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Earlier this week, the cast of The Shawshank Redemption reunited in Hollywood for a 20th anniversary screening of the film. A box office flop when it was first released in 1994, Shawshank has since earned its place on the short list of true modern cinematic classics. The Shawshank Redemption Cast Photos 1. Tim Robbins The most recognizable Shawshank inmate at the time of the film’s release, Robbin’s performance as the wrongly-convicted Andy Dufresne has since become his signature role. In the years that followed he directed the acclaimed film Dead Man Walking, won an Academy Award for his performance in Mystic River, and established his place as one of Hollywood’s most versatile talents. Life-affirming but never cloying; heart-wrenching without being manipulative, Shawshank is one of those rare films whose appeal transcends generational boundaries and the demographic niches that usually determine a film’s success. No small feat for a film that features a murder and a rape scene in its first 20 minutes. Yes, unlike other films that have survived as sentimental favorites, Shawshank is no family-friendly romp. A tale of brutality and injustice of the highest order, Shawshank – like its protagonist in the film’s thrilling climax – takes the hard road to an unexpectedly satisfying conclusion. In that sense, it’s a film that proves one of the most vital truths of storytelling – a happy ending is only as moving as the struggles that preceded it. 1994 was a banner year for American movies, with Forrest Gump and Pulp Fiction also vying for Academy Awards honors.   And yet somehow despite the boomer-years nostalgia of Gump and the violently audacious thrills of Fiction, Shawshank might be the year’s most enduringly beloved offering. And for a film that was widely dismissed by audiences twenty years ago, there can surely be no greater redemption. Check out our update on Shawshank’s principal players in the gallery above.

Read more:
The Shawshank Redemption Cast: Where Are They Now?