Shawshank Redemption: A Film Analysis

LoglineA man, wrongly imprisoned for twenty years for a murder he did not commit, makes the most of his incarceration time, finds himself and friends, and eventually escapes.

SynopsisThe Shawshank Redemption is a dual-protagonist film based on the novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption by world-famous author Stephen King. It certainly falls under the genre of Drama, as it is a story of hope and, namely, redemption. Andrew "Andy" Dufresne, a New England banker, is wrongly imprisoned after being convicted for the murders of his wife and her lover, based largely on evidence that doesn't exist, and is sent to Shawshank State Penitentiary in Maine for two life sentences, the inciting incident of the film. Shortly before Andy's arrival in 1947, the film's other protagonist, Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding, is rejected in front of the parole board, after 20 years have been served on his own life sentence. Slowly, Andy develops a friendship with Red and his gang, a "man who knows how to get things." Red is notorious for his smuggling operation, in which, he can get "cigarettes, a bag of reefer if that's your thing, or a bottle of brandy to celebrate your kid's high school graduation. Damn near anything within reason." Andy asks Red for a small rock hammer, which, he explains, will satisfy his geology hobby. This scene serves as the first act plot point, as Andy and Red, the two main protagonists, and Warden Norton, the main antagonist, have been introduced, as well as the other major players in the story.

The second act moves along as Andy begins his work on the prison laundry service, and encountering obstacles of prison life. The first occurs during Andy's first three years, as he is harassed by a group of homosexual inmates, called the Sisters, sometimes getting raped, sometimes fending them off. The leader of the Sisters, named Bogs, is finally stopped by the chief prison guard, Byron Hadley, after Andy had successfully prepared a gift-tax return for Hadley after he inherited $35,000. Hadley beats Bogs into submission, until "he spent the rest of his days sitting in a wheelchair sipping his meals through a straw," in a different, minimum-security prison.

The news of Andy's financial prowess spreads quickly throughout the prison community, and soon enough, he has become a regular H&R Block, preparing tax returns for all the guards, setting up trust funds for their children, and ultimately, managing the funds of the entire prison, thus removing the second obstacle he faces in prison life - the guards.

Finally, Andy removes the final obstacle of Warden Norton, as he keeps the books and manages the funds of the entire prison, and, unfortunately, is forced to cover up the warden's large-scale money laundering operation. Warden Norton gives Andy a single cell and allows him to keep a large stock of contraband, most noticeably his posters of famous pin-up girls throughout the 50s, 60s, and 70s, in order to keep Andy happy. Andy has also started a letter-writing campaign on behalf of the prison library and, by 1959; it has been dubbed the "best prison library in New England."The second act plot point occurs in 1965, when a young prisoner named Tommy Williams had arrived at Shawshank, and consequently, it is revealed that, in fact, Andy is innocent of the murder charges. Tommy had a cell-mate, Elmo Blatch, on another sentence that bragged about killing a golf pro and his lover, and that the crime had been pinned on "the woman's hotshot banker husband." When Warden Norton gets wind of this, he dismisses Andy immediately, and has Tommy killed. After all, Andy is too valuable to be cut loose, and Norton cannot afford to let his secret leave the walls of Shawshank, and is sent to solitary confinement for two months.

When Andy is finally out of the hole, the final battle is set up. He tells Red of a field in Buxton, ME where he says a package is buried for Red, for when Red gets out of prison. Andy says when he gets out he wants to go to an island off the coast of Mexico. Red is skeptical. The next morning, Andy is nowhere to be found during cell checks, and mass hysteria ensues, as Warden Norton cannot believe his eyes and the final battle, between the Warden and Andy, begins. It is revealed that Andy, with his rock hammer, had tunneled through the prison wall, and crawled out the sewer to freedom. Before he left, he took the ledger of the prison's finances, and over $370,000, which the next day, he withdrew from the First National Bank of Portland, ME, under the fake identity Randall Stephens, which he had created years ago to front the money laundering operation. Finally, he had released the ledger to the press, which he stole from the warden, and the police come to investigate, arresting Byron Hadley, and before they can get him, Warden Norton kills himself.

