THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION [1994 / 2008] [Limited Edition DigiBook] [Blu-ray] [USA Release] Fear Can Hold You Prisoner! Hope Can Set You Free!
Nominated for Seven Academy Awards® including Best Picture and Best Actor Morgan Freeman, this film is an extraordinary tale of hope, friendship and survival inside a maximum security prison. Wrongly accused city banker Andy Dufresne [Tim Robbins] arrives at Shawshank Prison in 1947 after receiving a double life sentence for the brutal murders of his wife and her lover. Andy Dufresne discovers that when they send you to Shawshank Prison for life . . . that's exactly what they take.
Andy Dufresne quiet strength slowly earns him the respect and friendship of the prison fixer Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding [Morgan Freeman]. Andy Dufresne also becomes popular with the warden and prison guards, as he is able to use his banking experience to help the corrupt officials amass fortunes. But Andy Dufresne's seemingly stoic acceptance of his unjust imprisonment hides a fierce determination for freedom and provides a unique chance to change his fate.
This beautifully crafted film features powerful performances from the entire cast and ultimately provides an uplifting message about the power of the human spirit and the value of hope.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1994 Awards Circuit Community Awards: Win: Best Adapted Screenplay for Frank Darabont. Win: Best Cinematography for Roger Deakins. Nomination: Best Motion Picture for Niki Marvin. Nomination: Best Director for Frank Darabont. Nomination: Best Actor in a Leading Role for Morgan Freeman. Nomination: Best Actor in a Leading Role for Tim Robbins. Nomination: Best Art Direction for Peter Landsdown Smith and Terence Marsh. Nomination: Best Costume Design for Elizabeth McBride. Nomination: Best Film Editing for Richard Francis-Bruce. Nomination: Best Achievement in Sound. Nomination: Best Original Score for Thomas Newman. Nomination: Best Cast Ensemble for Bob Gunton, Clancy Brown, Gil Bellows, James Whitmore, Mark Rolston, Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins and William Sadler. 1995 Academy Awards: Nomination: Best Picture for Niki Marvin. Nomination: Best Actor in a Leading Role for Morgan Freeman. Nomination: Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published for Frank Darabont. Nomination: Best Cinematography for Roger Deakins. Nomination: Best Sound for Elliot Tyson, Michael Herbick, Robert J. Litt and Willie D. Burton. Nomination: Best Film Editing for Richard Francis-Bruce. Nomination: Best Music for an Original Score for Thomas Newman. 1995 Golden Globes: Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture in a Drama for Morgan Freeman. Nomination: Best Screenplay in a Motion Picture for Frank Darabont. 1995 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Nomination: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for Morgan Freeman. Nomination: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for Tim Robbins. 1995 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA: Nomination: Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film. Nomination: Best Writing for Frank Darabont. 1995 American Cinema Editors: Nomination: Best Edited Feature Film for Richard Francis-Bruce. 1995 American Society of Cinematographers: Win: Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases for Roger Deakins. 1995 Casting Society of America: Nomination: Best Casting for Feature Film, Drama for Deborah Aquila. 1995 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards: Nomination: Best Supporting Actor for Morgan Freeman. Nomination: Best Picture. Nomination: Best Screenplay for Frank Darabont. 1995 Directors Guild of America: Nomination: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for Frank Darabont. 1995 Grammy Awards: Nomination: Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television for Thomas Newman. 1995 Writers Guild of America: Nomination: Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published for Frank Darabont. 1996 Awards of the Japanese Academy: Win: Best Foreign Film.
FILM FACT No.2: Ohio State Reformatory, also known as the Mansfield Reformatory, served as the fictional Shawshank prison. The Shawshank tree in the film was split by lightning in 2011 and it became a symbol of hope for its role in the film. Andy Dufresne and Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding's reunion was filmed at the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, Saint Croix, Virgin Islands. The location has been interpreted as a form of escape or paradise. The film's score was composed by Thomas Newman and he felt that it already elicited such strong emotions without music that he found it difficult to compose one that would elevate scenes without distracting from them. The composed music entitled "Shawshank Redemption," plays during Andy Dufresne's escape from Shawshank prison and originally had a three-note motif, but director Frank Darabont felt it had too much of a "triumphal flourish" and asked that film score be toned down to a single-note motif. "So Was Red," played following Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding's release from prison, and leading to his discovery of Andy Dufresne's cache, became one of Thomas Newman's favourite pieces. The piece was initially written for a solo oboe, until Thomas Newman reluctantly agreed to add harmonica — a reference to the harmonica Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding receives from Andy Dufresne to continue his message of hope. According to Frank Darabont, harmonica player Tommy Morgan "casually delivered something dead-on perfect on the first take", and this is heard in the finished film. Thomas Newman's film music score was so successful that excerpts from it were used in movie trailers for years afterwards.
