Question: Andy Duframe was in prison for 20+ years, received his rock hammer early on and realised he could chip away at the wall. In 20+ years, every cell check, no one bothered to look behind that poster covering that hole. In that time, not one guard walked past during their checkups and accidentally saw him chip away at the wall, not to mention the buildup of whatever that wall is built of is scattered throughout the yard. After 20 years, that would be a fair buildup. Did no guard or prisoner ever question this?
Brian Katcher
31st Dec 2025
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Answer: Real-life jail breaks have been more elaborate and unbelievable than what is depicted in this movie. Digging tunnels to escape is not uncommon, which he didn't, only through the wall. Recently, in 2015, a man in Mexico escaped prison by digging a tunnel from his prison cell to a construction site over 1.5 kilometres away; the tunnel was dug 10 metres underground. Now, he obviously had a lot of help from guards or from outside (cartel) with handling material to him and away from his cell, but still, it's quite impressive. He had a makeshift motorcycle for inside the tunnel to transport materials with and managed to evade capture for a year.
6th Sep 2020
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Question: Why couldn't Brooks bring Jake with him?
Answer: He wanted Jake to have his freedom. He couldn't keep him at the halfway house, and perhaps Brooks suspected he wouldn't be around much longer.
17th Mar 2020
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Question: Andy didn't kill his wife and her lover. Still, he says in the beginning of the film that he did do something wrong. What does he mean by that?
1st Jan 2017
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Question: In the trial at the start of the movie, we see a flashback of Andy walking with his gun. Where exactly was he? Was that a real flashback, or just what the prosecutor was assuming happened? Did Andy actually almost kill his wife but decide against it?
Chosen answer: Andy showed up at his wife's lover's house, either to kill them or just threaten them. He had a change of heart and left. Unfortunately, his fingerprints were all over the bullets and liquor bottle he left at the scene, which was pretty damning.
Answer: Andy got special treatment due to helping the warden, so his cell wasn't closely inspected. No one suspected he was digging a tunnel, and it would be impossible to hide contraband behind a poster, so no one thought to look behind it. His cell was on a corner, so he could see and hear the guards coming. As for 'buildup of debris,' it was about four cinderblocks' worth of rubble in that huge yard, with a lot of foot traffic, over twenty years.
Brian Katcher