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Questions tagged [the-shawshank-redemption]

Prison movie of the 90s based on the writings of Stephen King, written and directed by Frank Darabont, generally resides as the top #1 movie on IMDB.

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Why wasn't Randall Stevens convicted in The Shawshank Redemption

In The Shawshank Redemption (1994), when Red and Andy were talking in the library, it was revealed that neither Andy nor the warden could be convicted of the scams the warden was running; it would be ...
Apoorva Shukla's user avatar
11 votes
5 answers
5k views

What does "Fat ass by a nose" mean?

In the movie "The Shawshank Redemption", a scene goes like this: [Fat Ass] (whimpering) God! I don't belong here! [Men Yelling] We have a winner! [Fat Ass] I wanna go home! [Heywood] And it'...
Kartik Chauhan's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
727 views

How did Andy know he wouldn't be moved?

In The Shawshank Redemption, Andy spent years carving a tunnel from his cell to the sewers which was hidden behind posters of various pin-ups. This question: How was Andy Dufresne able to dig the ...
komodosp's user avatar
  • 4,812
21 votes
1 answer
5k views

Approximately how much money did Andy save Mr. Hadley?

In The Shawshank Redemption, Andy offers to save Hadley some money by setting up a tax-free gift for him: Andy Dufresne: But you do need someone to set-up the tax-free gift for you. And that'll cost ...
Severus Snape's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
4k views

Is Andy Dufresne innocent in the Shawshank Redemption?

Is Andy Dufresne innocent, or did he really murder his wife?
Jeremy Toman's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
228 views

Why didn't Warden Nurton kill Andy for mentioning money laundering? [closed]

Prisoner Tommy reveals to Red and Andy that his cellmate at another prison had claimed responsibility for the murders for which Andy was convicted. Andy approaches Norton with this information, but ...
Labiam's user avatar
  • 111
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Why did Andy provoke Hadley in this scene?

In The Shawshank Redemption (1994), while resurfacing roof of the license-plate factor, prisoner Andy overhears the captain of the guards, Byron Hadley, complaining about being taxed on an inheritance ...
Nelson Blake's user avatar
  • 1,765
33 votes
4 answers
7k views

Who or what is being redeemed in The Shawshank Redemption?

What does the title "The Shawshank Redemption" refer to? It doesn't make sense to say Andy was redeemed, since he was never guilty of the crime for which he was convicted. Red is redeemed in the ...
Oscar Cunningham's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
4k views

How did Andy bring down the authorities on the warden?

At the close of The Shawshank Redemption, Andy flees the prison and the state authorities shortly arrive to arrest Captain Hadley and Warden Norton. I understand that Andy had intimate knowledge of ...
EleventhDoctor's user avatar
-2 votes
3 answers
2k views

How did Andy make the tunnel with such a small hammer?

How did Andy make such a large tunnel with such a little hammer? Please help explain because I am confused. The tunnel is so big and the hammer is so small!
Gagandeep Singh's user avatar
14 votes
4 answers
10k views

What does it mean to describe someone as a butt steak?

In The Shawshank Redemption, the officer said to a prisoner: Do you speak English, butt-steak? What does it mean to describe someone as a butt-steak?
Mostafa Bayoumi's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
5k views

Why did Andy lock himself in the music room?

Andy locks himself there to play music. Why would he do that? I get the philosophical aspect but it is a great risk. He is gaining favour with the prisoners but he could get moved to another cell or ...
Neeraj Murarka's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
2k views

How did Andy's Bible get into the warden's locker?

I watched The Shawshank Redemption countless times. This question occurred to me tonight for the very first time. When the Warden opened the safe at the end of the movie, Andy's Bible was there. ...
user66442's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
592 views

Why wasn't there a mug shot of Andy along with the story?

In The Shawshank Redemption, upon Andy's escape and the discovery of his clothes and the pickaxe, why wasn't there a mug shot of him along with the newspaper story? It stands to reason that if a ...
Jon-Westley CRIST's user avatar
16 votes
2 answers
21k views

How did Andy Dufresne write the letter to Red before actually meeting him?

I'm wondering how did Andy write the letter to Red before actually going to prison in The Shawshank Redemption? He tells Red how to find it and tells him about the black rock, so from what I ...
m4tizer0's user avatar
  • 171
-8 votes
3 answers
2k views

Why did Andy start digging a tunnel before he even knew he was innocent? Would he escape if he never knew he was innocent?

Andy comes to know that he is not guilty from a new prisoner, which he tries to avoid listening to. Before that even he was doubtful of his innocence. Now after this Andy escapes from the cell in a ...
user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
2k views

Was the character of Brooks Hatlen modeled after the real life "Birdman of Alcatraz"?

