Something that Has Always Bothered Me about "Shawshenk"

[markfromj]

When Andy crawls through his tunnel, and breaks in to the sewer pipe (that he then crawls through to freedom), water bursts up from the hole he makes in the pipe.

But, being a sewer pipe, its contents would not be under pressure.

Why did the water burst up?

 

[fredjr82]

Not sure but here is something people are calling "The Pawshank Redemption"

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

When Andy crawls through his tunnel, and breaks in to the sewer pipe (that he then crawls through to freedom), water bursts up from the hole he makes in the pipe.

But, being a sewer pipe, its contents would not be under pressure.

Why did the water burst up?

Good question. And that ain't water.

My question for the old farts on the board - did they not have photos on driver's licenses by 1966?

 

[theVoicefromtheTomb]

Good question. And that ain't water.

My question for the old farts on the board - did they not have photos on driver's licenses by 1966?

In Iowa licenses did not get pictures until the late 70's early 80's

 

[Hawk and Awe]

The way he leaves the stuff for Red always bothered me. I would never have been able to find it.

And did he really need to steal the shoes? He couldn't buy shoes???

The only thing that bothered me about the pipe is how hard it would be to bash open a hole. It seems like that would take forever. It's a good point about the pressure....

What a crappy movie!!! Amiright?

 

[cigaretteman]

Good question. And that ain't water.

My question for the old farts on the board - did they not have photos on driver's licenses by 1966?

If I remember correctly (and that's getting to be less and less of a certainty) Iowa did not have photos on driver's licenses in 1966. They were just pieces of paper back then, not even laminated like they are now. I don't know about other states.

 

[Old_wrestling_fan]

When Andy crawls through his tunnel, and breaks in to the sewer pipe (that he then crawls through to freedom), water bursts up from the hole he makes in the pipe.

But, being a sewer pipe, its contents would not be under pressure.

Why did the water burst up?

Hollywood...I noticed the same thing you did when I first saw that movie, but since I otherwise enjoyed the movie so much, I made myself ignore that detail. Forget the crap in the pipe and the associated smell...I am also not sure he would have enough oxygen in a sewer pipe to make the break either...but I ignored that too. Otherwise, it is one of my favorite movies.

 

[TexMichFan]

The inmates were flushing paper towels down the toilets and not putting them in the garbage - typical of rule breakers. This caused a backup at the exact point where Andy broke thru causing the fountain of pooh to erupt.

This or it just looked better on film having it.

 

[Ray Kinsella]

I would have thought the fumes would have overcome him, that he could never survive that long a crawl through the pipes.

 

[linkshero]

I thought it had something to do with the heavy rains, storm they were getting at the time of his break. Something he had to time correctly, to use the thunder to mask his pounding. And was smart, he knew it was going to be a shitty trade off.

 

[longliveCS40]

It's "ShawshAnk".

It's a movie so I let that part slide. Honestly, I thought the worst part about the crawling through the drain part was the blatant foreshadowing in the scene just prior. Andy is talking to Red "Talking crazy" as Red later put it, talking about getting out of Shawshank and Red replies with "Aww Andy, thems just shitty pipe dreams"

They could have been a bit more subtle there. Still one of my top 5 all time favorite movies, though.

 

[KitingHigh]

It was written by Stephen King. Just be glad there wasn't some soul sucking clown like monster in the pipe.

 

[Lone Clone]

Good question. And that ain't water.

My question for the old farts on the board - did they not have photos on driver's licenses by 1966?

I suppose some states did.

 

[Ray Kinsella]

I would have thought the fumes would have overcome him, that he could never survive that long a crawl through the pipes.

And I literally just turned on the TV and it was the point where he was crawling through the pipe.

 

[Lone Clone]

The thing that always bothered me about the movie was the number of people who think it's great or insightful or anything other than a run-of-the-mill popcorn seller.Maybe the problem is that I didn't see it until many years after it was released, and I kept hearing how wonderful it was. Then I watched it and ....... uh nothing much here.

 

[Derekd3408]

Hollywood...I noticed the same thing you did when I first saw that movie, but since I otherwise enjoyed the movie so much, I made myself ignore that detail. Forget the crap in the pipe and the associated smell...I am also not sure he would have enough oxygen in a sewer pipe to make the break either...but I ignored that too. Otherwise, it is one of my favorite movies.

I always thought there was no way he would have crawled 2 football fields to freedom without dying as well. The fumes and gases would have surely overtook him, right?

 

[hooper56]

The problem is that it was horribly miscast. The actor playing Red was supposed to have been Irish with Red hair and he didn't look or sound Irish at all. It changes the whole story.

 

[SSG T]

I always thought there was no way he would have crawled 2 football fields to freedom without dying as well. The fumes and gases would have surely overtook him, right?

Imagine if he'd have gone under a hog confinement...

