In 1994, Frank Darabont directed The Shawshank Redemption, a cinematic masterpiece adapted from Stephen King’s novel. The movie follows Andy Dufresne, a banker unjustly imprisoned for murder, as he navigates life within Shawshank State Penitentiary. It delves into themes such as hope, camaraderie, and the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman deliver compelling portrayals of Andy and Red, respectively.
They cultivate a profound friendship. Renowned for its clever plot twists, memorable characters, and poignant message, the film holds a revered place in the annals of cinema, often hailed as one of the finest ever created. But Morgan Freeman believes he knows the reason behind the film’s underwhelming commercial success.
Morgan Freeman Blames The Name Of The Film
The fate of many films hinges on their title. While a trailer can effectively promote a movie, word of mouth can be equally influential. Morgan Freeman, a star of The Shawshank Redemption, believes this factor played a significant role in the film’s initial struggle at the box office. Due to the movie’s enigmatic title, even those who had watched it couldn’t effectively recommend it to others.
Morgan Freeman told Vanity Fair:
“Nobody could say ‘Shawshank Redemption.’ Your friends say, ‘Ah, man, I saw this movie, The … what was it? Shank, Sham, Shim? Something like that. Anyways, terrific.’ Well, that doesn’t sell you.”
Tim Robbins, his co-star, shared similar sentiments, emphasizing that it made sense. He recalled instances where people approached him after the film’s release, highlighting the various ways people mistakenly recalled the title.
Tim Robbins told EW:
“And that makes sense too, because for years after that film came out, people would come up to me and say, ‘You know, I really liked you in that film ‘Scrimshaw Reduction’ or ‘Shimmy, Shimmy, Shake’ or ‘Shankshaw’ — you know, so many different ways that people got it wrong.'”
Another intriguing fact is that “Shawshank” is an adaptation of a Stephen King work, and the author originally had an even lengthier title for his story.
Morgan Freeman Wrote A Heartfelt Post For The Film
Morgan Freeman, the renowned Hollywood actor, expressed his gratitude to the fans for transforming his 1994 film, The Shawshank Redemption, into a beloved cult classic. He shared a heartfelt message on social media to convey his thanks.
It has been 26 years since #ShawshankRedemption came out in theaters and I’m still thankful to everyone who made our box office flop one of the most beloved movies of all time. pic.twitter.com/cGaQX24vOa
— Morgan Freeman (@morgan_freeman) October 14, 2020
The movie narrates the tale of two inmates who develop an enduring bond. Andy Dufresne (portrayed by Tim Robbins) finds himself unjustly sentenced for the murder of his spouse and her lover. Morgan Freeman assumes the character of Ellis Red Redding, a contraband smuggler serving a life sentence. The ensemble cast also features Gil Bellows, Clancy Brown, Bob Gunton, Paul McCrane, William Sadler, and James Whitmore.
The Shawshank Redemption is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: Vanity Fair
