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10 unusual facts about The Shawshank Redemption


Brian Shaw

Starting in 1994, he was one-half of the popular "Shaw-Shaq Redemption" (named after The Shawshank Redemption), an alley-oop from Shaw to Shaquille O'Neal that was popular with fans in both Orlando and Los Angeles (Shaw and O'Neal were also Laker teammates).

Buxton, Maine

In the movie The Shawshank Redemption (based on the novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Maine native Stephen King), Buxton is the site of the rock wall where Red goes after being released from prison to retrieve a message from his friend Andy Dufresne, who escaped from prison a few months earlier.

Different Seasons

The collection is notable for having had three of its four novellas turned into Hollywood films, one of which, The Shawshank Redemption, was nominated for the 1994 Academy Award for Best Picture.

Fort Hancock Port of Entry

In the 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption, Tim Robbins' character flees the United States via the Fort Hancock - El Porvenir border crossing.

Fort Hancock, Texas

In the 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Red crosses the U.S. border into Mexico at Fort Hancock to join his friend, Andy, who earlier escaped from Shawshank Prison and fled to Mexico via Fort Hancock.

Human 2.0

In "Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow", the beginning quote is from the movie The Shawshank Redemption.

Mercury Summer

Frontman Charlie Simpson said that the inspiration for this song came from one of his favourite movies, The Shawshank Redemption, and the dream of the lead character, Andy.

Now I Can Die in Peace

It contains frequent pop culture references and comparisons to The Shawshank Redemption.

Puff, Puff, Pass

After the two are locked out of their apartment by their landlord Lance (Jonathan Banks) for being late on rent, the two are stuck for a way to get cable television so they can watch The Shawshank Redemption during a 24-hour marathon on TNT.

Upper Sandusky, Ohio

The courtroom scene of The Shawshank Redemption was filmed in the Wyandot County Courthouse in Upper Sandusky.


Paul McCrane

Later, after losing most of his hair, he played murderous Emil Antonowsky in RoboCop, followed by astronaut Pete Conrad in From the Earth to the Moon, Guard Trout in The Shawshank Redemption, cancer-absorbing mutant Leonard Betts in The X-Files.

Simon Naylor

Simon’s Theatre credits include 'Gary' in Unleashed (Hull Truck Theatre Company), 'Lapo' in On The Ceiling, 'Jack Munroe' in Happy Jack (both at The Landor Theatre) 'Rooster' in The Shawshank Redemption (Wyndhams Theatre), 'Gregg' in Waiting at The Lost Theatre and 'Desmond Ainsley' with a UK tour of Bill Kenwrights’ production of Funny, Peculiar.

The Woman in the Room

Celebrated director Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile) started his film career by adapting this story into a short film in 1983.