The work of The Shawshank Redemption mostly hid its connection to the author. The 1994 film is based on King’s novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, which is part of his 1982 collection Different Seasons. Association to the name Stephen King can be influential in the success of cinematic adaptations, but The Shawshank Redemption was marketed without drawing attention to its literary basis.
The film is written and directed by Frank Darabont, who had previously written and directed a short film, The Woman in the Room, based on King’s short story of the same name. Darabont also continued adapting works of King following The Shawshank Redemption, writing and directing The Green Mile in 1999. Clearly an avid reader of King’s work, it seems strange for Darabont’s project to hide its affiliation to him. King is duly credited, but this only comes during the end credits, following the entire list of cast and crew. Furthermore, it does not explicitly state that The Shawshank Redemption is based on King’s novella, but simply gives him “Special Thanks.”
The avoidance of publicizing the film’s connection to Stephen King was ultimately an element of the film’s marketing strategy. King was often regarded as a pulp writer and, while he remains distinguished for his influence in the horror genre, he is looked down on by much of the "literary" world, having had a years-long debate about the worth of "popular fiction" with the critic Harold Bloom. Not highlighting Stephen King's name in the advertising for the film was part of the studio playing into these ideas in an attempt to attract a "more prestigious audience." Notably, The Shawshank Redemption remains relatively faithful to King’s original story, with only a few deviations such as how the film portrays the character of Brooks (James Whitmore) predominantly intended to enhance the film’s Hollywood appeal. Despite its authenticity, the film’s basis on King’s novella was essentially buried: distancing the prestigious project from any preconceptions of King’s writing.
The film's box office performance was underwhelming but it did receive critical acclaim, receiving seven Academy Award nominations. Though it failed to win in any category, the film maintains popularity and is regarded as one of the most beloved films in history. The film's poor initial box office and later success has sometimes been attributed to poor timing: The Shawshank Redemption highlighted the humanity of prisoners and was released when there was a big political push to beef up prisons and crackdown on crime. It is important to note that the 2017 horror film, It, was exceptionally successful at the box office, and this is perhaps partly due to its explicit association with King’s 1986 novel. The Shawshank Redemption, however, was a film that was invested in its cinematic significance beyond financial success. Darabont notably received a lucrative offer for the film’s direction to be reallocated to Rob Reiner, but he declined due to his dedication to the project.
Indeed, an association to King might have aided the film's performance at the box office, but The Shawshank Redemption has proved successful perhaps even beyond its producers’ anticipation. The film currently possesses the highest rating of any film on The Shawshank Redemption is an enduringly significant film, with or without knowledge of its connection to Stephen King.