Cast: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Clancy Brown, Gil Bellows, Mark Rolston, James Whitmore, Jeffrey DeMunn, Larry Brandenburg, Neil Giuntoli, Brian Libby, David Proval, Joseph Ragno, Jude Ciccolella, Paul McCrane, Renee Blaine, Scott Mann, John Horton, Gordon C. Greene, Alfonso Freeman, V.J. Foster, John E. Summers, Frank Medrano, Mack Miles, Alan R. Kessler, Morgan Lund, Cornell Wallace, Gary Lee Davis, Neil Summers, Ned Bellamy, Joe Pecoraro, Harold E. Cope Jr., Brian Delate, Don McManus, Donald Zinn, Dorothy Silver, Robert Haley, Dana Snyder, John D. Craig, Ken Magee, Eugene C. DePasquale, Bill Bolender, Ron Newell, John R. Woodward, Chuck Brauchler, Dion Anderson, Claire Slemmer, James Kisicki, Rohn Thomas, Charlie Kearns, Rob Reider, Brian Brophy, Paul Kennedy, James Babson (uncredited), Dennis Baker (uncredited), Fred Culbertson (uncredited), Richard Doone (uncredited), Shane Grove (uncredited), Rita Hayworth (archive footage) (uncredited), David Hecht (uncredited), Alonzo F. Jones (uncredited), Gary Jones (uncredited), Sergio Kato (uncredited), Michael Lightsey (uncredited), Christopher Page (uncredited), Neil Riddaway (uncredited), Brad Spencer (uncredited), Jodiviah Stepp (uncredited) and Mark A. Strain (uncredited)
Director: Frank Darabont
Producers: David V. Lester, Liz Glotzer and Niki Marvin
Screenplay: Frank Darabont (screenplay) and Stephen King (short story "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption")
Composer: Thomas Newman
Cinematography: Roger Deakins, C.B.E., A.S.C., B.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
English: 5.1 Dolby TrueHD Audio
French: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Japanese: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Spanish: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Português
Running Time: 142 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Columbia Pictures / Castle Rock Entertainment / Warner Home Video
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ [1994] was an underwhelming box-office performer when it hit the cinemas when released well over 20 years ago, but then it began to redeem itself, finding an audience on home video and later becoming a fixture on television around the world, and of course over 25 years ago after it was released and flopped at the box office, but the film ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ has turned into a money making machine, and now it is Hollywood's great second act that keeps making money.
The film has taken a near-mystical hold on viewers that shows no sign of abating. Steven Spielberg once told the film's Screenwriter/Director Frank Darabont that he had made "a chewing-gum movie, if you step on it, it sticks to your shoe," and of course Frank Darabont went on to create ‘The Walking Dead.’ ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ film has an enduring popularity manifests itself in many ways big and small and also for many years has been rated by users as the best classic cult film of all time, the first two were the ‘Godfather’ films that are second and third, which hinges around the pivotal business especially when Andy Dufresne escapes in 1966 with $370,000 of the warden's ill-gotten gains and the small Ohio city where it was filmed is now a massive tourist attraction.
In the days when the video tape format was the only way to view the film ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION,’ it was always the top No.1 rental of 1995. On television, especially on cable TV in America, it grew with great popularity and it has consistently been among the most-aired film ever watched. In a shifting Hollywood landscape, film libraries increasingly are the lifeblood of studios. ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ enduring appeal on television has made it more important than ever and a reliable annuity to help smooth the inevitable bumps in a hit-or-miss box-office business. When film studios sell a package of films, many of them are stinkers, but with the phenomenon of ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ acts as a much-needed locomotive that always drag the other films behind it.
