Director
Frank Darabont
Leading Actors/Actresses
Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Clancy Brown
Genre
Drama
Language
English
Awards
Nominated for seven Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actor for Morgan Freeman, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Original Score, and Best Sound Mixing
Date of Release
September 23, 1994
Producer
Niki Marvin
Setting and Context
Shawshank Prison, Maine, 1940s-1960s
Narrator and Point of View
The narrator is Red, and we primarily see things from his point of view
Tone and Mood
Solemn, Dramatic, Clever, Moving, Playful, and Suspenseful.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Andy Dufresne vs. Warden Samuel Norton
Major Conflict
There is an ongoing conflict between the leaders of the prison and the prison inmates. The central conflict is between Andy Dufresne, who has been wrongly convicted of murder, and the warden, Norton, who will not listen to his pleas for release and only uses Andy for his own corrupt means.
Climax
There are two climaxes. The first is when Andy escapes from prison, and the second is when Red reads Andy's letter and makes the choice to travel to Mexico to be with him.
Foreshadowing
When the Warden tells Andy that "Salvation lies within" while inspecting his Bible (with, unknown to the warden, the rock hammer hidden inside), this foreshadows Andy's escape.
Red's thoughts of suicide are foreshadowed by his seeing Brooks' etching on the wall of his room in the halfway house.
Understatement
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
Though not innovative, the film is exceptionally well-shot. Roger Deakins earned an Academy Award for his work as cinematographer on the film, indicating that the film was one of the best-shot films of the year.
Allusions
Allusions to various film actresses like Rita Hayworth and Raquel Welch, allusions to the Bible, allusions to literature, such as The Count of Monte Cristo.
Paradox
The content of the character of the warden and Andy are diametrically opposed to each other: the warden is supposed to be honest and fair, but is instead dishonest and ruthless; Andy, a prison inmate, is supposed to be dishonest and cruel but is instead honest and kind. This role reversal creates a paradox.
Parallelism
Red's parole is parallel to Brooks, as they both live in the halfway house and both work at the grocery store.
