I got a three-way tie: The ending with Red's speech (especially the part about the ocean followed by "I hope".), Red's speech before that when he's at his final parole hearing, and lastly, when Andy tells Tommy "Everybody in here's innocent... didn't you know that?" :P Glad I got on this channel in its infancy... seems like you have a lot of movies to watch, if you didn't know any earlier Morgan Freeman roles :D
Brooks went into Shawshank in 1905. In 1905, commercial radio broadcasts and comic books were not things, the remnants of Butch Cassidy's and the Sundance Kid's gang were still pulling train heists from Hole-In-The-Wall, cars were a novelty toy for the 1% and the Wright Brothers had just performed their first flight. When Brooks came to Shawshank, he did so in a horse-drawn cart. He probably spent his first work details refilling oil lamps, splitting firewood and hauling water from the well in buckets. While he was in prison, WWI, WWII and the Korean War came and went, Shawshank got electric lights, plumbing and central heating, radio was surpassed by TV as the favored method to ignore people in the same room, and blues and ragtime morphed into jazz and rock 'n' roll. When he got out, cars had become everyone's favored means of transportation, airliners with wingspans longer than the Wright Brothers' flight crossed the Atlantic daily and Superman and Captain America had become national heroes. Brooks would probably have felt less out of place if they'd dropped him on Mars.
"Cuter than a love story..." But there _is_ a bit of a love story in this film; it's just the platonic love that forms between real, close friends like Andy and Red. 🙂
@@lamrof Love and hope, and you could argue faith (Andy's faith that he'll get out and Red's faith in Andy). There's a reason even with the stuff that goes on in this movie a lot of churches have shown and even studied it.
@@insanidadeEspelhada Eros and agape are both forms of love so I'm not misunderstanding anything. You don't love your close friends? ETA: YES, I know it's Philia! Y'all can stop correcting me now more than a year after the fact. I got it. Jesus. 🙄🤦♀️
Shout out to Thomas Newman, who has been nominated for 14 Oscars and has never won, who makes every movie he scores so so so much better. Seriously makes some of the most beautiful music mankind will ever know. Fan for life.
Way back when Finding Nemo came out I was surprised to learn that Thomas Newman had scored it because his cousin Randy Newman usually scores Pixar films. Needless to say it was a happy surprise as the score was wonderful. As was his score for WALL-E.
@@AutoPilate Yeah the Finding Nemo score is fantastic. Another Disney movie Newman did that's not as well known is Saving Mr. Banks about Walt and PL Travers. Less Than Zero is one of my personal favorites.
@@Trip_Fontaine Yeah that's one his best. He's well suited toward that 20's to 40's era. I think my favorite Thomas Newman scores are Less Than Zero, Shawshank, American Beauty, Perdition, Nemo, White Oleander, Meet Joe Black, Iron Lady, Skyfall, and 1917. Such a good career.
I just watched another prison escape movie with a similar theme: I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang (1932). It makes me wonder if that film (or the true story that it was based on) was an inspiration for 'Shawshank'. I recommend it. It's an excellent film, as well.
Mine is “I like to think that the last thing to go through the warden’s mind, other than that bullet, was to wonder how the hell Andy Dufresne managed to get the better of him.”
@@Osprey850 Paul Muni, the star of that film is also in one of my favorite films of all time “The Life Of Emile Zola”. It’s a great movie based on actual facts involving the infamous Dreyfus case in France and the life of the writer who got involved. Please check it out if you haven’t done so already. Muni was a terrific actor. He also played Al Capone in the original “Scarface”.
The old man who played the Librarian was James Whitmore. During his acting career he won a Tony, a Grammy, and an Emmy. Whitmore also won a Golden Globe and was nominated for two Academy Awards. In my opinion he should have won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in this film.
'Them' is quite frightening. I like the part where the pilot is locked up in the booby- hatch for reporting that he saw the queen ant flying away to set up a new nest, but nobody believed him.
