As you know, the world of the film industry is not always a props and scenery. Filmmakers often strive for maximum realism, and instead of fake props, they put stones that cost millions on actors, and they shoot school or palace scenes in real schools and palaces.
So, in some episodes of Star Wars, the royal palace of the Bourbon dynasty played the role of Amidala’s residence, and in the Hunger Games, President Snow was placed in a real architectural monument called Swan House. The cult film “Shawshank Redemption” was no exception.
"Shawshank Redemption" - summary
First, let’s refresh the memory of the events that took place in the movie masterpiece, filmed on the novel by Stephen King. To date, this tape is recognized as one of the most powerful and famous movie stories about jailbreak. The protagonist is the banker Andy Dufrain, who, as a result of some circumstances, ended up in the Shawshank prison.
The prison meets the hero very inhospitable. Here Andy has to deal with the horrors of imprisonment - cruelty and moral humiliation. Thanks to a sophisticated mind, the hero of Tim Robbins manages to get out of difficult situations with honor. During the entire imprisonment in the Shawshank, he prepares a cunning escape plan, which ultimately manages to be implemented.
It is noteworthy that in the cinema there are many films about jailbreak. Regardless of whether they came out sooner or later than the described picture, they are inevitably compared with the story of Andy Dufrain. And they always seem a little less sophisticated and interesting. Perhaps this is due to a certain degree of certainty that is present in the film? After all, “Escape from the Shawshank” was filmed in a real place of detention of convicts! So what is a Shawshank?
Does the prison really exist?
Few know that the prototype of an institution called Shawshank is a prison in Mansfield, Ohio. It was she who “took off” in the film about Andy Dufrain and his daring escape. After its “role”, the real prison became famous, and a peculiar pilgrimage of tourists began to it.
It is noteworthy that even before filming a movie masterpiece, television men and directors often visited the Mansfield prison. Several telecasts, films and video clips were shot in the building, but it became recognizable only after it was called Shoushenk in the film of Frank Darabonte .
Prison - history and sad facts
The exact date of construction of the building that housed the Ohio State Prison is currently unknown. Historians disagree, and call different dates - from 1886 to 1910. The building is attributed to German castle architecture. The names of the architects are immortalized on the first stone of the prison - they were some Scofield and Schnitzer.
After the construction of the building was completed, the prison began to receive prisoners. A correctional institution functioned until 1990. During its work, the prison buried about 200 people, among them - guards and overseers. Prisoners often died of infections, tuberculosis, and flu.
The most tragic event that happened in Mansfield prison is the 1948 escape. This escape has nothing to do with the events of the Shawshank movie. In that fateful year, the prison lost one of the guards - two escaped criminals killed him in his own house. Along the way, the attackers dealt with his family - his wife and 20-year-old daughter. The bodies of all three were found in corn fields a little later. As for the criminals themselves, they were executed in an electric chair two days after the escape.
By the end of the 70s, the lists of prisoners in Mansfield prison totaled more than 2 thousand people. But a lawsuit was filed against the correctional institution, which contained charges of inhumane conditions of detention of convicted persons. However, after the trial, the place of detention lasted about 10 years. In 1990, the Mansfield Prison ceased operations and ceased to exist. But not a building - it began to attract lovers to tickle their nerves with a magnet, especially after filming the cult "Escape from the Shawshank".
Restoration
Little is known that a round sum was required to shoot a film for the restoration of a building. Too bad was the prison.
Today, the complex of structures of the Mansfield institution has undergone serious modifications. Looking at him, one can hardly believe that it was once a terrible Shawshank - prison. Photos found on the network confirm this.
Only facades remained from the old institution. The fence, other prison buildings, industrial premises and outbuildings are demolished. This happened for the reason that only the facades of the main building are of real historical value.
In the film, all these buildings can still be seen. Red brick buildings in the prison now also exist only on film.
Filmography
Shawshank is a prison with a decent track record. Prior to the filming of the cult film about the prisoner's escape, several films and television programs about paranormal phenomena were shot in Mansfield. List of feature films shot in Ohio State Prison:
- "Tango and Cash";
- "The plane of the president";
- "Harry and Walter go to New York."
Mansfield Prison today
Since 1995, immediately after the filming of the film about the escape of Andy Dufrain, a special prison guard society was created. Apparently, the initiators and founders of the creation of society are local activists. However, after the foundation of the organization, the prison acquired the status of a museum. For tourist trips, the prison security society charges a fee, which then goes to support the building.
Shawshank is a prison where a huge number of ghosts are located. This also fuels interest in the building. Since 2014, it is customary to arrange tours of the gloomy castle on an ongoing basis . Curious tourists are willing to pay impressions for tickling nerves, and the prison just needs funds for restoration.
By analogy with the Manfield prison, there are several more abandoned places of detention in the world that attract filmmakers with their entourage. But the Shawshank is among them the most memorable.