Stephen King's books always have a distinctive voice, warm, sincere, inviting us to enjoy and that probably accounts for the appeal of his fiction just as much as his macabre and wild imagination. Yet none of the many films adapted from Stephen King's work have managed to capture his singular, light, immediately recognisable tone of this particular film. There is a painstaking exactness to ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ that is both laudable and exhausting. The 19 years that the film's protagonist spends behind prison walls is a term shared by many of the audiences, with its vivid passing of time and also its appropriate tedium and the sudden bursts of horror that one imagines reflect the true nature of incarceration.
Until now, ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ suddenly appeared over the horizon and was a first feature written and directed by Frank Darabont, which ultimately finds the perfect cinematic balance to Stephen King's novel, which was based on the none horror novella "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption," this is an engagingly simple, good-hearted film, with just enough darkness that is tip toeing around the edges to give contrast and relief to its glowingly benign view of human nature. Like much of Stephen King's work, ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ is about an exceptional individual at odds with society, picked on or persecuted for the gifts that set him apart. In this case, the gift isn't supernatural, like Carrie's telekinetic powers, this is much more about moral and spiritual experiences.
Andy Dufresne [Tim Robbins] is a gangly young banker when he enters Maine's fortress in the form of the very imposing Shawshank State Prison in 1946, who has been accused of killing his unfaithful wife and her lover. Though his protestations of innocence do not carry much weight, his shy manner and decency does. Befriended by the ageing gangster Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding [Morgan Freeman], a veteran con who is the prison fixer, who soon draws a circle around other boyishly likeable prisoners around him, including William Sadler as a sweet-tempered thug and James Whitmore as a cuddly old man who is the prison librarian. This is a story of saintly endurance and perseverance. Though Andy Dufresne is abused by a prison bully who attempts to rape him, a brutal guard who beats him and a crafty warden who uses Andy Dufresne's banking skills to launder the vast amounts of cash he is siphoning off the system, Andy Dufresne's patience, tolerance and selfless concern for his fellow man, who we get to see him go through his troubled period in his incarcerated life in prison.
But with the help of his Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe and Raquel Welch posters on his cell wall, eventually provides helping providence that rewards him with an opportunity to get some of his own back, especially on the prison system and especially the cruel Warden Samuel Norton [Bob Gurton]. The posters remain pretty much the only female presence in this all-male macho environment, where the warm camaraderie suggests less of a prison than a boys club on an epic scale. With the aspect of the film's perspective, that it comes as a shock to realise, that in the final act, Stephen King's story is at heart an elaborate revenge fantasy, where certain people finally get their comeuppance.
While it’s unquestionably Andy Dufresne’s story, which is chronically related with the voiceover by Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding [Morgan Freeman], a lifer whose set himself up as someone who can get “things” from outside Shawshank prison. Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding marvels at the new man’s tenacity, knowing intrinsically that Andy Dufresne is very different and that he likes him very much, especially with all his quirks and all. While the film pays close attention to such requisite matters as the sexual assault on Andy Dufresne, the prison staffs brutality and shows us the human capacity to survive, and has something quite different on its mind, especially with all its quirkiness.
The turning point for Andy Dufresne and his cronies is a bit of conversation captured during a work detail. A guard bemoans the fact that Uncle Sam will take a healthy bite of a recently deceased relative’s legacy. The ex-banker plucks up his courage and tells him how to keep the windfall and for a moment it’s like Androcles pulling the thorn from the lion’s paw. Soon Andy Dufresne is put to work in all manner of financial activity, like Warden Samuel Norton and his crown jewel that gave both an enhanced public image of the man and a quietly acquired personal ill-gotten fortune and it is not lost on the alleged convicted murderer Andy Dufresne that you have to enter prison to learn dishonesty.
Gaining a more comfortable life behind bars proves a double-edged sword, because Warden Samuel Norton cannot afford to have Andy Dufresne paroled, because the man knows too much, and he is also too valuable an asset. So, when the prospect of the truth rears its head, extreme measures come into play. Ultimately, ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ is about the dominance of real justice that the element of the narrative keeps the film from descending into abject resignation. Writer/Director Frank Darabont adapts his source material with sly acuity, meaning: sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing. It’s a fiendishly clever construct in which seemingly oblique words or incidents prove to have fierce resonance. Frank Darabont errs only when he digresses too long on a supporting character or embellishes a secondary story.