In The Shawshank Redemption, there are several similarities between the character of Brooks Hatlen and a real life prison inmate named Robert Stroud a.k.a. "The Birdman of Alcatraz" Brooks and Robert ...
steelersquirrel's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
28k views

Why does Andy choose the poster of actresses rather than any other less suspicious pictures?

In the Hollywood movie, The Shawshank Redemption, Andy Dufresne is shown to stick a picture of Rita Hayworth on the wall of his cell which is used as a cover to hide the hole through which he escapes ...
aelin_s's user avatar
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11 votes
2 answers
9k views

How did Andy get money to buy a rockhammer in The Shawshank Redemption?

In The Shawshank Redemption, Andy asks Red to get him a rock-hammer. But, how did Andy get money to buy this hammer? If I recall correctly, he didn't carry any cash when he was thrown in prison nor ...
A J's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
5k views

What is the purpose of Red’s name carving in the Shawshank Redemption?

In The Shawshank Redemption (1994), what is the purpose or significance of leaving your name on the wall? Andy saw the previous names in his cell, and wanted to add his, however, Brooks in his new ...
Nexusfactor's user avatar
57 votes
4 answers
29k views

Why do people call Morgan Freeman's character Red?

In the movie The Shawshank Redemption, when Andy first comes to Red (for smuggling a rock hammer), they have this dialogue: Andy: Thank you... Mr. er...? Red: Red. The name's Red. Andy: Red? Why do ...
Rahn's user avatar
  • 935
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

Is Red Imaginary?

I have seen some claims that Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding (played by Morgan Freeman) from The Shawshank Redemption was actually just a figment of Andy's imagination. Is there any evidence to this claim in ...
Rollo Tomasi's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

What is the significance of Heywood muttering "Shut up, man" while Fat Ass continues to blubber at Hadley?

In The Shawshank Redemption, just prior to Fat Ass' murder by Captain Hadley, we see Heywood mouthing "Shut up, man" (at around 14 seconds into that clip). What is the significance of him saying this? ...
Mad Banners's user avatar
16 votes
4 answers
6k views

How could Andy carve out the bible to hide the rock hammer?

In "The Shawshank Redemption", Andy is shown hiding the rock hammer in a bible whose pages have been carved out in the shape of the hammer. The question is: how could he have managed to do it? It ...
whirlaway's user avatar
  • 665
10 votes
1 answer
558 views

Did Andy wear mask and goggles in the original version?

The last sentences of the screenplay for "The Shawshank Redemption" read: A MAN is meticulously stripping the old paint and varnish by hand, face hidden with goggles and kerchief mask. ...
whirlaway's user avatar
  • 665
14 votes
2 answers
7k views

Who are Sears and Roebuck mentioned in the Shawshank Redemption?

Early in The Shawshank Redemption, Red says: Yes, sir. I'm a regular Sears and Roebuck. Who is he referring to here?
Anomalisa's user avatar
  • 291
9 votes
3 answers
3k views

Would Andy be shielded from the law in Mexico?

In The Shawshank Redemption, Andy conjures up the identity of Randall Stephens as a front for laundering money. He then assumes this identity after escaping from prison. Red comments that the the ...
Mad Banners's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
2k views

Why was Brooks released? Couldn't he have squealed on the Shawshank crimes?

Why was Brooks released in The Shawshank Redemption? The Warden would have Tommy killed to prevent Andy from having any chance of a retrial. So why is Brooks not a threat? Could he not himself report ...
Mad Banners's user avatar
26 votes
4 answers
69k views

How does Andy Dufresne reattach the poster to the wall in Shawshank Redemption?

During his escape, after he crawls into his tunnel that he spent 19 years chiseling away at, Andy Dufresne puts his poster of Racquel Welch back up, thereby covering the hole.. How did he do that? ...
Dom Vito's user avatar
  • 1,896
63 votes
7 answers
20k views

What makes The Shawshank Redemption so cinematically important?

The Shawshank Redemption is ranked as the "Top Rated" movie according to IMDB's Top 250 List. What makes it so important and unique in the world of cinema? Does it have to do purely with acting/plot,...
eYe's user avatar
  • 16.1k
11 votes
5 answers
10k views

Was Fat Ass, the character from Shawshank Redemption, actually innocent?

Was Fat Ass, the character from Shawshank Redemption, actually innocent? He is the first one to cry, and his show seems real. So was he really innocent?
Haris's user avatar
  • 1,599
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

Through what "pipes" is Andy Dufresne going when he is escaping?

What are routes of Andy Dufresne's escape in The Shawshank Redemption? I know that the last one is the sewer, but how does he get to the sewer?
Haris's user avatar
  • 1,599
5 votes
1 answer
3k views

Why does Andy wait for the lightning to strike when he is trying to break the sewer pipe?

