That was the famous line spoken by Morgan Freeman, aka Ellis “Red” Redman in the movie The Shawshank Redemption. How old were you when you found out that the movie was filmed at an Ohio State Reformatory rather than the fictional Maine prison the story led us to believe.

Did you also know the movie was adapted from a book written by Stephen King named Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. Me neither.

Tim Robbins got the leading role as Andy Dufresne, sentenced to life for the murders of his wife and her lover,despite his innocence. Interestingly, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise and Kevin Costner all wanted the part of Andy. Could you imagine any one of those others in that role instead of Robbins? Me neither. Personally, Morgan Freeman as Red,the contraband smuggler was the best character in the movie. His acting was superb, his narration even better.

The prison where the movie was shot is equally interesting. Located in Mansfield Ohio, construction began in 1886 on ground formerly used as a training camp for Northern Civil War soldiers. After many funding delays, the facility was completed 24 years later in 1910 at a cost of $1,326,769.