INQUISITR.COM / Entertainment

Morgan Freeman Opens Up About Why He Hated ‘The Shawshank Redemption’

By Trisha Faulkner
Published on: 17:59 PST, Jun 9, 2016

Despite regularly making lists as one of the best films of all-time, Morgan Freeman still holds a grudge against the movie The Shawshank Redemption. According to Digital Spy, Morgan Freeman firmly believes the reason why The Shawshank Redemption did so poorly at box office and took a while to find an audience was due to one major flaw – it has a horrible title.

The Shawshank Redemption was based on a novella written by Stephen King titled “Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption.” Morgan Freeman didn’t understand why The Shawshank Redemption was chosen as the title when “Rita Hayworth” would have made a much better title.

“But they said when I complained – and I did… they said it won’t fit on the marquee. So what? Just put Rita Hayworth dot dot dot.”

According to Morgan Freeman, people know the name of the movie and are able to say it without a problem now. However, there was a time where people struggled to say the name of the movie right.

“I got a lot of Shimshonk Reduction…”

Morgan Freeman feels that an easier to say and more memorable title would have allowed the movie to do better in box office.

According to Independent, Stephen King sold the film rights to this 96-page story to Frank Darabont, who was an unknown director at the time, for just $5,651. Rumor has it that Stephen King never even cashed the check. Supposedly, King framed the check and sent it back to Frank Darabont several years later along with a note which read, “In case you ever need bail money. Love, Steve.”

The Shawshank Redemption is the highest-rated movie on the IMDB. It has an average star count of 9.3. It is followed closely by The Godfather in second place.

According to Huffington Post, Morgan Freeman may have a clear understanding of what does and does not make a movie successful, but he doesn’t understand the difference between sexism and misogyny. Freeman made a few statements during a panel discussion at a conference on June 4 that were viewed as sexist.

Freeman made the sexist comment when he was talking about working with Producers Guild president and co-founder of Freeman’s production company Revelations Entertainment, Lori McCreary.

“She doesn’t want to be thought of as a pretty face. She wants to be thought of as serious. But you can’t get away from the short dresses.”

The moderator, Mark Gordon, pointed out that Freeman’s comment sounded a little sexist and might be taken the wrong way by some. Morgan Freeman responded with, “Sexist? Yeah, but I’m not misogynistic.”

Sexism, according to Huffington Post is defined as discrimination against women, while misogyny is defined as the outright hatred of women. While they are two different terms, they often go hand-in-hand.

Huffington Post went on to report that McCreary did not appear to be upset – at least not visibly – by the somewhat sexist comment Freeman had made about his experience while working with her. While Morgan Freeman may not consider himself to be a hater of women, some may find it a little unnerving how easy it was for him to make a comment of such a sexist nature and then admit that it was sexist without flinching in a public forum.

Huffington Post claims Morgan Freeman fans likely expect better of the actor who is commonly known for playing the voice of God in a number of different films.

Have you seen The Shawshank Redemption? Do you agree with Morgan Freeman that the title is “awful”? And, do you think the comment Morgan Freeman made about working with Lori McCreary was sexist?

[Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images]

Share this article: Morgan Freeman Opens Up About Why He Hated ‘The Shawshank Redemption’
morgan freeman
More from Inquisitr