No other film can simultaneously make you feel imprisoned and released like The Shawshank Redemption. In my view, it is the best film of all time.

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve seen it, but I could watch it again and again without being bored.

The script excels, the performance shines, and the casting—not just for Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, but for all the supporting characters—is impeccable. It is sheer cinematic brilliance.

Even masterpieces are susceptible to human imperfection…

A buddy recently advised that I revisit The Shawshank Redemption, and I wasn’t sure. It had been about 15 years since I last watched it, and I was curious if it would still hold up. But yeah, let me tell you, it does. The opening scene immediately captivated me, reinforcing my belief that this is one of the greatest films ever made.

Despite its iconic fame, The Shawshank Redemption contains oddities, bloopers, and a major narrative flaw that will leave you perplexed.

Let’s look at some lesser-known errors and behind-the-scenes blunders that somehow made it past the final edit of this flawless film.

It was a superb performance.

Fans of The Shawshank Redemption are always amazed by the information we have to share. Unsurprisingly, it revolves around the renowned Morgan Freeman.

During Andy (Tim Robbins) and Red’s (Morgan Freeman) first conversation in the jail yard — a moment in which Red easily tosses a baseball — Freeman not only plays the character.

The scene took nine hours to film, and Freeman tossed the baseball the entire time with no complaints. Talk about devotion! The next day, however, reality struck: Freeman appeared on set with his left arm in a sling. That’s the type of behind-the-scenes roughness that makes this film memorable.

Morgan Freeman’s personal favorite role is Red, the intelligent and kind-hearted convict from The Shawshank Redemption.

Interestingly, the character was almost given to great performers such as Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Robert Redford, and Robert Duvall before Freeman brought Red to life with his outstanding performance.

Why is Red named “Red”?

In Stephen King’s book Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, the character Red is characterized as a red-haired Irishman, which differs from how we see him in the film.

In a 2014 interview with Yahoo Entertainment, Freeman said that when he originally started reading Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, he stopped after the first page when he realized Red was written as an Irishman. “I can’t play an Irishman,” he thought, putting the book down.

Despite Freeman’s initial reservations, director Frank Darabont had always seen him in the character of Red and finally persuaded him to take it on.

Red’s response, “Maybe it’s because I’m Irish,” to Andy’s question regarding his moniker was an inside joke that the producers loved so much that they included it in the final edit.

Swapping shirts

Morgan Freeman’s amazing devotion to tossing the baseball during Andy and Red’s initial conversation isn’t the only thing to note.

Here’s a nice little blooper to look out for the next time you watch: during their big debut sequence, there’s one extra hanging around in the background who appears to have a wardrobe malfunction.

When Red’s lines were filmed, the extra wore one jail shirt, but by the time Andy’s lines were filmed, they had mysteriously switched into another one! Shawshank aficionados turn this little continuity error into a wonderful Easter egg.

Chessboard error.

Andy Dufresne, the prison’s resident genius and king of creative accounting, has a keen sense of detail that rivals a jeweler’s. He knows how to balance the warden’s finances and save guards money on taxes. But what about putting up his chessboard? Let’s just say that even geniuses have off days.

Those with keen eyes quickly notice that Andy Dufresne’s cell has the chessboard set up backward. The bottom-right square, which is supposed to be white, is black.

As a result, the royal lineup is completely incorrect, with both the Black and white kings and queens sitting on the wrongly colored squares. It’s a classic chess error that no professional player would ever commit, because proper placement is essential to the game.

But, hey, Andy may be thinking about something more important than chess rules. When planning your escape from Shawshank, it might be less concerning if your chessboard doesn’t adhere strictly to tradition.

Tim Robbins addresses the classic plot hole.

The moment when the guards and convicts discover that Andy has accomplished the impossible—he has escaped—is one of the most memorable scenes in The Shawshank Redemption.

However, fans have been wondering about one element for years.

How did Andy get the poster back over the tube after crawling under it? Observers saw the poster clearly affixed in all four corners when the warden hurled a rock at it.

It’s a riddle that has perplexed audiences, stirred endless arguments, and even prompted Morgan Freeman to address the subject during a cast reunion at the TCM Film Festival.

Was it movie magic? Was it a brilliant trick? Is there an explanation that fans have overlooked all along?

“How did Andy get that poster back in place after he got into that tunnel?” Freeman questioned his co-star, as reported by Geek Vibes Nation.

“It’s easy.” So simple,” Tim Robbins replied, making hand movements to convey the enigma. He demonstrated pinning the poster at the top but not at the bottom. He positioned the pin precisely at the top of the poster. Pull up here [raising the bottom of the poster]. Go beneath. Go in.”

Could Andy’s escape possibly remain under the radar?

However, do fans genuinely accept that explanation? Not exactly.

According to IMDb, Tim Robbins’ explanation for the poster being in place may have faults. If the poster was just attached to the top, as recommended, it would respond to pressure changes in the tunnel once the wall was breached.

The poster would either flap or dimple, depending on whether or not the bottom was fixed. In any case, the movement would make noise, attracting the guards’ notice. The situation raises a reasonable question: how could such an important element go overlooked in Shawshank’s silent, attentive environment?

How might Andy break the sewage pipe?

When discussing Andy’s excellent escape plot from Shawshank, one element leaps out. He used a simple rock to burst open and crawl into the sewage lines. However, it’s important to note that sewage pipelines frequently consist of iron.

