Guy

Corrected entry: When Andy is escaping, he uses a large rock to bust through the sewage pipe. He strikes the pipe three times with the rock, and seemingly breaks through. It seems near impossible that any form of rock, especially only swung three times, can bust through what appeared to be a solid metal drainage pipe. Even if that were possible, it seems even more unlikely Andy could then try to shape a hole big enough for him to slip through into the pipe, without wasting too much more time, or being heard.

Correction: Anybody want to deal with reality here? The scene was shot in an abandoned prison - Mansfield Reformatory in Ohio. That's a real sewage pipe in a real prison (albeit an abandoned one) and Tim Robbins sat astride it and smashed a real hole in it with a real rock. The fountain of sewage bursting out of the pipe is impossible and was faked, of course, but for all the rest, it's the real thing, as close to reality as you are going to get. The obvious question? When they needed a retake Robbins slid down the pipe a little and they restaged the whole thing. They aced it on the third take.

Correction: You can tell by then sound the rock makes when it hits the pipe that the pipe is not metal but ceramic. That is why it was relatively easy for Andy to break through them to escape.

Guy

Correction: Definitely cast iron, have you ever had to remove an old bathtub in pieces? One hard strike with a small sledgehammer, and cast iron will shatter like porcelain.

Correction: Ceramic is not, nor has ever been used for domestic water, storm or sewer piping. Especially an old building such as this. The pipe has hub-less connections. It would most likely be cast iron or steel per the date.

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