10 Shawshank Redemption Facts That Need to Escape
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) has been hailed as one of the greatest movies of all-time, and tells the story of two prisoners who bond during incarceration. If you’re a big fan of the movie – and how could you not be? – you will love 10 Shawshank Redemption Facts That Need to Escape
1. The Baseball Pitch
The opening conversation between Andy and Red took 9 hours to film. In the scene, Red is pitching a baseball and Morgan Freeman had to do so for a full 9 hours, and he never once complained. The next day he shown up for a scene with his arm in a sling.
2. The Film Rights
Stephen King sold the film rights for his novella, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, for just $5,000. He never cashed the cheque, and when the movie came out years later, he had the cheque framed and mailed it back to director Frank Darabont, with a note inscribed, which read: “In case you ever need bail money. Love, Steve.”
3. Young Morgan Freeman
The mugshot of a young Morgan Freeman that are attached to Red’s parole papers are actually of Morgan’s son, Alfonso Freeman. Alfonso also had a cameo in the movie as the con who shouts “Fresh fish! Fresh fish today! We’re reeling ’em in!”
4. Goodfellas
Frank Darabont stated he would watch Goodfellas every Sunday whilst shooting The Shawshank Redemption, and was inspired by the movie to use a voice-over narration and how to show the passage of time.
5. Deleted Scenes
You won’t find the deleted Shawshank Redemption scenes on the DVD, as Frank Darabont has stated he is embarrassed by them and therefore chose not to make them public.
6. Red’s Murders
We all know that Red is inside for murder, but the audience is unaware who he killed. Stephen King’s novella states that Red is serving three life sentences for the murder of his wife, his neighbour’s wife and his neighbour’s son. Red disconnected his wife’s brakes in her car in order to kill her and claim the insurance money; however, he did not plan to kill his neighbours.
7. Irish
Red’s line “maybe it’s because I’m Irish” is an inside joke, as his character in the original story was written as a white Irishman.
8. The Crow
Actors often state that children and animals are the hardest cast mates to work with, as Tim Robbins will most definitely back up. The actor stated he had trouble working with the crow, who didn’t squawk on demand; he therefore had to time his lines around the bird.
When Andy walks into the library and asks “Hey Jake, where’s Brooks?” you’ll notice Robbins carefully watching the crow for a squawk so he can say his next line.
9. Shawshank Tour
You can take a tour of the Shawshank set, as the Ohio State Reformatory is now a museum. The building was scheduled for demolition at the time of filming, and so many of the set pieces have remained in the prison, including the tunnel where Andy crawled to freedom.
10. Exodus
It is no mistake that the warden opens Andy’s bible to the page Exodus when discovering the cutaway of his rock hammer. Similar to Andy’s escape, Exodus tells the story of the Jews escape from Egypt.
Love Stephen King movies? Read the 10 Best Stephen King Movies You Have to Watch: www.thelistlove.com/10-best-stephen-king-movies-you-have-to-watch/
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