Summary

• The Shawshank Redemption is not a true story, but is based on a novella by Stephen King. The movie expands on the original source material and changes the fates of key characters.
• The prison scenes in The Shawshank Redemption were filmed in a real Ohio prison, adding to the believability of the story.
• Stephen King, the author of the original novella, praised the adaptation of The Shawshank Redemption and appreciated that it showcased his non-supernatural storytelling abilities.

Nearly 30 years after its release, the question of whether The Shawshank Redemption is a true story persists. The Shawshank Redemption follows banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a man sentenced to life in prison in 1947 despite insisting he is innocent. Eventually, he strikes up a friendship with lifelong prisoner Red (Morgan Freeman) while dealing with the prison's corrupt warden and guards. Despite the grim and sometimes brutal setting of the story, it is a tale about finding hope in the most unlikely of places. With such an inspiring tale, some believe The Shawshank Redemption is a true story.

The Shawshank Redemption is one of the rare Hollywood stories in which a movie bombs upon its release only to be discovered as a masterpiece later on. Even with the financial disappointment, the movie was a critical success, earning seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Its reputation only improved from there, with audiences gradually discovering it and praising it as one of the best movies of all time. As a testament to the story and how it impacted audiences, there is still some question about whether or not The Shawshank Redemption is a true story.

The Shawshank Redemption Is Based On A Stephen King Novella

The Shawshank Redemption Story Is Fictional

While The Shawshank Redemption is not a true story, it is based on existing source material. The movie is based on a novella by famed author Stephen King. The original title of the source material is Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, referring to one of Andy Dufresne's posters seen in The Shawshank Redemption. The novella was adapted by Frank Darabont, who went on to direct the movie as well.

The Shawshank Redemption greatly expanded on King's work as well, changing the fates of several key characters, including the famous scene of Brooks hanging himself after leaving prison. The villains of the book, like Warden Norton, are also darker in the movie and, as such, get a more satisfying comeuppance. Thankfully Norton wasn't a real person, and the events in The Shawshank Redemption didn't happen — although the fact many think they must have done is a testament to the creative prowess of both Stephen King and Frank Darabont.

One of the most famous changes in The Shawshank Redemption came from the brilliant casting of Morgan Freeman in the role of Red as the character was written as a red-headed Irish man in the book. The ending is also notably differently, with Red setting out to meet Andy, while the decision for the movie to end with their reunion is one of The Shawshank Redemption's best changes.

Shawshank Is A Real Prison

A Real-Life Prison Break Inspired The Shawshank Redemption

Though there is no real prison called Shawshank, the jail scenes where The Shawshank Redemption takes place were filmed in a real Ohio prison. Though the movie is technically set in Maine, principal photography primarily took place in Mansfield, Ohio, with the Ohio State Reformatory being the film's shooting location.

The historic prison was built between 1886 and 1910, remaining operational until 1990 when it was shut down. It has served as a filming location for movies, like Tango & Cash and Air Force One, and is now a tourist attraction, proving how many fans The Shawshank Redemption has accumulated. Using this authentic setting definitely added to the believability of The Shawshank Redemption, and adds to the sense that the events on screen are based on a true story.

Another detail that could add to the lasting assumption that The Shawshank Redemption is a true story could have something to do with the similarities in a real-life escaped prisoner incarcerated at the same penitentiary in which the movie was filmed. An inmate named Frank Freshwaters escaped incarceration in 1959 after being sentenced to 20 years at the Ohio State Reformatory.

While Freshwaters, like Andy, discovered the benefits of befriending prison officials, he did not tunnel his way to freedom. The convict was also captured 56 years after escaping, a fate that would have greatly altered the ending of The Shawshank Redemption. Despite the similarities, audiences simply have to accept Shawshank as a pioneering work of fiction rather than a true-to-life chronicle.

What Stephen King Thinks Of The Shawshank Redemption

The Movie Helped Change Perceptions About King's Work

Though many viewers ask is The Shawshank Redemption a true story, many also wonder what Stephen King thinks of the adaptation. King openly dislikes Stanley Kubrick's The Shining despite being called one of the best horror movies by many people. It proves King can be a harsh critic when it comes to adaptations of his work. Luckily, King has nothing but praise for The Shawshank Redemption, describe the first time he saw it (via: Oscars) "I realized he'd made not just one of the best movies ever done from my work, but a potential movie classic."

King also pointed to the fact that Frank Darabont seemed drawn to the non-supernatural aspects of King's massive collection of works. This highlights why The Shawshank Redemption was such an important adaptation of King's writing. He had already been established as a horror icon with many of his novels being adapted into movies. However, aside from Stand By Me, this was the first time a movie showcased King's non-supernatural storytelling. While he's predominantly known for supernatural horror, The Shawshank Redemption reminded people that King's writing can also be incredibly grounded.

The Shawshank Redemption Isn't The Only Movie Mistaken For A True Story

Claims Of Being A True Story Are Sometimes Used To Market Movies

While The Shawshank Redemption isn't based on a true story, it is not uncommon for audiences to make this assumption about other movies as well. There are a lot of interesting examples of movies people thought were based on true stories only for them to realize it is pure fiction. Certain films carry a grounded feel such as the Tom Hanks movie Cast Away and, more recently Tar, with plots that could easily have happened in the real world.

Then there are movies that purposely mislead audiences into thinking they are true stories. Braveheart takes a true historical figure and creates a fictional story about him Horror movies are known for stretching the truth as films like The Amityville Horror claiming to be a true story despite its supernatural elements. It can also be used as a clever way of luring the audience in as The Blair Witch Project did in marketing the found-footage movie as a real documentary.

The Coen Brothers also gleefully lied to the audience in the opening of Fargo with the text telling them the movie depicts an event that took place in Minnesota in 1987 despite the fact that the entire thing, including that text, is a work of fiction. Fargo's true story claims are not meant as a marketing gimmick but rather as a joke on the audience and a way of immersing them into this crime story that could feasibly happen.

Whatever reason audiences mistake a movie for a true story, it is a testament to the film itself. As is the case with The Shawshank Redemption, there is something about the story and the characters that strike a chord and holds a feeling of realism with audiences. The fact that it is not a true story does not take away from the movie, but the feeling that it could be is something special about The Shawshank Redemption.

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  The Shawshank Redemption

  Summary:

  Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman star in Frank Darabont's 1994 adaptation of Stephen King's novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. After being sentenced to life in prison for the alleged murder of his wife, Robbins' Andy Dufresne learns the value of hope, persistence, and true friendship as he befriends kindhearted convicts like Freeman's "Red" Redding and uses his wits to expose the secret crimes of Bob Gunton's cruel penitentiary warden Samuel Norton.

  Release Date:

  1994-10-14

  Budget:

  $25 million

  Cast:

  William Sadler, Tim Robbins, Bob Gunton, Clancy Brown, Morgan Freeman

  Director:

  Frank Darabont

  Genres:

  Drama

  Rating:

  R

  Runtime:

  142 minutes

  Writers:

  Frank Darabont

  Studio(s):

  Columbia Pictures

  Distributor(s):

  Columbia Pictures