When this popular prison drama was released in 1994, some critics complained that the movie was too long (142 minutes) to sustain its story. Those complaints miss the point, because the passage of time is crucial to this story about patience, the squeaky wheels of justice, and the growth of a life-long friendship.
Only when the film reaches its final, emotionally satisfying scene do you fully understand why writer-director Frank Darabont (adapting a novella by Stephen King) allows the story to unfold at its necessary pace, and the effect is dramatically rewarding. Tim Robbins plays a banker named Andy who's sent to Shawshank Prison on a murder charge, but as he gets to know a life-term prisoner named Red (Morgan Freeman), we realize there's reason to believe the banker's crime was justifiable. We also realize that Andy's calm, quiet exterior hides a great reserve of patience and fortitude, and Red comes to admire this mild-mannered man who first struck him as weak and unfit for prison life.
So it is that The Shawshank Redemption builds considerable impact as a prison drama that defies the conventions of the genre (violence, brutality, riots) to illustrate its theme of faith, friendship, and survival. Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Actor, and Screenplay, it's a remarkable film that signaled the arrival of a promising new filmmaker--a film that many movie lovers count among their all-time favorites.
Directed by: Frank Darabont Written by: Frank Darabont Produced by: Liz Glotzer & David V. Lester Original music by: Thomas Newman
Cast: Tim Robbins .... Andy Dufresne Morgan Freeman .... Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding Bob Gunton .... Warden Norton William Sadler .... Heywood Clancy Brown .... Captain Hadley Gil Bellows .... Tommy Williams 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 Paul McCrane .... Guard Trout Renee Blaine .... Andy Dufresne's Wife Scott Mann .... Glenn Quentin John Horton .... 1946 Judge Gordon Greene .... 1947 Parole Hearings Man Alfonso Freeman .... Fresh Fish Con V.J. Foster .... Hungry Fish Con John E. Summers .... New Fish Guard Frank Medrano .... Fat Ass Mack Miles .... Tyrell Alan R. Kessier .... Laundry Bob Morgan Lund .... Laundry Truck Driver Cornell Wallace .... Laundry Leonard Gary Lee Davis .... Rooster Neil Summers .... Pete Ned Bellamy .... Guard Youngblood Joe Pecoraro .... Projectionist Harold E. Cope Jr. .... Hole Guard Brian Delate .... Guard Dekins Don McManus .... Guard Wiley Donald Zinn .... Moresby Batter Dorothy Silver .... 1954 Landlady Robert Haley .... 1954 Food-Way Manager Dana Snyder .... 1954 Food-Way Woman John D. Craig .... 1957 Parole Hearings Man Ken Magee .... Ned Grimes Eugene C. DePasquale .... Mail Caller Bill Bolender .... Elmo Blatch Ron Newell .... Elderly Hole Guard John R. Woodward .... Bullhorn Tower Guard Chuck Brauchler .... Man Missing Guard Dion Anderson .... Head Bull Haig Claire Slemmer .... Bank Teller James Kisicki .... Bank Manager Rohn Thomas .... Bugle Editor Charlie Kearns .... 1966 D.A Rob Reider .... Duty Guard Brian Brophy .... 1967 Parole Hearings Man Paul Kennedy .... 1967 Food-Way Manager