With William Sadler a fellow prisoner, Clancy Brown as the sadistic guard, and Bob Gunton the corrupt Warden Samuel Norton, all give very fine supporting performances. Newcomer Gil Bellows, in a small but crucial role that was originally intended for Brad Pitt, brings the poise of his portrayal of Tommy Williams, as Andy Dufresne's protégé. Ultimately, the standout actor is the venerable James Whitmore doing his finest work in years, also Brooks Hatlen the brilliantly realised character, and the scenes with him attempting to cope with life outside of the Shawshank Prison represent one of the film's most moving and effective sequences ever portrayed in a film of this calibre.
‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ film release marked a turning point in the astronomical and successful and prolific career of horror novelist Stephen King. ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ garnered Seven Oscar® nominations, including Best Picture, and arguably the finest reviews of any film released in 1994, the film was a moving human drama based on source material from the unlikely writer responsible for scaring the living daylights out of legions of readers and moviegoers who dared venture into the ominous reals of the films ‘IT;’ ‘The Shining’ and ‘The Stand.’
‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ film showed the world a side of Stephen King that hadn’t been glimpsed since the film ‘Stand By Me’ in 1986, which showed the fascinating side of the human monster, rather than the supernatural one, and one that was capable of weaving a uniquely American tale of hope, friendship and survival, and all eyes were on the screenwriter and director Frank Darabont, in bringing Stephen King’s story so effortlessly to the silver screen. On top of all that Frank Darabont’s screenplay was the talk of the town, prompting Million Dollar offers from other filmmakers who hoped to direct his screenplay. But Frank Darabont knew this was his chance to make something great, so he stuck to his guns, insisting he would direct the film himself, and enlisted the help of producer Niki Marvin, whom he had worked with seven years earlier; and as they say history was made, as the film shows you what grit and determination can produce, as well as going down in the annals of history filmmaking, to produce something that shows us a film that shows the human spirit can rise above adversity and can bring joy to all who view the film, that has had a profound effect on people on so many levels in showing that one can overcome life’s hardship eventually and make you feel peace with the world. As the credits appear, we are informed that the film is dedicated to the memory of Allen Greene, who was a literary agent for the director Frank Darabont and a very close friend of Frank Darabont. Allen Greene worked on getting the rights for the film and passed away just before the film ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ was released.
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION MUSIC TRACK LIST
IF I DIDN’T CARE (Written by Jack Lawrence) [Performed by The Ink Spots]
Duettino – Sull'aria (from opera "Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) (Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) (Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte) (uncredited) [Performed by Edith Mathis and Gundula Janowitz] (uncredited) [Chor und Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin] [Conducted by Karl Böhm]
PUT THE BLAME ON MAME (Written by Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher) [Heard on ‘Gilda’ film soundtrack]
LOVESICK BLUES (Written by Cliff Friend and Irving Mills) [Performed by Hank Williams]
WILLIE AND THE HAND JIVE (Written by Johnny Otis) [Performed by Johnny Otis]
A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD (uncredited) (Written by Martin Luther) [Performed by Bob Gunton]
Blu-ray Image Quality – Castle Rock Entertainment and Warner Home Video presents us this exceptional ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ in a glorious Technicolor 1080p encoded image, with an equally impressive 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and is a massive upgrade compared to the inferior DVD release in 2004 and has now been given an upgraded image presentation, that is totally stunning, also gives us a very clean image, with hardly any kind of speckle or blemish to be found, and the slight film grain gives it a very realistic and extra rich texture viewing experience. Colours vary as the film's palette comes in two types of shades, especially with a dourer, bluish cast for the early prologue scenes and some exteriors, and a warmer, more orange feel for the majority of the rest of the picture. Hues are always very clean and stable, and aside from some intentionally desaturated moments, and flesh tones are very accurate and precise. Detail ranges from very good to exceptional, especially with the on close shots, and definitely a generally strong sense of depth throughout. There is a slight bit of softness here or there, but it's appropriate to the intended classic look of the film. Black levels are pitched perfect, and contrast is also very well balanced and the encode image is rock solid and I spotted no artefacts with this transfer and is of the highest expectations.