A somber prison drama that blossoms into a testament to enduring hope, painting a portrait of the human spirit's refusal to be caged.
The Shawshank Redemption
"Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free."
Director:
Frank Darabont
Cast:
Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Clancy Brown
Drama
Crime
Budget:
$25,000,000
Box Office:
$28,341,469
The Shawshank Redemption - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details
Easter Eggs
Red's cell number is 237.
This is a potential nod to another famous Stephen King adaptation, "The Shining." In that film, 237 is the number of the notoriously haunted room in the Overlook Hotel.
Andy reads "The Count of Monte Cristo" to other inmates.
Alexandre Dumas' novel "The Count of Monte Cristo" is about a man who is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes, and enacts elaborate revenge on those who wronged him. This directly parallels Andy's own story, serving as a piece of literary foreshadowing.
Director Frank Darabont's hands appear in the film.
In the close-up shot of Andy loading his revolver in the opening scenes, the hands shown are actually those of the director, Frank Darabont. This is a common practice for directors to insert a small personal touch into their films.