The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency.

Director:

Frank Darabont

Writers:

Stephen King (short story "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption"), Frank Darabont (screenplay)

Stars:

Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton

Top Rated Movies #1 | Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 32 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tim Robbins	...	Andy Dufresne
Morgan Freeman	...	Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding
Bob Gunton	...	Warden Norton
William Sadler	...	Heywood
Clancy Brown	...	Captain Hadley
Gil Bellows	...	Tommy
Mark Rolston	...	Bogs Diamond
James Whitmore	...	Brooks Hatlen
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	1946 D.A.
Larry Brandenburg	...	Skeet
Neil Giuntoli	...	Jigger
Brian Libby	...	Floyd
David Proval	...	Snooze
Joseph Ragno	...	Ernie
Jude Ciccolella	...	Guard Mert

Storyline

Chronicles the experiences of a formerly successful banker as a prisoner in the gloomy jailhouse of Shawshank after being found guilty of a crime he did not commit. The film portrays the man's unique way of dealing with his new, torturous life; along the way he befriends a number of fellow prisoners, most notably a wise long-term inmate named Red.

---

Plot Keywords:

prison | escape from prison | wrongful imprisonment | prison cell search | first person narration | 

---

Taglines:

Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and prison violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 October 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption

Filming Locations:

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$28,341,469 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

142 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Andy first gets reassigned to the prison library, the first officer who comes to him for investment help approaches him by saying, "I'm Dekins." Roger Deakins was the cinematographer for the movie. While this is the case, Frank Darabont wrote the character Dekins into the original script before he hired his crew, as the same character was in the novella, and the different way of spelling confirms this.

---

Goofs

Hydrogen sulfide a toxic gas given off by bacteria in sewerage. The gas causes an inability to breath, unconsciousness and finally death. Andy could never have survived a crawl through "five football fields" of such toxic gas to freedom.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
District Attorney: Mr. Dufresne, describe the confrontation you had with your wife the night that she was murdered.
Andy Dufresne: It was very bitter. She said she was glad I knew, that she hated all the sneaking around. And she said that she wanted a divorce in Reno.

---

Crazy Credits

The man who cried and was beaten when Andy first arrived is listed and credited as "Fat Ass" -- the other inmates' nickname for him.

---

Connections

Referenced in My Name Is Earl: My Name Is Inmate #28301-016: Part 1 (2007)

---

Soundtracks

Duettino - Sull'aria
from opera "Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro)"
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte (uncredited)
Performed by Edith Mathis (uncredited) and Gundula Janowitz (uncredited)
Chor und Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Conducted by Karl Böhm
Courtesy of Deutsche Grammophon, by arrangement with PolyGram Special Markets

User Reviews

Prepare to be moved

I have never seen such an amazing film since I saw The Shawshank Redemption. Shawshank encompasses friendships, hardships, hopes, and dreams. And what is so great about the movie is that it moves you, it gives you hope. Even though the circumstances between the characters and the viewers are quite different, you don't feel that far removed from what the characters are going through.

It is a simple film, yet it has an everlasting message. Frank Darabont didn't need to put any kind of outlandish special effects to get us to love this film, the narration and the acting does that for him. Why this movie didn't win all seven Oscars is beyond me, but don't let that sway you to not see this film, let its ranking on the IMDb's top 250 list sway you, let your friends recommendation about the movie sway you.

Set aside a little over two hours tonight and rent this movie. You will finally understand what everyone is talking about and you will understand why this is my all time favorite movie.