The denouement is rather long in Shawshank. In 1967, Red is released on parole after serving 40 years of his life sentence, and keeps his promise to Andy. He goes to the field and finds a letter from Andy explaining where he is now, and $1000 in cash. Red takes the money and boards a bus to McNary, Texas. The film ends with a shot of the Pacific Ocean and a white sandy beach, as Red strides up and embraces a tanned, weathered Andy. The friends are reunited, at last, and Andy and Red are redeemed.

CharactersAndrew "Andy" DufresneAndy is the primary protagonist of this film. He is a well educated man who was framed in the murder of his wife and her lover. He had a very successful career as a banker, as he had risen to the title of Vice President. In his relationship with Red, he is certainly the signal caller, much like Butch in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. One difference, however, is that Red is the more experienced man, but in reality, Andy is more educated and well-tempered, and therefore, he assumes the role as decision maker. Throughout the film, it is proven to the audience through action that Andy is a decent, well-behaved, meticulous man of integrity time and time again. He tutors Tommy Williams to a GED certificate, and writes the Maine government twice per week to ensure that Shawshank has "the best prison library in New England."Andy's education and experience, plus his qualities of honesty, meticulousness, and persistence, allow him to escape the potential rigors and pitfalls of prison life. He earns the respect of Warden Norton, which allows him access to the prison's financial records, and in the end, garners him special treatment within the walls of Shawshank. But Andy's positive makeup comes at a price: Warden Norton cannot afford to let him go, nor will he ever, with the knowledge that Andy possesses. Eventually, Andy realizes that he will never be released on parole, and without taking action, he will live out his years at Shawshank and become institutionalized, much like Brooks Hatlen. He escapes from prison, and lives out the remainder of his years alone in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, until he is joined by Red.

Ellis Boyd "Red" ReddingIronically, in Stephen King's novella, Red was originally a graying red haired Irishman. In the film, however, Red is played by Morgan Freeman, who leaves his unique trademark of authoritative presence and demeanor in Red's actions and dialogue. Although Red is clearly the secondary protagonist in this film; as Andy enters the prison early on in the film, he serves as his mentor - accepting Andy into his group of convicts, helping him get a rock hammer, and generally providing advice. When Andy finally learns the ropes of prison, Red acts almost as a consultant. Red is not an honest man, and he certainly is a murderer, but possesses many fine qualities. He is loyal to Andy, and ultimately keeps his promise at the end. Red is also very thoughtful - he gets Andy the poster of Marilyn Monroe free of charge for his tenth prison anniversary. Red is the wise man of Shawshank, and clearly is an institutionalized man. But one key difference between Red and Brooks, the other institutionalized man in the film, is that Red has something to look forward to (Andy) when he finally gets to the outside. Red is a unifying force in the film, keeping the group together, and providing the contraband that makes daily life in the prison possible for the inmates. What makes Red and Andy's relationship so unique is how the filmmaker keeps them at the forefront at all times. Nothing is done at the expense of Red and Andy, their friendship, or their plight. When Andy is thrown into solitary confinement, we witness both Andy's endurance of his torture and Red's worry for his friend. As Red and Andy discuss the past, the future, and the concept of hope, important themes of the film are occurring, but they blend seamlessly into a scene more about the characters in the present than the surprises to come.

Warden NortonThe Warden is the quintessential evil man. His guise of religious devotion, which is evident from the first minute he appears on screen (First rule of Shawshank: no blasphemy) is contradicted by every move he makes throughout the film. His chief concern is making money for himself, which he ruthlessly chases, using prisoners - most notably Andy - and his power at the prison to run an intricate money laundering scam. He is well respected throughout the country, even making it to the cover of LIFE magazine, and he routinely attends social functions with the rich and powerful in the Maine state government.

He uses his position of power to corrupt the prison system in order to benefit himself. Norton uses Andy to launder money that has been earned though shady deals. Norton is responsible for the deaths or the cover-ups of several of his inmates, such as Tommy Williams and Bogs Diamond. In the first meeting between the Warden and the new prisoners, Norton also adds his dedication to discipline and the bible. He believes in ruling with a hard hand. The guards are allowed to beat the prisoners if they feel that it is necessary. Norton is also for the use of solitary confinement to punish his prisoners. He places Andy in "the hole" for two months after Andy calls him "obtuse" for not helping Andy fight for a retrial, and then mentioning the laundering business.