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Castle Rock Entertainment and Warner Home Video brings us two superb 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio and a 5.1 Dolby TrueHD Audio mix experience, which is at times a very warm and very inviting soundtrack and both have their merit. With the surround mix is used very sparingly, and not much in the way of dynamic discrete ambient sound effects, which supports the sombre nature of the film, but offers little in the way of a strong rear speaker presence and the atmosphere effects, is slightly subdued. I must say that the audio track excels in terms of dynamics and richness, with a very pleasing and warm feel to the frequency spectrum. The brilliant composer Thomas Newman's classic film music score is truly wonderfully stunning and really benefits from the expansive mid-range audio presence, but not at all overpowering especially the low bass music. Dialogue is the real star of the film, and as always sounds very natural and well placed with the centre speaker. ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ is no audio tour de force, but overall the audio experience sounds terrific and really good for what it needs to be with an amazing film of this calibre.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Audio Commentary by Screenwriter and Director Frank Darabont: Here Frank Darabont introduces himself and offers some great thoughts on his modern cult classic film and welcomes us to the film ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ and especially his audio commentary, but unfortunately it has been transferred from the inferior DVD and what a shame either Castle Rock Entertainment or Warner Home Video could of not been so lazy and decided to remaster and edit the audio commentary recording for the Blu-ray disc, which I find a very unprofessional attitude. Despite this, Frank Darabont informs us that this is his very first audio commentary and hopes we will be very gentle towards his forth coming comments. Frank Darabont also informs us that the film was shot in the summer of 1993 and released in the cinema in 1994 and that this audio commentary was recorded in march 2004 and is a look back at approximately ten years that has passed for this director, and is also a nice retrospective for frank, and in an interesting look at the film he directed over ten years previous. When you see Tim Robbins sitting in the car and retrieving the gun out of the compartment, well Frank informs us that the hands you see is actually his hands, and the close-ups was an insert shot he filmed later on in a certain room at the film studio. Frank Darabont goes into great detail why the Title of the film is different from the Title of the Stephen King’s novella, which was to my mind quite logical. When you see Morgan Freeman in the Parole Board room for the first time, you see them stamp “REJECTED,” well the two photos you see are of Morgan Freeman’s son Alfonso Freeman. When you see some of the Prison Guards, some of them we find out were real Prison Guards and were keen to be extras, and frank was very impressed with them, and especially giving them some lines to speak in the film. When you see Tim Robbins walking when it is snowing, well Frank Darabont informs us that this was actually potato flakes. Frank talks about how he goes about typing out his screenplays on his computer for any film he is about to direct, well he sometimes gets very intense and would sometimes work three days in a row without a break and helped along with plenty of coffee to keep him awake, whereas Frank Darabont says other people who do screenplays will have several breaks and go and play tennis, well this is not how Frank Darabont liked to do his work ethics, and that is why it only took eight weeks to finish the screenplay and script for his film ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION,’ and this is also how he did the screenplay and script for his film ‘The Green Mile.’ When Tim Robbins puts up his second poster of Marilyn Monroe, Frank talks about the brilliant prison Production Designer by Terence Marsh from London in England, who has also worked on such films as ‘The Green Mile;’ ‘Clear and Present Danger;’ ‘The Hunt for Red October;’ ‘Spaceballs;’ ‘A Bridge Too Far;’ ‘Oliver!’ and ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ to name but a few and feels Terry [Terence Marsh], as he is liked to be called, was a truly amazing person for Frank Darabont and his personal input towards his film and was very honoured to have him working on Frank Darabont’s film. When you get to Chapter 24 at around 1 hour and 24 minutes, you see the prison bus arrive again, well Frank Darabont informs us that he thought he would have some fun, because there is a cameo appearance of Dennis Baker, who was the former Warden at the Ohio State Reformatory, and is in the scene with prison bus that is bringing Tommy Williams [Gil Bellows] to the Shawshank Prison, and is the man sitting behind Tommy Williams is the Dennis Baker, who wanted to play the part of a convicted prisoner and is the only black guy you see on the bus. Frank also informs us another fun scene in the film, where the guards and the Warder find Tim Robbins gone from his cell, and points out the photo poster of Einstein with his tongue sticking out, that is up on the wall behind them, and feels this is a sort in-joke at the expense of the bumbling prison guards. When you see Morgan Freeman enter the Parole Board for the last time, Frank points out that there is a woman on the panel and is supposed to indict the passage of time and Frank Darabont feels that this was Morgan Freeman’s speech was the finest moment in the film, because of the way Morgan Freeman delivered his speech and of course gets his freedom and you eventually see him finally arrive at the famous tree that has the hidden item that Tim Robbins told him about. Also that wall you see