In 1994, Frank Darabont directed the drama movie, The Shawshank Redemption based on a Stephen King short story, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, published in 1983. It’s an amazing tale of a man named Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins, who is convicted and sent to prison for the murder of his wife and her lover. The director introduces the audience to more characters, gives better descriptions of what takes place in the prison and leaves no room for misinterpretation.
Introducing more characters, the directors can make the audience feel as if they’re part of the very scenes they are viewing. For example, Andy finds a worm in his first meal at the prison. He gives the worm to an old man’s bird. Dufresne meets all sorts of characters in prison and the movie introduces the viewers to a large group of them. The book mentions nothing of worms, birds or even a kind old man. In Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, the author focuses on two main characters, Andy and Red, not mentioning too much about the other prisoners.
While watching the movie, the audience can actually see the characters interacting. Body language and facial expressions help personalize characters making the viewers feel as if they are part of the scene. The relationship between Red and Andy is portrayed in more detail in the movie. Viewing the fights between the inmates and guards causes the audience to feel sympathy for the prisoners. When enjoying a book, a reader has to imagine the character themselves, and may not be getting the same outcome the author intended. In Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, the reader doesn’t get the full effect of the abuse because they can’t actually see the beatings take place. The prison environment is not portrayed as harshly in the book as it is in the movie.
When watching a movie it’s easier to figure out what’s going on. In The Shawshank Redemption, the director made sure the audience understood exactly how the prison worked. While reading the book, it’s easy to misconstrue what the author intended. A reader can imagine a scenario a different way than the author wanted them to.
After watching The Shawshank Redemption and reading the book, I’ve become a fan of the movie. The movie introduced more characters, visualized the misdeeds in the prison and left no room for misinterpretation. The directors made it easier for me to get absorbed in each scene. The movie also gave me a chance to relax and spend time with a loved one. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone.
Works Cited
King, Stephen. Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. New York: First Signet Printing, 1983.
The Shawshank Redemption. Dir. Frank Darabont. Perf. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. Polygram Film International, 1994.