During Andy's escape in The Shawshank Redemption it is clear that he sees the pipe so he doesn't have to wait for the lightning to enlighten it. Why does he wait for it?
Haris's user avatar
  • 1,599
6 votes
1 answer
2k views

How does buying goods from outside prison work?

In Shawshank Redemption Andy buys several things from Red, when his cell was inspected the warden found some of the things but didn't care much. I get the basics on how this works: Red bribed some of ...
hansaplast's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
3k views

How come the cops didn't find the gun thrown in the shallow river? But they had his prints on the murder weapon

In Shawshank Redemption, Andy tells the prosecutor and the court that the night that his wife and her lover were killed, he threw his revolver into the river from the bridge and went home. The ...
SandyShores's user avatar
  • 1,606
31 votes
1 answer
12k views

Did Andy Dufresne use more than one rock hammer to escape from Shawshank?

In Shawshank Redemption, Andrew Dufresne ordered the rock hammer through Red, which he then used for 19 years to pick a hole through the wall. Did Andy order multiple rock hammers? Its seems ...
Firee's user avatar
  • 1,349
14 votes
3 answers
9k views

How did Andy Dufresne dig the tunnel if there was another cell next to his?

In The Shawshank Redemption (1994), how did Andy Dufresne dig a tunnel if there was a cell next to him. He had to go through it, yet he obviously didn't.
user8662's user avatar
  • 141
1 vote
0 answers
273 views

How did Red get approval for rehabilitation? [duplicate]

In Shawshank Redemption, Red receives parole after serving 40 years in Shawshank. In the beginning of movie it is shown that Red's plea for rehabilitation got rejected multiple times. When Andy breaks-...
Buzz's user avatar
  • 861
12 votes
1 answer
1k views

How could Andy's right to appeal his sentence be denied to him by the warden?

Andy Dufresne was sentenced to two life sentences, how was his right to appeal his sentence denied to him by the warden, and could he have been able to appeal? How?
ghghghg's user avatar
  • 129
10 votes
1 answer
4k views

How was the aerial prison scene shot?

I have been wondering, knowing that back when this movie was shot technology wasn't comparatively so advanced, how could they have shot the opening scene of The Shawshank Redemption? If it was shot ...
Bleeding Fingers's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
7k views

How did Andy know for sure that the tree in Buxton was still there after 19 years?

In The Shawshank Redemption, Andy told Red about his dream of the pacific ocean and at last when Andy is about to break out he told Red to visit a specific hayfield near Buxton to retrieve a package. ...
Buzz's user avatar
  • 861
27 votes
5 answers
8k views

Why did Andy not reveal his plan to Red directly?

Andy left a series of clues for Red to discover. But why couldn't he just tell him all that directly?
aarbee's user avatar
  • 483
8 votes
8 answers
18k views

Does Prison Break copy Shawshank Redemption?

I noticed that many parts of the story of Prison Break match with the script of The Shawshank Redemption: an innocent sent to jail making friends in jail making wardens as friends on the basis of ...
rahul.deshmukhpatil's user avatar
36 votes
8 answers
63k views

How could Andy Dufresne do so much after his escape without being caught?

At the end of The Shawshank Redemption, Andy Dufresne escapes from the prison in the night, then during the next day he uses his fake identity and runs several banks, gets a convertible car and makes ...
sharptooth's user avatar
  • 1,961
9 votes
3 answers
4k views

What other things did Andy Dufresne carry while escaping from Shawshank Prison?

There were a few things which Andy Dufresne was shown putting into the package which he tied to his foot while escaping. Some of the items were his chess pieces and the account books of the warden. ...
Qrious's user avatar
  • 1,270
6 votes
3 answers
5k views

What if there was no storm?

Relating to this question: Explain the exploding pipe in The Shawshank Redemption. In that scene Andy is timing his strikes on the sewage line to the match the lightning strikes (shouldn't it be the ...
Kevin Howell's user avatar
  • 10.8k
21 votes
3 answers
33k views

How was Andy Dufresne able to dig the tunnel for many years without being discovered?

Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption is digging the tunnel to escape through the wall of his cell. He digs slowly and desperses the excavated material in the prison yard so that it doesn't accumulate ...
sharptooth's user avatar
  • 1,961
46 votes
11 answers
54k views

Red's parole hearings in The Shawshank Redemption

In The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Red has three parole hearings. For the first two, in 1947 (YouTube link) and in 1957, he tells the parole board what he thinks they want to hear, and is unsuccessful....
Verge's user avatar
  • 4,364
29 votes
5 answers
13k views

Why did the pipe explode in The Shawshank Redemption?

I have a question regarding the end of The Shawshank Redemption when Red is narrating Andy's escape - can some one explain why the pipe erupts when Andy breaks it when he is escaping from Shawshank? ...
AidanO's user avatar
  • 4,889