in the film, well that was actually built by the Art Department people and was also given the green light by the farmer of that field and was well compensated for the construction of the hand built wall. When you see near the end of the film when Morgan Freeman is walking on the beach towards Tim Robbins, this is actually Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, which is on the Saint Croix, Virgin Islands, United States of America, and is the preserve sanctuary habitat for threatened and endangered species, with particular emphasis on the leatherback sea turtle., and the reason it was filmed there and not in Mexico, is because there was too much paper work involved and especially getting visas to film in that location, where as being at the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge was total freedom, especially after filming at the prison for five months. When you see the wording near the end of the film that says “In Memory Of Allen Greene,” well Frank informs us that this was his was literary agent and a very close friend of his, who took a chance with Frank and his career, and had just passed away prior the start of filming ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.’ As the credits rolls up the screen, Frank Darabont says that this audio commentary is dedicated to all who was involved with the making of the film and is also dedicated to all the fans of the film around the world. As we finally get to the end of the credits, Frank Darabont says, “Thank you for joining us, especially for this wacky commentary, and I hope it was worth your while. Take care and thank you very much.” And thank you Frank Darabont for a very informative and fascinating audio commentary and anyone who is a big fan of this film should not miss out on Frank Darabont, who is a very engaging person and it was definitely a very enjoyable audio experience and not one to be missed.
Original Theatrical Trailer [1994] [480i] [1.33:1] [2:16] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.’ Sadly, this is an absolutely atrocious quality print and also why is it not in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio.
Special Feature: HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL: A Look Back at ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ [2004] [1080i] [1.37:1] [31:00] Zelt Productions in association with Castle Rock Entertainment and Warner Home Video presents an in-depth look at the filmmakers and cast reminiscing on the making of the film and how it grew in popularity. But at the start we get this quote “It is the tale, not who tells it,” which is from the “Different Seasons,” which is a collection of four Stephen King novellas with a much more serious dramatic scenario than the horror fiction for which Stephen King is famous for. HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL is a retrospective documentary, tracing the rocky road from the film ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ and its initial 1982 inception as a short story from Stephen King entitled “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.” This very entertaining documentary takes a look at ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION,’ which opened in cinemas to a box office flop, to quickly become one of the most to one of the most beloved films of recent cinematic history. We get to see the cast and crew, recall their roller-coaster journey through making the film, suffering cruel rejection, and eventually enjoying worldwide adulation and to also seeing flashback to the making of the picture. From here we cover a wide range of topics from the screenplay to the music to the casting, to give a sense of how gradual the path to success was over a long period of time, Tim Robbins tells of people who would approach him on the street, calling out, "Hey, really loved that Shinkshank thing!" Frank Darabont talks about how in the book Morgan Freeman's character is a white Irish guy and he talks about what he first thought when someone recommended the actor for the part. The entire cast talks about what it was like at the script reading when Morgan Freeman put his touches on the vocal work. Tim Robbins shares his thoughts about what it took to reach his character and even Morgan Freeman gets to talk about some of his favourite scenes in the film. On the whole this is a very impressive documentary, but I would say is that it is not long enough. I think it would have been interesting to explore why the film was such a bomb when it was released and how it turned into something beloved by many. With that said, thankfully the majority of the cast members are on hand for the interviews so fans of the film will enjoy it. We also get to view some very wonderful rare colour illustrations of the cast and crew, as well as some rare black-and-white and colour promotional images of cast and crew, plus lots of rare behind-the-scene location filming at the Ohio State Reformatory, in Mansfield, Ohio, where the 1994 film ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ was shot. Contributions include: Frank Darabont [Screenwriter/Director], Niki Marvin [Producer], Clancy Brown [Captain Hadley], Tim Robbins [Andy Dufresne], Gill Bellows [Tommy Williams], James Whitmore [Brooks Hatlen], Steven King [Author], Bob Gunton [Warden Norton], Morgan Freeman [Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding], Terence Marsh [Production Designer], William Sadler [Heywood], David Proval [Snooze], Mark Rolston [Bogs], Thomas Newman [Composer] and Dr. Drew Casper [Hitchcock Professor of American Film at USC School of Cinema/Television].