I’m commenting here to you because we aren’t allowed to comment on YOUR videos. Thank you. Thank you for many informative videos on films and actors that I consider important. Thank you for exposing those younger than us to the magic that once was filmmaking. Your videos are so much better than 99% of what goes out onto the internet as information but damn… there have been many times I’ve wanted to do just as Cassie allows me to do: talk about film with you. My personal experience are first hand, coming from an entertainment family and having a hand in the making of major motion pictures. Most of my adult life was spent conversing about all things entertainment. I had to stop watching your content because you turn off your comments and I got frustrated. I know why you do that but in shutting all out, you cut off some very intelligent conversation. So I ask you sir, please consider opening up to comments. I know I can’t be the only one who feels this way. Thank you for reading this plea from an fan that feels interaction can be just as instructive as destructive. Cassie, thank you for all your hard work and for allowing me to address LAUDANUM669 on your comments.
People forget about brotherly love and dedication that close friends have I think it's the best kind not everyone can have a relationship or a true love but everyone has a chance to dedicate themselves for a friend
It took a few viewings to realize that when the warden comes around when they toss cells and Andy is in his cell staring at his Bible, he is actually staring at the rock hammer hidden inside hoping they don't find it. The warden takes the Bible from him and hands it back as he's leaving and says, "I'd hate to deprive you of this, remember salvation lies within." and Andy kind of smiles. It's like he's thinking the warden doesn't know how right he is.
In the novella, Red's crime is detailed and it's pretty horrid. He murdered his wife by sabotaging the brakes on her car, and she had picked up a pregnant neighbor, who also died along with her baby. That makes it even more powerful I think, since it shows King's belief that anyone can be redeemed.
Popcorn In Bed: "I usually like movies that make me feel happy..." Me: "Well you definitely won't get that..." Popcorn In Bed: "...with happy endings." Me: "well you will get that." Classic tragic movie with a happy ending . Def a fav.
Love when people discover this flick. Brooks had no hope when he got out. Andy gave Red hope after he got out by telling him about Mexico and the brick wall. "Hope is the best of things and no good thing ever dies."
@@jdee8243 Bullshit! "...Shawshank..." is just the "Hollywood -ized" version. "... Alcatraz" is grittier & more realistic, as well as being fact-based.
@@laustcawz2089 Ok. It's far more entertaining then Alacatraz. It's suppose to be entertainment and if "Hollywood-izing" a movie gets you to peak entertainment (which it did in the 90s, not so much now) then that's a good thing. I liked Alcatraz and love Clint and movies are subjective, but Shawshank is movies at the peak of their power...entertaining, moving, memorable and beautiful visually and emotionally. It doesn't get better in the medium.
When I was 14 in high school, a teacher played this in study hall for us. It was the first film I cried at. When Red met Andy on the shore, it was just a perfect moment of uplifting hope.
This was one of the standard movies they showed to us in class in high school as well, this and My Cousin Vinny which was what we watched on the bus on a TV on road trips to places. My town is weird, bible class, instead of teaching us the teacher would put on movies like Earnest Goes to Camp and such, the history teacher would show history based movies, we even saw Shawshank Redemption once. I never told my mom, because hell I didn't want the ride to stop and I'm pretty sure every other kid did too. Oh and biology we watched the entire Lion King series of movies ... for some reason and we were just given a bullshit biology report to do on the lions. If it wasn't for High School and Sunday School I probably wouldn't have seen some of my favorite movies growing up.
@@Kazeromaru My english teacher showed us Hairspray a few times. (The original not the musical/remake). I think it was an effort to prevent the kids from becoming racists lol We loved it. That was her go-to. My science teacher was less educational with his film choices. We watched Happy Gilmore. I think he was just a fan of Adam Sandler. (But we all were, this was at Sandler's peak)
@theGreenGonlin Funny, in 1994 I was 14 in argentina our Literature teacher palyed this movie for my class. It was the first time i remember saying "now this is a great meaningful film" we were all in aww with it. And from that moment on the teacher had us all in her pocket hahaha ;).
4:27 "Of COURSE, Morgan Freeman is narrating. He was BORN to do that job." "You're damn right." - Morgan Freeman " . . .I hope the Pacific is as blue as it is in my dreams . . . . . . . .I . . . .'HOPE'."
Ze Frank made a very short humorous few minutes long documentary about Morgan Freeman . ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ch5MEJk5ZCQ.html one of many subjects and really worth the 2 minutes from your life. Then another 2 minutes, then another 2 minutes, and another and another. like potato chips, you can't have just one.
I nearly spit my coffee out when she said that! I'm like "ummm, no, not 'really' a romance...unless you consider brutal prison gang rape to be romantic"
The warden throwing the chess piece at the poster and it reveals the tunnel. I was like, "NO WAY!" when I first saw it. Also Red's last parole speech is amazing. One of my all time fave movies.
