A movie doesn’t become the most popular film of all time without a loyal fanbase. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Shawshank Redemption has brought fans to Ohio from all over the globe to explore The Shawshank Trail, view the movie on the big screen at the Renaissance theater, get autographs from celebrities, and even attend a cocktail party at the famous prison.
Emily Pugh of Austin, Texas was only three years old when the movie was released in theaters, but she has loved it since her first viewing in 2008. This is her second trip to Mansfield, and even though she hails from one of the nation’s “coolest” cities, she simply adores Mansfield. She has a Tumbr blog and even a shrine of sorts in her home.
Some fans make their fandom permanent in the form of tattoos, or naming their children after characters. Others have come from nearly every continent to visit Mansfield and follow the Shawshank Trail. Last year one gentleman flew from Australia for the celebration of the filming. Another man from Northern Europe comes on alternate years.
Melinda Hammond is from South Carolina and this weekend marks her first visit to Mansfield. Ecstatic to visit the prison and other sites Hammond merged her hobby, letterboxing, with her love of the film. Letterboxing involves combining navigational skills and rubber stamp artistry in a “treasure hunt” style outdoor quest.
Over a span of months Hammond hand-carved fourteen rubber stamps to correspond with the stops on the Shawshank Trail, and she will be hiding them and placing the clues on www.atlasquest.com under the trail name Mommys HERBs.
Last year Bob Gunton, who played the warden in the film, told stories about fans from all over the world who approach him as a result of his memorable role. He was surprised how many people share personal stories about the ways that the film has impacted their lives.
For Pugh that is the appeal, the message of the film. “It speaks to me because it is a movie about finding hope in even the bleakest of situations. It’s about living in the moment, making the best of what you’ve been given. The theme of hope speaks to everybody,” said Pugh.
One fan who visited last year told a story about the day he planned to kill himself. As he sat down on the couch to do so, The Shawshank Redemption came on television. He watched the movie until the end and decided to choose hope. “The movie saved my life,” he said.
Hammond loves the genre of prison films and television and has plans to visit other famous prisons as well, but Shawshank is still her favorite. The scene in the library where Andy and Red are talking and Andy says, “I had to go to prison to become a criminal,” is her favorite. “There’s just something so moving in a story where someone is wrongfully accused,” said Hammond.
Whatever their reasons for loving the film, thousands of Shawshank fans have descended upon Mansfield for the holiday weekend and no doubt many more “Shawshank stories” remain to be told.
“It speaks to me because it is a movie about finding hope in even the bleakest of situations. It’s about living in the moment, making the best of what you’ve been given. The theme of hope speaks to everybody,” said Emily Pugh, regarding the movie “The Shawshank Redemption.”
