Did it steal from Escape from Alcatraz?
I’m watching Escape from Alcatraz for the first time in 15 years, and I can’t help but notice the similarities to Shawshank Redemption..
shareI don't think so. While both films center on a prison break, the similarities end there. Shawshank Redemption is much more than a simple prison escape — it’s a deeper, multi-layered story. Escape from Alcatraz, on the other hand, is focused almost entirely on the escape itself and is based on a true story.
shareIt’s sort of undeniable IMO.
Here are some examples:
Clint Eastwood’s character befriends a prisoner who keeps a pet rat
He’s repeatedly attacked by a “sister”
He does a long stint in Solitary
He gets a job in the library, working with and befriending an intelligent, respected black prisoner
The wardens are similar
Many of these are prison cliches derived from the same places (culture, lore, news stories), but still, the novella was written right after this movie came out. I’m sure Stephen King was a fan
Yeah, I agree, those are some solid parallels, but like you said, I think it comes down to the fact that prison stories only have so much room to work with. You’ve got the basics: being stuck in a cell, spending time in solitary, working some kind of job, and getting an education in the library. There are always going to be prisoners who know more than you, acting as mentors, and there will always be enemies who want to take you down. And, of course, you’ve got the bull queers who are always a threat. It’s all part of the same formula. Same old, same old
shareSure, but the execution and style are too similar
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