Cassie, your reaction was not off the mark at all. I can handle a lot of intense movies. But this one has some very heavy & brutal moments! However, I was also incredibly moved by the storyline and the movie's masterful way of telling the story.
"Was he ever younger in any movies?" Morgan Freeman has looked the same age in every movie that he's been in. He's one of those people who never looked particularly young, but the good news is they never look particularly older either. Best. Leo.
@@fazraf5273 he was on the electric company neartly 10 years before the attica movie, look up shooshoo blues, its a some he sang for the show around 73
He was nominated for an Academy Award in 1985, I believe, for Street Smart.. With Christopher Reeve.. Pretty good flicker.. Be warned, he plays a wicked dude in that film..
There's a lot of tough scenes to watch in this movie, but the overall message is very uplifting and I think that's what most people take from this movie.
The overall message is about hope. That's why you get those heart warming moments sprinkled in. It's enough to keep you going (give you hope) through all the heavy stuff. In the end, hope wins and you are glad you didn't give up along the way.
@@stanj8019 It's not just about the ending though. And changed the whole prison for the better. If it were real, the prisoners would still be passing down his story to new fish. Not just busting the warden's shady schemes and causing him to kill himself, but building the library, playing them that music, getting Boggs removed. Andy changed the prison and everyone in it for the better, rather than letting it change him.
The original Stephen King novel ends with the exact last lines of dialog Morgan Freemans character says in this film, but doesn't specifically confirm Red makes it to find Andy. We're just left with...hope. The film, rightly so, takes the extra step of showing them reunite. I think it kinda HAD to after putting us through that emotional wringer.
But that's the difference between books and movies illustrated for you. That was the right ending for the book, and this was the right ending for the movie. And anyway, I'm pretty sure anyone who ever read the book just took it as said that Red got to Andy.
The movie's director wanted the ending to be Red on the bus, him speaking those words on the narration track and us seeing it drive off into the distance like it does just before the camera cuts to Andy working on his boat - and then fade to black and roll credits. No reunification that we get to see. The studio execs overruled him. You can have opinions either way about the movie turned out, but it's undeniable it is an extraordinary piece of work.
Makes me cry every time. That and Red's line, "These walls do funny things to a man. At first you hate em, but after awhile you get so you depend on em..."
I've watched this movie literally , and I do mean literally, hundreds of times. I always cry at two parts (sometimes more, but always these two): Brooks's release and suicide and the reunion shot at the end. Two polar opposite reasons all in one movie.
Morgan Freeman was Easy Reader on The Electric Company when I was a child in the early 1970's - so, no, this is not what I regard as his 'breakout' role. He's done a few other things too.
@@peteg475 Yes. In "Street Smart", with Christopher Reeves. One of the few "prestige dramas" from Cannon Films, along with "Runaway Train", "Barfly" and Cassavetes' "Love Streams".
Happy and uplifting films are fine, but when a story puts you through hell before giving you a happy ending, the catharsis and relief you feel is unmatched.
During the whole Brooks Scene with the "I love this old man" lines made me nearly tear up. I've seen this movie at least 20 times. I was like "Oh she's going to be so sad in a few minutes"
Your reaction to Brooks earned this video a like. Brooks was actually my favourite character in this because, unlike Andy and Red, poor, dear Brooks died without hope or real freedom.
"I usually watch chick flicks", let's see Clueless, Mean Girls, Bridesmaids, Miss Congeniality, 10 Things I hate about You, 13 going on 30, Princess Diaries, you got some classics in there.
My first experience with Morgan Freeman was on a PBS program called The electric company. It was a educational program and Mr. Freeman was on it from 1971 to 1977. He's a really great actor as you know and has a seemingly unmatched range.
This and Green Mile are absolutely my favourite movies ever, I’ve rewatched them both several times and still get thrilled by them each time. Andy and Red’s friendship development was one of the best things about this movie as they kept each other going through this very long journey
@ANGRY BATMAN Perhaps you've found an effective screening tool for future girlfriends. Look for women who enjoy movies like this rather than Kardashians.....and agree that no one will look at their phone when watching a movie for the first time.