Religious themes are used brilliantly in the movie to demonstrate the irony of Norton's hypocrisy. Norton proclaims that he believes in the bible, yet he does not live by any single verse of its message, and forces his beliefs upon the prisoners by requiring them to read the Bible in the hopes of reform.

Capt. Byron HadleyByron Hadley is the captain of the guard. He is a hard man, although the screenwriter occasionally exposes his compassionate side. Some could view him as an antagonist earlier on in the plot, most like from the nature of his job. Hadley carries out the instructions of the Warden Norton and takes his job very seriously, as evidenced by his cold-blooded shooting of Tommy.

Hadley's character clearly arcs and is developed throughout the storyline. Later on in the plot, Hadley moves into a position of guardian from his actions in helping Andy. Key moments involving Hadley are when Andy arranges to complete his inheritance tax paperwork, with which he secures his position with the guards and his fellow inmates, and secondly when Hadley "takes care" of Bogs, after Bogs and The Sisters attack Andy. This is where Hadley's character gains the most growth within the story. Finally, Hadley is arrested by the police after Andy escapes.

The GroupThe group of friends of Andy and Red provide a key element crucial to the storyline of Shawshank Redemption. The characters certainly all do not arc very much, but serve as Andy and Red's support system in the movie. Brooks Hatlen serves as Andy's mentor as the assistant of the library, and Andy eventually moves out of Brooks' shadow when he was released to make Shawshank the "best prison library in New England." The introductory scene of the group in the movie - the famous fresh fish gambling scene - serves to set the tone of the group's togetherness, and how they add a touch of lightness to a film that sometimes can get heavy. Haywood is a good man who supremely trusts in the abilities of Andy and Red. He has a love of country music, which he is able to enjoy when Andy improves the prison library, which includes a gramophone and selection of Hank Williams records. The last key member of the group joins later on, Tommy Williams, who allows Andy to step into the mentor role, as well as providing the key piece of evidence guaranteeing the audience of Andy's innocence. It is evident that Tommy is a good man because he agrees to give his evidence under oath in order to secure a new trial for Andy. Ultimately, Tommy is killed by Byron Hadley after Andy discloses this information to Warden Norton.

AnalysisThe Shawshank Redemption is consistently rated at the top of many film rankings of the 20th Century. On the IMDB top 250, it is currently ranked number one. Clearly, a film of this stature gains its prominence by the endless process of editing. Although there were many scenes left out of the final film - including a hilarious scene involving Heywood flashing a female photographer - five key differences stick out between the script and the film.

The first involves the opening sequence of the movie. The script features an introduction of Andy much different than the one in the final cut of the film. In the script, the first scene shown is the scene between Andy's wife and her lover, followed by a shot of Andy in the car, drinking. The lovers are shown again, and then the questioning commences in the courtroom scene. The DA makes closing statements, and then a jury walks out, each condemning Andy individually. Finally, the judge offers his final condemnation. In between each screen shot, it is written that the shot should fade to black.

Film enthusiasts can clearly recall the sequence of the shot of Andy's car in the driveway, and he takes out his gun. Next is the courtroom scene where he is questioned by the DA. Then Andy's wife and lover are shown with a voiceover by the DA, followed by more DA questioning, with a voiceover of Andy in the driveway with his gun. Finally, the judge offers his final condemnation of two life sentences, with clearly not once a fade to black.

The film's finished product clearly flows much better, and connects the storylines very well, offering a clear introduction of the plight of Andy. It remains just ambiguous enough to allow the audience to debate whether Andy is innocent of the crime or not. The writers and director made a great choice by including this version of the introduction of Andy in the final cut of the film.

The next main difference is on page 48 of the script. The writers included a few extra lines of dialogue for Haywood, which really opens the conversation up that is occurring at the lunch table in the mess hall. In the script, it is much a one-dimensional conversation between Andy, Red, and Brooks. The addition of Haywood allows another camera shot, and a fuller conversation around the table.

On page 52 of the script, the scene in which Brooks holds Haywood hostage, is much more dangerous on film than it is portrayed in the script. The dialogue in the final cut of the film is much more heated and has much more tension. Blood is coming from Haywood's neck and the men are screaming at each other. In the script, it is merely Andy diffusing a troublesome situation. This choice is important to the movie, as it allows the audience to see how Brooks really has become institutionalized and is willing to endanger a friend in order to remain at Shawshank.

