The Shawshank Redemption: Errors, inconsistencies, and on-screen blunders

No other movie captures the feeling of being trapped and free at the same time quite like The Shawshank Redemption. In my view, it stands above every other film ever made. Nothing else even comes close.

I honestly cannot count how many times I have watched it, yet it never loses its power. I could sit through it again and again and still feel completely absorbed every single time.

The storytelling is exceptional, the performances are flawless, and the casting could not have been better. That praise does not stop with Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. Every supporting role fits perfectly. It is pure cinematic brilliance.

That said, even the most celebrated films are not immune to mistakes.

A friend recently encouraged me to watch The Shawshank Redemption again, and at first I hesitated. Nearly fifteen years had passed since my last viewing, and I wondered if it would still feel as powerful. Any doubt disappeared almost instantly. From the opening moments, I was pulled right back in, reminded once again that this film truly deserves its legendary status.

Still, despite being widely regarded as a near-perfect movie, The Shawshank Redemption does have its oddities, bloopers, and even one noticeable plot issue that might make you pause and question it.

Let’s take a closer look at some lesser-known mistakes and behind-the-scenes slipups that somehow made it into the final version of this iconic film.

A flawless performance
There is one piece of behind-the-scenes trivia that never fails to impress fans of The Shawshank Redemption, and naturally, it centers on Morgan Freeman.

During the early prison yard scene where Andy, played by Tim Robbins, first speaks with Red while Red casually tosses a baseball, Freeman was not just pretending to throw it between takes.

That scene took nine long hours to film, and Freeman continued throwing the ball the entire time without complaining once. The commitment was impressive, but it caught up with him quickly. When he returned to set the following day, his left arm was in a sling. It is that kind of dedication that adds to the magic of the film.

Freeman’s favorite role
Red, the thoughtful and compassionate inmate portrayed by Morgan Freeman, is not only one of his most beloved performances, it is also his personal favorite role.

What many fans may not realize is that the part nearly went to several other legendary actors, including Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Robert Redford, and Robert Duvall, before Freeman ultimately made the character unforgettable.

Why Red is called Red
In Stephen King’s novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, the character of Red is described very differently from the film version. In the book, Red is a red-haired Irishman.

In a 2014 interview with Yahoo Entertainment, Freeman revealed that when he first began reading the novella, he stopped after the opening page once he realized Red was written as Irish. He thought to himself, “I can’t play an Irishman,” and put the book aside.

Although Morgan Freeman initially had doubts, director Frank Darabont had always pictured him as Red and remained determined to cast him in the role. In the end, Darabont successfully convinced Freeman to take part, a decision that would become one of the most celebrated casting choices in film history.

Red’s line, “Maybe it’s because I’m Irish,” delivered in response to Andy asking about his nickname, was actually an inside joke among the filmmakers. They enjoyed it so much that it stayed in the final version of the movie.

Swapping shirts
Freeman’s dedication to endlessly throwing a baseball during Andy and Red’s first conversation is not the only detail worth noticing in that scene.

There is a small but amusing continuity error that sharp-eyed viewers may catch. In the background of that introduction scene, an extra appears to change prison shirts between shots. When Red’s dialogue was filmed, the extra is wearing one shirt, but when the camera switches to Andy’s lines, the same extra is suddenly dressed in a completely different one. It is a minor slip, but it has since become a fun Easter egg for devoted fans.

The chessboard error
Andy Dufresne is portrayed as incredibly intelligent and meticulous. Whether he is managing the warden’s finances or helping guards reduce their tax burdens, his attention to detail is unmatched. Yet even someone as sharp as Andy seems to slip up when it comes to chess.

If you look closely at the chessboard in Andy’s cell, you will notice it is set up incorrectly. The square in the bottom-right corner, which should always be white, is black instead.

Because of this error, the kings and queens for both sides are placed on the wrong squares, completely reversing their proper positions. Any experienced chess player would spot this immediately, since correct board orientation is fundamental to the game.

Of course, perhaps Andy had more important plans on his mind. When you are quietly plotting an elaborate prison escape, strict chess rules might not be your top priority.

Tim Robbins addresses the famous plot hole
One of the most memorable moments in The Shawshank Redemption is the revelation that Andy has successfully escaped from prison.

However, fans have long been puzzled by one lingering question. How did Andy manage to put the poster back in place after crawling through the tunnel behind it? When the warden later throws a rock at the poster, it appears firmly attached at all four corners.

This detail has sparked years of debate among fans and even prompted Morgan Freeman to raise the question during a cast reunion at the TCM Film Festival. Was it simply cinematic trickery, or was there a logical explanation hidden in plain sight?

“How did Andy get that poster back in place after he got into that tunnel?” Freeman asked Robbins, according to Geek Vibes Nation.

