAL SUM
INSURED (A) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE POLICY'S CURRENT TOTAL SUM INSURED TO
FALL BELOW $500,000 OR (B) IF IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE REDUCTION, THE
POLICY'S CURRENT DEATH BENEFIT WOULD REFLECT AN INCREASE NECESSARY FOR
THE POLICY TO CONTINUE TO QUALIFY AS LIFE INSURANCE (SEE "DEATH
BENEFITS--DEFINITION OF LIFE INSURANCE") OR AN INCREASE PURSUANT TO THE
OPTIONAL EXTRA DEATH BENEFIT FEATURE.
S8143-M 11/97 SUPPL
