No, The Shawshank Redemption is not based on a true story. The foundation of the film lies in Stephen King's novella "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption," published in 1982.
The Shawshank Redemption, a 1994 American drama film, was both written and directed by Frank Darabont. The film was adapted from Stephen King's novella, which Darabont purchased the rights to in 1987. However, it wasn't until five years later that the development of the film began. Darabont himself wrote the script over an eight-week period and submitted it to Castle Rock Entertainment, who provided a $25 million budget for production just two weeks later.
Principal photography for the film took place from June to August 1993, primarily in Mansfield, Ohio, where the Ohio State Reformatory was used as the setting for the titular penitentiary. Although the story is set in Maine, the film's location was carefully selected to create the desired atmosphere and capture the essence of the story.
What is The Shawshank Redemption about?
In early 1947, Andy Dufresne, a banker hailing from Portland, Maine, was sentenced to two consecutive life terms at Shawshank State Prison for the murder of his wife and her lover. During his incarceration, Andy forged a friendship with fellow inmate Ellis "Red" Redding, who was serving a life sentence for contraband smuggling. Red provided Andy with a rock hammer and a large poster of Rita Hayworth.
As an assigned laundry worker, Andy was repeatedly sexually assaulted by a group of inmates known as "the Sisters," led by Bogs Diamond. In 1949, Andy overheard the prison guard captain, Byron Hadley, grumbling about inheritance taxes and offered to legally shelter his funds. After surviving a near-fatal assault by the Sisters, Andy was no longer targeted, and Hadley was injured and transferred Bogs to another facility.
Warden Samuel Norton recognized Andy's financial acumen and relocated him to the prison library to assist Brooks Hatlen, an elderly inmate. However, this was a cover for using Andy's abilities to handle financial matters for prison staff, guards from other facilities, and the warden himself. Andy commenced writing weekly letters to the state legislature, requesting funds to improve the library's dilapidated state.
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption is a novella that appears in Stephen King's 1982 collection titled Different Seasons, subtitled Hope Springs Eternal. This novella has also been released as a standalone short book.
The story's narration is presented entirely from the perspective of the character Red, who claims to have been composing it from September 1975 to January 1976, with an extra chapter appended in the spring of 1977.
What is the reaction of Stephen King to The Shawshank Redemption?
Stephen King is known for being a discerning evaluator of adaptations of his literary works. However, in the case of The Shawshank Redemption, King is effusive in his praise. In fact, he was so impressed with the film that during his first viewing, which occurred at the Oscars, he recognized it as not only one of the finest adaptations of his work but also a possible future cinematic masterpiece.
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