A boulder as basic as Andy’s would have to be forceful to create a dent, let alone burst through the pipes. Furthermore, the power necessary to strike the pipes would likely have hurt his hand.

In the scene where Andy crawls through the sewage tunnels to escape, Tim Robbins subsequently remarked, “It wasn’t really human excrement; it was cow poo. It was rather poisonous!”

It was a great finale, minus 30 seconds.

I firmly believe that The Shawshank Redemption is a flawless film, and proposing any alterations would be akin to sacrilege. However, if someone had placed a pistol to my head and forced me to change one item, I believe the film could have concluded around 30 seconds sooner.

We know Red made it to Mexico and Zihuatanejo, or at least hooked up with Andy someplace. He’s the one who narrates the entire video, including all of the specifics regarding Andy’s escape and life after he got out, so he couldn’t have known anything until he located Andy and heard the complete narrative.

However, the beach scene appears very literal and detracts from the film’s overall impact. For me, it wouldn’t have hurt to leave things a little more open-ended.

And, fun fact: the last Zihuatanejo beach scene was recorded at St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, since they wanted to use the magnificent blue Caribbean ocean.

Was Andy Dufresne an actual person?

While The Shawshank Redemption is not based on a factual tale, it does have some entertaining parallels with a real-life prison escape.

Many people hold the belief that Andy Dufresne shares similarities with Frank Freshwaters, a manslaughter conviction in 1957. Like Andy, Frank became friendly with the jail personnel, gaining their trust and, of course, planning his great escape.

Now, here’s where things get interesting: Frank pulled off his own Shawshank-style breakout under strange circumstances. Nobody knows how he got away, but he disappeared for decades, taking on a new identity as a truck driver in Florida. It wasn’t until 56 years later that officials apprehended him, discovering him in a small trailer on the property owned by the parents of Florida Senator Thad Altman. Frank seemed to have been the “caretaker” of the wetlands, keeping to himself, fishing, and fighting off trespassers with ease.

Oh, and while Shawshank is supposed to be in Maine, it was really filmed in the Mansfield Correctional Institute in Ohio—most likely because it seemed like a site where someone could make a tremendous escape, similar to Frank, an Ohio native.

The emergence of Shawshank was surprising.

The Shawshank Redemption, which was budgeted around $25 million, grossed approximately $28 million for Columbia Pictures.

Despite its compelling themes of hope and atonement, the film’s R rating, violence, and inadequate marketing strategy contributed to its lukewarm response. But two factors prevented it from quietly fading into obscurity. It first gained fresh life on home video, becoming a cult favorite.

What about the second reason? The individual in question is a man known as Ted Turner. The cable entrepreneur, who controlled the TNT network, took Shawshank and ran with it, making it a fan favorite among viewers of all ages and backgrounds.

“Turner started airing Shawshank on TV like every five minutes for years, because I don’t think it cost him anything!” filmmaker Frank Darabont said in an interview with Yahoo.

“There was an unlimited possibility for people to catch up with it on the Turner Network, so I also applaud Ted Turner.” He gave it his all.”

The director’s hands make an unexpected cameo.

Now let’s chat about Frank Darabont. The Hungarian-American director made a significant impression in 1994 with The Shawshank Redemption, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

The picture would be different without Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. Darabont was highly influenced by Goodfellas, particularly the use of voiceover narration, editing methods, and the way the film transitions between times.

And here’s a fun fact: in the opening moments, when Andy loads the handgun, the hands shown aren’t Tim Robbins’; they belong to filmmaker Frank Darabont.

Later, during the sequences in which Andy carves his name into the cell wall (which appear twice in the film), Darabont’s hands show in the insert shots. These close-ups were shot in post-production because Darabont believed only he could create the exact look he desired for those scenes.

From Shawshank to the Shimmy Shimmy Shake

Tim Robbins said he never gets tired of hearing about The Shawshank Redemption. But when he signed on for the film, he had no clue how much it would influence his career.

The script was the finest thing he’d ever read, from beginning to end, but, as previously said, the picture was not a success when it was initially released.

“When it came out and was poorly appreciated at the box office, numerous explanations were given: It’s the title, and no one remembers the title. And it makes sense, because for years after that picture came out, people would approach me and say, ‘You know, I really loved you in that film Scrimshaw Reduction’ or ‘Shimmy, Shimmy, Shake’ or ‘Shankshaw’—talk’ about a title mix-up!” Robbins recounted.

Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman enjoy supper every couple of years.

Tim Robbins, 66, had a fair idea who Morgan Freeman, 87, was before they met on the set of The Shawshank Redemption—but he was completely taken aback when they actually met.

“When we met in person, I was instantly impressed by his kindness, tranquility, and calm. I grew to appreciate him not only as a collaborator on Shawshank Redemption but also as a friend. We would get out on weekends and maybe have supper after filming,” Tim told the Hollywood Reporter.

Robbins continued, “I still have dinner with Morgan once or twice a year.” We’ve been astounded over the years by the number of individuals who stop us and tell us that Shawshank is their favorite movie of all time, that they’ve watched it 40 times, or that it changed their lives or saved them in some manner. That’s very wonderful, and it’s quite a gift.”

From spectacular performances to hidden behind-the-scenes events, The Shawshank Redemption continues to captivate and amaze us years later.

So, the next time you see this legendary film, take a moment to appreciate the intricacies that could otherwise go unnoticed—the ones that make Shawshank a masterpiece. Don’t forget to share your best memories with others!