Page 56 contains the fourth key differences in the script and film. Brooks' scenes of readjusting to life on the outside are shown in a different order over his voiceover letter to the guys. Perhaps this could be a function of the film editing process, or maybe the director thought it flowed better. There isn't really much difference between the two, but it certainly is different, but subtle.

Finally, the fifth, and arguably most important choice, occurred at the very last page of the script. The script version of Shawshank does not feature a reunion between Andy and Red on the beach, but rather ends on Red saying"…and perhaps I'll see my friend. I hope," while he is on the bus headed to Mexico. It leaves open the possibility that Andy and Red do not get to see each other again. It was an important decision by the writers to include a scene with Andy and Red at the end, which truly takes the film full circle and gives it its redeeming qualities at the end. The beach scene signifies that Andy and Red have both made it back to the real world, and are reaping the rewards of doing their time at Shawshank.

Exposition is also key in The Shawshank Redemption, especially during the most famous part of the film - the explanation of how Andy escapes Shawshank State Penitentiary. On page 100 of the script, the inmates and guards wake up to find Andy missing from his cell. Warden Norton arrives on the scene and is furious - how could have someone vanished into thin air? The answer is revealed to the audience in the scenes following Warden Norton's temper tantrum. Andy's exploits with the rock hammer are shown, and how he tunneled through the Shawshank wall, took the ledger and all the financial records, shined the Warden's shoes for himself to wear, and finally crawled through five hundred yards of shit to freedom. Perhaps, this is one of the best scenes of exposition in a film, as most audience members are clueless to how Andy could have done something of this magnitude.

The dialogue in The Shawshank Redemption offers the viewer a peek into what is going to happen in the film, as it is heavily reliant on setup and payoff, with most of the set-ups being provided by dialogue clues. The first example is located on page 25 of the script when Red's voiceover about the rock hammer proclaims: "Andy was right. I finally got the joke. It would take a man 600 years to tunnel under the wall with one of these." When it is revealed to the audience 75 pages later that Andy has escaped, this piece of dialogue makes reappearance, as Red says on page 100: "I remembered thinking it would take a man 600 years to tunnel through the wall with it. Andy did it in less than 20."The next example of setup and payoff occurs on page 67, when Andy receives the first shipment of books from his letter writing campaign. The prison crew is sorting the books, and they come upon The Count of Monte Cristo, which Andy explains to Haywood (who can't pronounce the name) that he would like it because it was about a prison break. Red quips that they should file it under "educational," jokingly. This prophecy is fulfilled on page 100 when Andy escapes from Shawshank, just like Dantes in the plot of Monte Cristo. This scene serves as the payoff from the setup on page 67.

On page 72 the next example of setup is shown. Warden Norton asks Andy to take care of his dry cleaning of his suits before he goes to a banquet involving the Maine state government. The payoff occurs on page 93, when right before Andy escapes, Warden Norton again asks Andy to take care of his dry cleaning and shine his shoes. This gives Andy the opportunity he needs to take a suit and shoes to escape in, as well as being able to steal the general ledger and financial records of the prison.

Yet another setup and payoff occurs on page 91 of the script. Andy tells Red of the field in Buxton, ME where he proposed to his wife. He communicates to Red that when he gets released on parole, he should go there and dig up a rock because Andy has buried something there for him. The payoff occurs during the denouement on page 118, when Red finally is released on parole and goes to the Oak tree in the field that Andy speaks of. Red keeps his promise and gets Andy's letter and money, and continues on to Mexico, where the film ends.

Finally a smaller example of setup and payoff occurs on page 73, as Andy explains to Red about the money laundering operation and the identity of Randall Stephens, which Andy created out of thin air. On page 105, the payoff is produced, as Andy strides into the First National Bank of Portland and withdraws $370,000 as Randall Stephens. He had all the proper documentation, and the signature was a dead on match.

Shawshank is a film that relies heavily on the themes of hope, salvation, and redemption. It also has a large biblical presence, and some have said that it can be interpreted as an allegory of Christian faith with Andy as the Christ figure. These themes demonstrate the full power of the film, and ultimately, make the film into the force that it has become to the viewing audience - whom has anointed the film as one of the greatest of all time.

Works CitedThe Shawshank Redemption, Directed by Frank Darabont