@ANGRY BATMAN You seem to go for the same type of girl, thats probably why. You also are clearly jaded and bitter. Instead of lumping women into one negative category based solely off of your poor dating history, maybe try your luck with girls that have other interests. As a female that loves movies like this one, horror, action, psychological etc, hates when anyone lives staring at their phone AND has no care for the “Kardashian”-esque shows you mention, you’re “every girl is like this lmao” mentality is proven wrong. You’ll find a good one someday if you move on.
I’ve watched nearly every reaction since I saw the one for Alien, and I love this woman for all of it. Some of these reaction brought me to tears. Remembering all those emotions for the first watch. Overwhelming. Thank you Cassie.
Hi Cassie, I was born in 78, and am so delighted that your generation is watching so many influential movies of my childhood/transition into adulthood. So happy your brother and husband suggested Shawshank. My wife had seen it, but it didn't really sink in until we saw it together. The message of not really redemption, but just perseverance in hard times is what we take from it. We look forward to more of your vids and will cry/laugh/learn with you as you watch and we reflect.
Imagine spending two months in solitary, not knowing when or if, your cell would be searched. Or seeing the warden walk out of your cell holding that bible. You only think about these things the second time you see the movie
@@PopcornInBed In the book, there were six different wardens, which kinda helped drive the point home that andy was in there for a long time. But I think the movie is better. Keeping the same warden gives Andy an adversary, and makes his victory sweeter
As a person who served in the military, when you live and work with people 24/7, you either learn to love or hate them. And they were together for 19 years. That is a long time to be with another person....
When you shouted “freedom” when Andy got out, it made me think that I should recommend watching BRAVEHEART with Mel Gibson and Sophie Marceau... if you never watched it.
This is definitely one of the best movies ever made, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching your reaction to it...especially during the Brooks farewell. I don't care what crimes he committed (I know in the book they were terrible...but in this movie, we never actually found out what he did, and that is fine with me) because the Brooks we got to meet and know throughout the film is clearly not the same Brooks that committed the crimes he did to land him there for 50 years. Your reaction to these goodbye scenes were particularly moving, and when Brooks said he "wasn't going to stay", and you so innocently asked, "where is he going to go?"....I definitely got teary-eyed. You quickly caught onto what was going to happen next... RIP, sweet old man Brooks. Keep up the great work, I look forward to watching your future reactions! I hope you get to watch Braveheart and Gladiator sometime, have you seen either?
This is one of my favorite movies of all time, I have several favorite scenes but the one we’re Andy crawls out of the Sewage Pipe in to the rain and freedom, Spreading his arms and smiling, Gets me every time..
Red gives up on hope, he says hope is a dangerous thing. However, at the end you hear him saying " I hope to see my friend .... I hope ..." Andy gave Red hope and helped him redeem himself of the murder he committed when he was young that weighed in him and the length of time he spent in prison, hence Shawshank Redemption. Note, the original novella from Stephen King had a different name, and Red was an Irish man, but despite that, Morgan nailed it in this film ❤️❤️
James Witmore was a very well known character actor in both tv and the movies for decades . It was nice he got such a good roll near the end of his life(Brookes)
One of my very favorite movies ever! Enjoyed your take on it, even if wasn't your usual cup of tea. If you're into Romantic movies, and haven't seen it, I highly recommend Romancing the Stone from 1984. Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner star, Robert Zemeckis directs, it's a Romantic Adventure Classic!
@@PopcornInBed - Well, "King Solomans Mines" is very similar to "Romancing the Stone" - they are both in a kind of "Indiana Jones" style/flavor of movie. I think you would like this title as well.
Nah he was a star prior to that one. But he was great in it for sure, but I wouldn't call that his break out, I think it was Lean on Me, although within one year Lean On me came out then near the end of the year Driving Miss Daisy came out and a couple months later Glory came out. He had a busy year for sure. But, prior to movies he was in TV.. I remember him from my childhood on The Electric Company..
Dude, he was in Attica in 1980 & did at least a couple of films a year. This was his biggest role tho after he bounced from TV, with which he’d already had a 20 yr career before this 🙂
Both Glory and Driving Miss Daisy were 1989. Glory is the first movie I remember seeing him in (I was 9 at the time), and it's still one of my favorites. Freeman is one of those actors where it's almost impossible to pick his best performance, because they're all spectacular.