 

[longliveCS40]

The thing that always bothered me about the movie was the number of people who think it's great or insightful or anything other than a run-of-the-mill popcorn seller.Maybe the problem is that I didn't see it until many years after it was released, and I kept hearing how wonderful it was. Then I watched it and ....... uh nothing much here.

It has a good message of hope and is well acted and well written for the most part. Generally, it's considered one of the better movies of the last 25 years so I think you're a bit off on your judgement.

 

[DanL53]

The thing that always bothered me about the movie was the number of people who think it's great or insightful or anything other than a run-of-the-mill popcorn seller.Maybe the problem is that I didn't see it until many years after it was released, and I kept hearing how wonderful it was. Then I watched it and ....... uh nothing much here.

Yeah, but you called Mark Twain a hack so I take your opinions with a grain of salt.

I would not put Shawshank in my top five, or ten, but it is a good film. Some thoughts.

1) The shoes were stolen because he could.
2) Why can't poop water be allowed to escape when Andy was? (Just a joke)
3) I thought about what fumes were in the pipe, but was someone mentioned there was a storm, maybe the pipe had been halfway cleaned out.
4) Movies are meant to be enjoyed. If some like to look for flaws, go fro ti! I tend to try to pass them up if rare.
5) My main complaint if I had one would be that like most of King's stories, the twists are too small and I can practically guess the plot barely into the thing.

 

[theIowaHawk]

The problem is that it was horribly miscast. The actor playing Red was supposed to have been Irish with Red hair and he didn't look or sound Irish at all. It changes the whole story.

How?

 

[preshlock]

The problem is that it was horribly miscast. The actor playing Red was supposed to have been Irish with Red hair and he didn't look or sound Irish at all. It changes the whole story.

They make a passing joke about that in the movie. When Andy and Red first meet Andy asks why they call him Red. Red jokes by saying maybe it's because he is Irish.

 

[bagdropper]

Maybe the pipe could lay in such a fashion that it was a low spot. Then when it's opened, mild pressure on that low spot (full to the top at the low spot) might be just enough to gurgle a bit once the pressure is released.

I could also see - if the prison itself was as old as it was - the pipe being worn out enough to where maybe a weak spot could be visually observed...maybe a weak spot because of the dip mentioned above. It'd always have waste sitting there constantly given the dip like a sink trap...maybe it rusted through a bit there.

I've done enough plumbing in my life as to never underestimate crap that can go wrong with steel pipes. That's why I use Pro-Pex nowadays.

As for Red's name...Red/MF has freckles...which I don't think are very common with AA's. Maybe he has just enough Irish in him (grandfather or grandmother etc) to give him a bit of a red tint to his hair when he was younger. Not all AA's have naturally black hair. In the movie he's greyed over.

Or, the name could be from something else entirely. An old guy I knew when I was a kid was called Red not because he was Irish, but because he had a heart condition and his face was always very red in color.

I'm torn on that movie..but I do know, the payoff ending is fantastic, and I think that's why it's got the rep it has.

 

[Lone Clone]

It has a good message of hope and is well acted and well written for the most part. Generally, it's considered one of the better movies of the last 25 years so I think you're a bit off on your judgement.

I clearly am in the minority in my judgment. It is indeed well-acted and well-written. I would not have panned it, or anything close, when I was reviewing movies. Would have given it high marks, for sure. But I wouldn't have assigned it the almost folklore status that many of its fans seem to have.

I also have heard others talk about the message of hope. That isn't the message I got at all. Not even close. I got a message about perseverance in the face of injustice, and a message about the power of a strong will and sense of self, a refusal to accept defeat. All admirable messages, but nothing there about hope.

 

[preshlock]

As for Red's name...Red/MF has freckles...which I don't think are very common with AA's. Maybe he has just enough Irish in him (grandfather or grandmother etc) to give him a bit of a red tint to his hair when he was younger. Not all AA's have naturally black hair. In the movie he's greyed over.

Or, the name could be from something else entirely. An old guy I knew when I was a kid was called Red not because he was Irish, but because he had a heart condition and his face was always very red in color.

I'm torn on that movie..but I do know, the payoff ending is fantastic, and I think that's why it's got the rep it has.

In the book the character of Red looked completely different and was a pale, freckled, redheaded Irishman. I think they original just hired Freeman to do the voiceover narration. But they thought he would be good in the role of Red. There is a brief scene between Andy and Red when they joke about it.

 

[KitingHigh]

The problem is that it was horribly miscast. The actor playing Red was supposed to have been Irish with Red hair and he didn't look or sound Irish at all. It changes the whole story.

Haven't read the book. Aside from the physical features is there really that much difference? I think it would be hard to beat Morgan Freeman in that roll. So what if he was a different race? They take liberties like that all the time in movies. Look at Jack Reacher. In the books he's 6'5 and an imposing figure, but they cast Tom Cruise at 5'7 and maybe a buck and a quarter. That's a much more significant difference than a black guy vs an Irish guy.

