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The Shawshank Redemption: A Summary

• The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American drama film written and directed by Frank Darabont, based on the Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.

• The film tells the story of banker Andy Dufresne, sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary for the murders of his wife and her lover, despite his claims of innocence.

• Over the following two decades, he befriends a fellow prisoner, contraband smuggler Ellis "Red" Redding, and becomes instrumental in a money laundering operation led by the prison warden Samuel Norton.

• The film was a box-office disappointment, earning only $16 million during its initial theatrical run, but went on to receive multiple award nominations, including seven Academy Award nominations.

• Decades after its release, the film is still broadcast regularly and is popular in several countries, leading to its recognition as one of the most "beloved" films ever made.

• The film has been interpreted as being grounded in Christian mysticism, with Andy offered as a messianic, Christ-like figure.

• Zihuatanejo has been interpreted as an analog for heaven or paradise, where Andy finds redemption.

• The film provides a great illustration of how characters can be free, even in prison, or imprisoned, even in freedom, based on their outlooks on life.

• Andy and Red's relationship has been described as a nonsexual story between two men, that few other films offer.

• Darabont first collaborated with author Stephen King in 1983 on the short film adaptation of "The Woman in the Room".

• Darabont wrote the script over an eight-week period, expanding on elements of King's story.

• Darabont opted to create a single warden character to serve as the primary antagonist, inspired by the works of director Frank Capra.The Making of The Shawshank Redemption

• The Shawshank Redemption was inspired by Stephen King's novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, and director Frank Darabont cited other films like Goodfellas and Birdman of Alcatraz as inspirations.

• The film was not initially expected to be a box office success, but producer Liz Glotzer's interest in prison stories led her to threaten to quit if Castle Rock did not produce it.

• Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, and Kevin Costner were all offered the role of Andy Dufresne, but ultimately it went to Tim Robbins.

• Morgan Freeman was cast as Red, despite the novella's description of a white Irishman, and Gil Bellows replaced Brad Pitt as young convict Tommy.

• Principal photography took place over three months, with filming at the Ohio State Reformatory and other locations across the United States and Canada.

• Filming required up to 18-hour workdays, six days a week, and tensions between the cast and director were high at times.

• Several scenes were cut from the final version of the film, including a longer sequence of Red adjusting to life after incarceration and a scene showing a prison guard investigating Andy's escape tunnel.

• The final cut of the film runs for 142 minutes and was dedicated to Allen Greene, Darabont's former agent, who died during filming from AIDS.

• The film's original ending left Red's fate ambiguous, but Glotzer insisted on including the scene of Red and Andy reuniting in Zihuatanejo.

• The film was a box office disappointment upon its release but has since gained a cult following and critical acclaim, and is now considered a classic.

• The film's popularity has led to the Ohio State Reformatory becoming a popular tourist destination, and the tree under which Andy buries his letter to Red has become a pilgrimage site for fans.

• The film's success has also led to the creation of the Shawshank Trail, a driving tour of filming locations and other sites associated with the film.

• The Shawshank Redemption has been praised for its performances, direction, and themes of hope, friendship, and redemption.The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American drama film directed by Frank Darabont, based on the 1982 Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. The film stars Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne, a banker who is sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary for the murder of his wife and her lover, despite his claims of innocence. Over the following two decades, he befriends a fellow prisoner, Ellis "Red" Redding, played by Morgan Freeman, and becomes instrumental in a money-laundering operation led by the prison warden Samuel Norton, played by Bob Gunton.

• The film was based on a novella by Stephen King titled Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.

• The film was directed by Frank Darabont and stars Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, and Bob Gunton.

• The film tells the story of Andy Dufresne, a banker who is sentenced to life in prison for a crime he did not commit.

• Over the course of the film, Andy befriends a fellow prisoner named Red, and becomes involved in a money-laundering operation led by the prison warden.

• Despite positive reviews, the film was a box office disappointment upon its initial release, earning only $16 million against its $25 million budget.

• The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but did not win any.

• The film has since become a cultural phenomenon, with many considering it to be one of the greatest films of all time.

• The film's score was composed by Thomas Newman, and features the iconic piece "Shawshank Redemption".

• The film's cinematography, by Roger Deakins, has been widely praised for its use of color and lighting.

• The film's oak tree, under which Andy leaves a note for Red, has become a symbol of hope and is considered iconic.

• The prison site used in the film has become a tourist attraction, with the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society purchasing the building and site from Ohio.

• The film's success on home video and television has made it one of the highest-valued assets in the Warner Bros. library, with an estimated $100 million in revenue."The Shawshank Redemption": A Cultural Phenomenon

• The Shawshank Redemption was released in 1994 as a drama film, directed by Frank Darabont and starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman.

• The film is based on the 1982 Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.

• The Shawshank Redemption was not a financial success when it was first released, but it has since gained a cult following and is considered a classic.

• The film tells the story of Andy Dufresne, a banker who is sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary for the murder of his wife and her lover, despite his claims of innocence.

• The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Freeman, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Darabont.

• The film has been noted for its performances, direction, screenplay, cinematography, and score.

• The Ohio State Reformatory, a decommissioned prison in Mansfield, Ohio, was used as the primary filming location for the movie.

• The Ohio State Reformatory has become a popular tourist attraction since the film's release, with visitors coming from all over the world to see the filming locations and props.

• According to a 2019 report, the attraction earns $16 million in annual revenue.

• In 2015, the film was selected by the United States Library of Congress to be preserved in the National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

• The film has been named one of the greatest films of all time by various outlets and organizations, including IMDb, Empire magazine, and the American Film Institute.

• The film's lasting popularity has led to it being considered one of the most beloved films of all time.