The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Director:

Frank Darabont

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

23 September 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Murder | Friend | Banker | Hope

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 13 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

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and prison violence.

Runtime:

142 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 (video rating) | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:16 | Iceland:14 | South Korea:12 (cable rating) | Australia:M (TV rating) | Japan:G (2009) | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | Israel:PG | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/16 (Qualidade) | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating)

Filming Locations:

Ashland, Ohio, USA

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

After the film gained popularity, Ted Turner sold the television rights to TNT, his own network, for much lower than normal for such a big film. Because it is so inexpensive to show, the film is broadcast on TNT extremely often.

Goofs:

Continuity: Before he escapes, Andy puts the warden's account book and other papers in a plastic bag and ties the bag to his ankle with the six feet of rope he obtained. After Andy escapes and plunges into the flooded creek, he is shown dragging the bag underwater for several steps. No matter how tight Andy originally tied the bag, after he dragged it through the tunnel, the sewage pipe and the creek, there is no way the plastic bag could have remained waterproof (unless Andy had used a large amount of strong tape). At a minimum, the ink on the papers inside would have started to run, and the pages would have been damp and stuck together. Even after being dried, the pages would have been stained, warped and wrinkled, and possibly illegible. Yet when Andy sends the book to the authorities it looks like it was bone dry the entire journey.

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Track of the Moon Beast (#11.7)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Duettino - Sull'aria

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.