It is undoubtedly fascinating to analyse films, but it is
just as interesting to look at the screenplays that they were filmed from. In this feature, we will be looking at how key
scenes from a movie are depicted in the original script. Sometimes, the film
and script are very similar, but there can also be some substantial
differences, especially if the script is an early draft.
For the first “Script to Film” article, we will be looking
at The Shawshank Redemption. The
script for the film can be accessed below:
Who Wrote It?
The script for The Shawshank Redemption was written by Frank
Darabont, who directed the film, and was based on the short story “Rita Haywoth
and the Shawshank Redempton” by Stephen King.
How Long Is It?
The Shawshank Redemption is 142 minutes long, including
credits.
What’s It About?
The Shawshank Redemption follows Andy Dufresne (Played by
Tim Robbins), a banker who is falsely convicted for the murder of his wife and
her lover, and sentenced to life without parole in Shawshank Prison. There, he forms a friendship with fellow
prisoner Red (Played by Morgan Freeman). Used as by the corrupt Warden Norton
(Played by Bob Gunton) as an assistant to cover up his money laundering, Andy
bides his time in prison, never losing hope in the possibility of being free.
Script to Film – The Shawshank
Redemption
(The Following May Contain Spoilers)
First Night – The
brutality of Shawshank Prison is highlighted in Andy’s first night there, as
the long-serving inmates take bets on which of the new prisoners will break
down crying. One scene that was in the script but not the film shows various
new inmates terrified by their menacing surroundings. Whilst this effectively
illustrates how difficult it is adjusting to life in prison, it was felt to be
unnecessary. The voices of the various prisoners demonstrate the same effect as
they “carry on, sly and creepy in the dark”. This creates an ominous atmosphere,
and by showing the prison as a whole instead of focusing on specific inmates,
makes the viewer feel like they are inside as well, which emphasises the
confined the prisoners at Shawshank are.
The sadistic head guard at Shawshank, Captain Hadley,
responds to the breakdown of one anxious, overweight prisoner by viciously
beating him, causing his death. In the script, this act of violence is depicted
in a manner that emphasises its barbarity and suggests how common it is in the
prison; “All we hear now is the dull THWACK, THWACK, THWACK of the baton”. As
well as showing the brutality of the act, this monotony also demonstrates
detachment, as all the prisoners can do is look on in horrified silence. The film keeps this disengagement by
depicting the scene in extremely low lighting. This emphasises Hadley’s savage nature
and sets up the prisoner’s lack of freedom and independence perfectly – any
instinct to act against this abuse of power was quashed a long time ago.
Brooks Outside Jail
– One of the saddest moments in the film centres on Brooks (Played by James
Whitmore), an elderly prisoner who finally gets released after decades in
prison. However, he is unable to adapt to life outside, and soon hangs himself.
Brook’s disorientation in the outside world is depicted in the script through
descriptions, such as a memorable one which depicts his arrival at a halfway
house with the words “He just stands there, like a man waiting for a bus”. In
the movie, this is shown through close-ups, as the confusion and fear on
Brook’s face is expressed perfectly by Whitmore. No matter how good a scene is
in the script, it requires a skilled actor to make it work. However, a strong
script is essential for encouraging a great performance, and here both elements
are present.
The other affecting part of the sequence is Brooks’
narration, as it becomes increasingly clear that the letter that he has just
sent is a suicide note. The rapid pace of change in American society – the
automobiles that Brooks considered a novelty when he was young are now
everywhere – contrasts with the unfading routine of prison life, and Brooks
finds himself unable to understand or comprehend it. As Brooks speaks, we find
out the extent to which he is lost without the rigidity of the system that has defined the majority of his life– he
is even willing to commit a crime just so he can go back to Shawshank. In this
context, the Voice-Over provides insight into Brook’s thoughts and motivations
and sets up the ensuring tragedy, allowing it to be even more powerful.
Playing Beethoven
– One particularly iconic scene highlights Andy’s commitment to providing hope
for himself and his fellow prisoners. In it, he finds the collection of books
and records donated to Shawshank by the government. He takes out a Mozart record
and plays it, hijacking the prison’s sound system so he can broadcast it to all
the prisoners. The power of the record is set up by Andy’s reaction to
discovering it. According to the script; “It is a thing of beauty. It is the
grail”. This powerful language shows that, in prison, something as mundane as a
record of classical music can have a potent effect.
The effect that the music has is highlighted through a
combination of description and dialogue. We see numerous scenes of inmates
throughout Shawshank stopping to listen. Throughout the prison, the monotony of
daily life has been disrupted by something that is new and unfamiliar to the
majority of inmates, and therefore memorable and exciting. Red’s
narration makes the significance of Andy’s rebellious gesture clear to the
audience, as he states that whilst the record was on, “Every last man at
Shawshank felt free”. The importance of providing hope in a place where
hopelessness dominates is one of the central themes of the story, and the use
of classical music is an effective way of emphasising this.
Tommy’s Death –
Norton crosses the line from being merely corrupt into an outright villain when
he orders the murder of Tommy, an inmate who has evidence that could prove
Andy’s innocence. The impact of the scene is magnified by the lead-up to the
murder, as Norton arranges a secret conversation in the prison car park. Because we know that Norton does not want the
evidence of his corruption to come to light, his show of helpfulness is
unnerving, as most of his apparently sincere dialogue (“The right decision.
Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what it is, understand?”) takes on an entirely different meaning that
Tommy is entirely unaware of, as he answers Norton’s questions innocently and
earnestly. This Scene relies on the audience knowing that something bad will
happen, but not being able to figure out exactly what until it is too late.
This generates suspense and ensures that they remain interested.
The deed itself is depicted in the script in a vivid and
shocking manner that contrasts with the matter-of-fact depictions of violence
from earlier in the film. The gunfire is shown in graphic detail “Chew[ing]”
Tommy “to pieces” until he falls to the ground in “A twitching, thrashing heap”.
This brutality highlights how horrific and senseless the murder is, and reveals
just how far Norton will go to prevent the truth surrounding his activities to
get out. It makes us root for Andy to break free and expose him, but highlights
the fact that he has to do so quickly, thus increasing the tension in
preparation for the climax.
The Escape – The Shawshank
Redemption’s famous climax depicts Andy’s escape from prison through a tunnel
that he slowly created throughout the period he spent incarcerated. The guards’
reaction to this is one of initial confusion, which is conveyed through the sentence
“Their faces go slack, stunned”. This alliteration shows the reader that the
event that has just occurred is a very significant and shocking one. This bewilderment
soon turns into blind panic, as they inspect everything in the room “As if Andy
might be hiding in a Kleenex or a tube of toothpaste”. This shows how surprising
Andy’s escape is, and leaves us wanting to know how it happened, setting up the
final reveal.
Andy’s escape plan is portrayed as a twist. We are not aware
of it at the time, but when we find out about it, every detail makes perfect
sense. Red highlights this in his narration, likening Andy’s interest in
geology to his escape, as the two things most important to both are “Pressure
and time”. This reinforces the key themes without seeming too on-the-nose, and makes
Andy’s escape even more satisfying.
Verdict
The Shawshank Redemption owes its status as a modern classic
to a strong script brought to life by a talented cast and crew. It provides us
with a number of feelgood scenes, but also contains several dark and violent
ones. This balance of optimism and gritty realism ensures that the film never
seems false or preachy, and the happy ending feels earned. The riveting
storyline, the creative descriptions and the memorable characters ensure that the
script stands out, and Frank Darabont brings it to life without reducing the
quality. Therefore, both the script and
the film are essential for budding screenwriters.
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