Special Feature: SHAWSHANK: The Redeeming Feature [2001] [1080i] [1.78:1] [48:00] Mark Kermode hosts this BBC TV special entitled “SHAWSHANK: The Redeeming Feature,” in which Mark Kermode poses the question: "What the hell is so great about The Shawshank Redemption?" Again director Frank Darabont and his cast of players offer their in-depth thoughts as well as throwing in a few amusing production stories, the best of which involves the famous escape scene through the sewage tunnel. Apparently the tunnel part was that Tim Robbins had to immerse himself in the muddy creek at the end of the pipe after a chemist certified the water "lethal." Naturally, in the end, Tim Robbins just shut his mouth and dived straight in. What a guy! We also get discussions about the casting, the bombing at the box office, and eventually the rise in popularity, especially being the No.1 Video Rental. Of course there was the spiritual side of the film and when the script was sent out, actors were clamouring and begging for a part in the film, especially with the likes of Tom Cruise, Nicholas Cage and Charlie Sheen. All of these stories are good but you hear them so many times it's good that the documentary went into a different direction towards the end. We also get to see the prison on how it looks today, which is in a really run down state and needs a great deal of restoration. The film was shot in the Ohio State Reformatory, in Mansfield, Ohio, so host Mark Kermode takes us back to the city and talks with all the locals. We get to see some of the footage shot at the town premier of the film. We also get to talk with a church leader who sees the film as a very religious story including the idea that Andy Dufresne was like Jesus Christ, which I found to be a very creepy comment and made me cringe, especially when you see the group discussion, all of which in my opinion turned out to be total naïve crap, still what do you expect from a very inward looking American religious organisation. Overall this is a very interesting looking documentary, especially hearing the cast and crew comments. Contributions include: Tim Robbins [Andy Dufresne], Morgan Freeman [Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding], Frank Darabont [Screenwriter/Director], David J. Schow [American Author/Friend], John Patterson [Film Critic], Liz Glotzer [Executive Producer], Niki Marvin [Producer], William Sadler [Heywood], Bob Gunton [Warden Samuel Norton], Clancy Brown [Captain Hadley], James King [British Film Critic/Broadcaster], Jan Demyan [Tour Guide for Mansfield Reformatory], Terence marsh [Production Designer], Mark Malott [Former Convict/Trainee Pastor], Dennis Baker [Former Warden of The Mansfield Correctional Institution], Michael Marecy [Inmate 1956 – 1958], Jane Imbody [News Anchor at WMFD Mansfield], Brian Jamieson [Warner Home Video], Col Needham [Founder and CEO of Internet Movie Database] and David Bruce [HollywoodJesus.com]. This was a NOBEL GATE Film and Television Production for Channel 4 Television Corporation.
Special Feature: The Charlie Rose Show with Frank Darabont, Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman [2004] [1080i] [1.37:1] [42:19] Charlie Rose hosts a round table discussion about the Award Winning film ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.’ The Charlie Rose Show is a popular USA chat show, and with this particular programme that aired on the 6th September, 2004 and the guests included director Frank Darabont, actors Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman appearing to promote the re-release of the 10th Anniversary of film ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.’ It's not the fluffy sofa-based chinwag you might expect, but rather an unusually in-depth discussion and it runs at just under three quarters of an hour and one that affords rare insight into the development process that went into making the film. For example, Frank Darabont bought the rights to Stephen King's novella five years before he actually sat down and wrote the script and did it "in eight weeks flat." You also get to view several clips from the film. As we come to the end of the programme, each person in the interview thought it was the most important film they were ever associated with and summed up and inform us why the film has turned out to be such a classic cult film of its time.