 

[longliveCS40]

I clearly am in the minority in my judgment. It is indeed well-acted and well-written. I would not have panned it, or anything close, when I was reviewing movies. Would have given it high marks, for sure. But I wouldn't have assigned it the almost folklore status that many of its fans seem to have.

I also have heard others talk about the message of hope. That isn't the message I got at all. Not even close. I got a message about perseverance in the face of injustice, and a message about the power of a strong will and sense of self, a refusal to accept defeat. All admirable messages, but nothing there about hope.

I understand what you're saying. I don't put it as my number one all time movie like a lot of people.

I disagree though on the message. Again, Andy even discusses "hope" with Red and Red advised him how dangerous having hope is in a place like that.

When Andy locks the door and plays the record to the yard, it was another example of his sharing hope with the other prisoners.

Lastly, him helping guys get GEDs is a huge show of hope for their futures.

As for the stolen shoes, it made for good scene but also, it allowed him to go straight to the bank. Not have to risk going anywhere else to steal shoes as a wanted man. I think it made sense.

 

[IMCC965]

I don't know what all the fuss is about the sewer gas. Once I'm through using the bothroom, all hell breaks loose, but I survive everytime.

 

[IMCC965]

It depends. I've never seen the guy roll, so I don't know how fast he is.

My biggest problem with the movie is all the cool prisoners that Andy gets to hang around with. I doubt there are that many neat people in jail.

There aren't.

 

[3 and Out on D]

I got my first driver's license on 12-1-1965, it was a paper license. Three later,I was issued a picture license. This was in Michigan.

 

[SoonerBeAHawk]

People, it's a terracotta - or clay - pipe. Old facility, makes sense I think. I do have to admit the strike from the rock rings out like steel but maybe a clay pipe would sound similar?

Now here's the deal with the fumes ... ah hell I don't know, it's a movie!

 

[Sooner-Be-Dead]

Love the movie. The biggest plothole is leaving the box under the tree for Red. Andy describes to Red where the box will be. So Andy would have to make his way out to Buxton after he busted out and went to the various banks. Riiight.

 

[Chewback]

I clearly am in the minority in my judgment. It is indeed well-acted and well-written. I would not have panned it, or anything close, when I was reviewing movies. Would have given it high marks, for sure. But I wouldn't have assigned it the almost folklore status that many of its fans seem to have.

I also have heard others talk about the message of hope. That isn't the message I got at all. Not even close. I got a message about perseverance in the face of injustice, and a message about the power of a strong will and sense of self, a refusal to accept defeat. All admirable messages, but nothing there about hope.

I just don't get it with people who look for "message" in a movie. I don't need any stinkin' message, I look for entertainment. That can take a lot of forms. Shawshank entertained me enough that I've rewatched it a number of times, don't know how many. In my book, that's a pretty good movie.

As to the shoes, He didn't just steal the shoes, he stole the entire suit including shirt and tie. He wore the suit under his prison clothes. The shoes are mentioned because he couldn't hide them and had to hope no one would notice. He was moving fast the next morning and wouldn't have time to visit a haberdashery.

 

[BubsFinn]

My problem with that scene is how Red describes the distance Andy had to travel inside the pipe. 500 yards isn’t just shy of half a mile. It is just over a quarter of a mile. The 500 yards of pipe are 380 yards short of half a mile, and only 60 yards over a quarter of a mile.
It isn’t even the length of five football fields as football fields are 120 yards long (including the end zones). Five of them would be 600 yards. The distance Andy traveled would be merely 20 yards longer than four football fields. 20 yards is shorter than what Michigan State’s punter rushed against us the last time we played them.

 

[KitingHigh]

Gee thanks, Chief.

I guess we can just go ahead and delete this whole thread, huh?

I retract my statement.
Carry on.

 

[KitingHigh]

My problem with that scene is how Red describes the distance Andy had to travel inside the pipe. 500 yards isn’t just shy of half a mile. It is just over a quarter of a mile. The 500 yards of pipe are 380 yards short of half a mile, and only 60 yards over a quarter of a mile.
It isn’t even the length of five football fields as football fields are 120 yards long (including the end zones). Five of them would be 600 yards. The distance Andy traveled would be merely 20 yards longer than four football fields. 20 yards is shorter than what Michigan State’s punter rushed against us the last time we played them.

It's not as bad as making the kessel run in 12 parsecs.

 

[Rand Paul]

It's not as bad as making the kessel run in 12 parsecs.

 

[ANYCHawk]

It isn’t even the length of five football fields as football fields are 120 yards long (including the end zones). Five of them would be 600 yards.

Holy reading way to much in it batman!

Quick go ask the average person how long a football field is. They will say 100 yards. Nobody counts the end zones.

 

[linkshero]

It's not as bad as making the kessel run in 12 parsecs.

I think the writer had him going through a small ventilation shaft, but the opening was no bigger than a womp rat.

 

[KitingHigh]

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At least he used the right unit of measure, sorta. Lightning bolts put out terawatts of energy.

A parsec is a unit of distance, not time.