Robbins responded confidently, explaining it with gestures. He demonstrated that the poster was secured only at the top, not the bottom. “Pinned up here,” he said, pointing to the top. “Pull up here,” he continued, lifting the bottom edge. “Go underneath. Go in.”

Does that explanation hold up?
Not everyone is convinced.

According to IMDb, Robbins’ explanation may still leave room for doubt. If the poster were attached only at the top, breaking through the wall behind it would cause air pressure changes in the tunnel. This could make the poster move, flap, or even bulge outward.

Any such movement would likely create noise, potentially alerting guards in the otherwise quiet prison. This raises a reasonable question about how such a noticeable disturbance went completely unnoticed within Shawshank’s tightly controlled environment.

Breaking the sewage pipe
Another detail that raises eyebrows involves Andy’s escape through the sewer system. He uses a simple rock to break through the sewage pipe, but those pipes are typically made of iron.

A rock of that size would need tremendous force to crack iron, and the impact would almost certainly cause serious injury to his hand. Still, Andy manages to break through and crawl to freedom.

Later, Tim Robbins joked about the filming of that scene, revealing that the substance used was not actual sewage. “It wasn’t human waste,” he said. “It was cow dung. It was pretty toxic!”

A nearly perfect ending, with one small caveat
At this point, it is clear that The Shawshank Redemption earns a perfect score in my book, and suggesting any changes almost feels wrong. Still, if forced to alter just one thing, I would say the film could have ended about 30 seconds earlier.

We already know Red eventually makes it out and reunites with Andy. Since Red narrates the entire story, including details of Andy’s escape and life afterward, it is obvious he must have found him and heard everything firsthand.

The final beach reunion scene, while beautiful, feels a bit too literal and slightly weakens the emotional impact. Leaving the ending more open might have made it even more powerful.

Interestingly, that final scene was not filmed in Mexico at all. It was shot in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, chosen for its stunning blue Caribbean waters.

Was Andy Dufresne inspired by a real person?
Although The Shawshank Redemption is fictional, some believe Andy Dufresne may share similarities with a real-life figure.

Many point to Frank Freshwaters, who was imprisoned for manslaughter in 1957. Like Andy, he earned the trust of prison staff while quietly planning his escape.

Freshwaters eventually vanished under mysterious circumstances and lived undetected for decades under a new identity in Florida, working as a truck driver. After 56 years, authorities finally found him living in a modest trailer on land owned by the parents of Florida Senator Thad Altman. He reportedly served as a caretaker, spending his days fishing and guarding the property from trespassers.

While the film is set in Maine, it was actually filmed at the Mansfield Correctional Institute in Ohio, perhaps fitting since Freshwaters himself was an Ohio native.

The unlikely rise of Shawshank
With a production budget of $25 million, The Shawshank Redemption earned only about $28 million at the box office.

Despite its powerful themes, the film struggled due to its R rating, violent elements, and weak marketing. It could have easily faded away, but two factors saved it. First, it found a massive audience on home video, where it developed a devoted following.

The second reason was Ted Turner. The media mogul owned TNT and began airing the film repeatedly, turning it into a staple for viewers everywhere.

“Turner ran Shawshank constantly,” director Frank Darabont recalled in a Yahoo interview. “I don’t think it cost him much, if anything. People had endless chances to discover it, and for that, I’m grateful.”

A surprising cameo by the director
Frank Darabont, the Hungarian-American filmmaker behind The Shawshank Redemption, made a major impact with the film in 1994. It earned seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.

Darabont drew inspiration from Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, particularly in its use of narration, editing style, and shifting timelines.

Here is a fun detail many fans miss. In the opening scene where Andy loads the revolver, the hands shown on screen are not Tim Robbins’. They belong to Darabont himself.

Later, during the scenes where Andy carves his name into the prison wall, Darabont’s hands appear again. These close-up shots were filmed during post-production because the director wanted complete control over how they looked.

From Shawshank to “Shimmy Shimmy Shake”
Tim Robbins has said he never grows tired of talking about The Shawshank Redemption, though he had no idea how deeply it would influence his career when he signed on.

He has described the script as the best he had ever read. Still, when the film underperformed initially, many blamed its title.

Robbins once joked that for years people approached him saying they loved him in films called “Scrimshaw Reduction,” “Shimmy, Shimmy, Shake,” or “Shankshaw,” showing just how often the title was mangled.

A friendship that lasts
Tim Robbins, now 66, knew of Morgan Freeman long before they worked together, but meeting him in person left a lasting impression.

Robbins has spoken about Freeman’s warmth, calmness, and kindness, saying their bond extended beyond the set. They spent weekends together and often shared meals after filming.

He later revealed that they still meet for dinner every year or two. Over time, both men have been deeply moved by fans who tell them the film changed their lives or helped them through difficult moments.

That, Robbins said, is something truly special and a gift he never takes for granted.