The Shawshank Redemption is based on the novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King. The story is set in the fictional town of Shawshank, Maine, in 1947. Andy Dufresne is a banker who is convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. He is sentenced to life in prison, where he befriends fellow inmate Red Redding. Over the course of 19 years, Andy becomes an expert at money laundering and earns the trust of the prison warden, Norton. When Norton embezzles funds from a local business owner, he frames Andy for the crime and has him transferred to a remote prison. With help from Red, Andy escapes from prison and starts a new life in Mexico.
The film was released in 1994 and starred Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne and Morgan Freeman as Red Redding. It was directed by Frank Darabont, who also wrote the screenplay. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Robbins), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Darabont). It won none of those awards but did receive acclaim from critics and audiences alike.