I find that to truly judge a movie, some time has to pass from seeing it - the great movies are the ones that you still remember years after you've seen them. For me Shawshank Redemption was just such a movie.
The same could be said of a good foreign language film like "A Man Escaped" (1956). It is World War II, you are a captured French Resistance man, seeking a way to escape the Nazis. This tale really puts you in a cage, with other, different kinds of prisoners with nothing to do except talk to others, look for gaps in security, and, finally, to take a chance "over the wall," with Death staring you in the face.
Your emotional reaction was awesome as usual !! I have one big suggestion ! An Officer and a Gentleman !! You can't go wrong with this one ! Released in 1982 produced and directed by Taylor Hackford an incredible film a story inside of a story starring Richard Gere and Debra Winger and Lou Gossett Jr. wonderfully written and acted a variety of emotions excellent soundtrack and gorgeous scenery it will challenge your heart !!! A must see !!!!
yeah "The Green Mile" is a great one....you might also wanna check out "The Mist" (2007) based on a Stephen King novella. I mean you could be traumatized but it would be great for us seeing your reaction lol...if you decide to see it make sure not to read anything about it beforehand to avoid spoilers.
Shawshank, Green Mile, Stand By Me. You can't go wrong with dramas based on Stephen King's short stories. Arguably better than the movies based on his horror novels.
@@davedaddy101 Its all good :) Wasnt arguing :) just adding my experience :) Freeman is great :) it also occurred to me that Glory might have been the first time I had ever seen Denzel act as well but I might have seen Virtuosity first :)
As far as movies go, I believe the first time I saw or noticed Morgan Freeman was Driving Miss Daisy, but actually remember growing up watching him in the children's educational show "The Electric Company". Wow.......that takes me back.
This truly is one of the greatest movies/stories told ever. It is not a movie that I “re-watch” much, or even ever; but this is a masterclass in story telling and emotion. One of the coolest fun facts is that this was a story written by Stephen King, who has said that his biggest fear in life was to be sent to prison as an innocent man.
This movie is an 11 out of 10. In my opinion, Morgan Freeman is the most iconic actor since John Wayne. An absolutely flawless performance by all the actors. My #1 movie of all time.
I dont know if you know but the actor who portrayed the head prison guard Byron Hadley (Clancy Brown) is the voice actor for Mr. Krabs and many more. An amazing voice actor.
Morgan Freeman's breakout movie was this great movie he did almost a decade earlier called Lean On Me, based on a true story about a principal that turned a bad high school around as well as the students that went there. Freeman was a star after that, but after The Shawshank Redemption he became a legend. Some other older movies I think you may like, I wouldn't call them "chick flicks" just comedies and romantic comedies and most with strong female characters: 9 to 5 Working Girl The Princess Bride Pretty Woman Tootsie Splash! Uncle Buck When Harry Met Sally Adventures in Babysitting All are great and fun movies! Best Regards!!!
"Lean on Me" is most excellent. Have put that movie on to watch purposefully several times. I group it with another film called "The Principal," & "Stand and Deliver," despite differing vibes. But I'm shocked because I don't see Morgan Freeman when I think of "Lean on Me." That role was done so well, he is that guy. He's way younger, his presence is just as bold, same voice, but him with that megaphone, he's a different guy. Good movie.
@@Tsujanryo I also love Stand and Deliver and always think of it when I think of Lean On Me. The movies compliment one another so well, sometimes I forget it a certain scene happened in one movie or the other. It's been a long time since I've seen The Principal but I remember liking it. I also think about it when I think of the other two films but it crosses the line sometimes (at least as I remember it) from inspirational movie to revenge film that reminds me of the movie The Substitute. I'm not saying that's a bad thing though, just it marks the movie a little more different than Stand and Deliver and Lean On Me where those two are mirror images of each other. Best Regards!
This movie has been constantly been on top 10 lists of all time. IMDB 9.3 out of 10. Rotten Tomatoes 98% audience vote. Amazon customer rating 5 out of 5 stars.
Can you even imagine what Brooks was feeling? I don't know the full timeline, but let's say Brooks was released in 1955. He was in there 50 years, so imagine how much had changed in the world since 1905! He was now immersed in "the future" and it was all so scary for him.
I absolutely love these reactions. The (for lack of a better term) innocence, when watching some of these, kinda mirrors my reactions when I first saw these movies. And reminds me why I love them.
