The Shawshank Redemption

Fast Facts

Director: Frank Darabont

Producer: Niki Marvin

Based on novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King

Screenplay: Frank Darabont

Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton

Runtime: 142 min.

Released: September 23, 1994

Distributor: Columbia Pictures

Budget: 25 million USD

Gross: 23.3 million USD

Plot Info

Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is sent to Shawshank Prison in Maine for allegedly murdering his wife and her lover. Once there, he acquaints himself with fellow inmate Ellis "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman)--who tells the story through his point-of-view-- and his circle of friends.

A banker, Dufresne's skills get him on rather good terms with the Shawshank staff, including the crooked warden Samuel Norton (Bob Gunton). While helping Norton with the finances, he realizes that the prison is in fact corrupted. This knowledge hurts Dufresne in the long run, however, when even after discovering substantial proof that he did not commit the murders, Norton refuses to release him.

As Dufresne watches other hopeless prisoners grow dependent on the Shawshank walls for protection from the world beyond them, he plots an escape, challenging Red to maintain some sort of desire to make parole. Dufresne establishes a new identity using the money Norton squandered, and escapes in the hope that Red can join him as well.

Critical Reception

Though The Shawshank Redemption did not gross much at the box office upon its release, word of mouth and positive critical reviews led to very successful VHS/DVD sales and rentals.

It has an 88% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and is considered by many public polls as one of the greatest films ever made. While some critics found problems with the long runtime and extensive narrative, Peter Travers from Rolling Stone praised the "no-bull performances," and Roger Ebert admired the film's ability to "grow on you" with repeated viewings.