Special Feature: Short Film: The SharkTank Redemption [2000] [480i] [1.37:1] [24:46] This is an enjoyable spoof of the film ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ Basically Alfonso Freeman (Morgan Freeman's son) works at a Hollywood agency. It's a ruthless place and a bit reminiscent of the film ‘Swimming with Sharks’ – which is ironic, for obvious reasons. A new guy starts working there and receives a lot of criticism from his boss, but he seems able to ignore it. Alfonso Freeman wants to know how he does this, but it seems Randy Tulane (the new employee) just has a way of keeping his cool. Finally Randy Tulane snaps, but first he provides his fellow workers in the office environment with a moment of inspiration. To some critics they said it was sort of dumb and lame, I leave that opinion for you to judge if you feel the same about this short film. Cast: Alfonso Freeman (Fred Redding), Steven Amato (Randy Tulane), John Rubano (AssHole Agent), Kent Kubena (AssHole Agent, Jr.), Patrick Kutac (Panel Agent #1), Doug Van Doren (Panel Agent #2), Ronnie Steadman (Panel Agent #3), Jeanette Van Doren (Stern Agent), Jacqui Cohen (HR Girl), Landon Ruddel (Messenger), Edgar Pablos (Mailroom Trainee), Rachel Nave (Office Assistant), Beth Greenwald (Office Assistant), Aude Soichet (Office Assistant), Liz Danahey (Office Assistant), Joe Wiseman (Office Assistant), Elizabeth Caren (Office Assistant), Terry Feingold (Office Assistant), Graham Robertson (Office Assistant), Gerry Katzman (Office Assistant), Ratheka Saroh (Office Assistant), Stephen Ridley (Office Assistant), Clarissa Higuera (Office Assistant), Pete Devriese (Office Assistant) and German Michael Torres (Actor 'Office Assistant').
Special Feature: SHAWSHANK Stills Galleries [2004] [1080p] [1.78:1] [15:58] Here you get to view a very nice promotional slide show with a great selection of 150 fantastic beautiful Colour and Black-and-White stills from the film ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION,’ and they consist of the following: Images of Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Supporting Cast, Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, lots of Behind-The-Scenes images on location, Storyboards and Collectibles. What you also get to hear in the background is the wonderful evocative film music score by Thomas Newman.
BONUS: Collectible Limited Edition DigiBook: Here we have a wonderful and beautiful printed 34 page booklet that contains: STEPHEN KING INTRODUCTION. TIM ROBBINS film career information and filmography listing. MORGAN FREEMAN film career information and filmography listing. JAMES WHITMORE film career information and filmography listing. WILLIAM SADLER film career information and filmography listing. BOB GUNTON film career information and filmography listing. FRANK DARANBONT DIRECTOR film career information. TRIVA. ESSAY: Hope Springs Eternal: The Redemption of Shawshank. We also get a plethora of rare colour publicity photographs of the actors and location.
Finally, ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ film is a total ultimate triumphant winner, and especially with an amazing image presentation, a brilliant solid audio performance and a nice package of brilliant extras. The mood swings rigorously throughout the film with every type of emotions as the cranky, the wise guy and the downright crazed array of criminals are the brunt of the turbulent life within the gloomy Shawshank prison catacomb. Then, as usual it gets really mean, gearing up for its injury-time shockers. Andy Dufresne, a whiz with figures, is bullied into running the Governor’s prison petty accounting scams, giving him the chance to execute their final comeuppance and for seeing Andy Dufresne in the film's final scenes showing the greatest of miracles and a perfect Stephen King happy ending. Frank Darabont's writing and direction is a total triumph. In the lead roles, both Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are outstanding, layering their performances with snippets of individuality, especially in their small, daily sustenance’s and minor triumphs are wonderfully inspiring. Technical contributions are well-crafted, particularly from cinematographer Roger Deakins' forbidding lensing. ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION’ is often overwhelming in its depiction of the granite-cold, stony horror of prison life. Most splendid is Thomas Newman's sombre melodic film score, which, at its best moments, alights with radiant textures and sprightly graceful notes, nicely emblematic of the film's central theme. If you don't love the film ‘THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION,’ then chances you are beyond redemption. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
