The Shawshank Tree

The "Shawshank Tree" ripped in half
Photo credit HERE

In 2011, the oak tree featured in The Shawshank Redemption, was badly damaged.  Katlin, at twobackpacksoneworld.com, wrote that she visited Malabar Farm,

home of the famous “Shawshank Tree.” The tree was used in the 1994 film Shawshank Redemption and was ripped in half by strong winds during a storm in July 2011.  (Her blog is HERE) 

Todd Hill has an interesting article at Mansfield News Journal titled, "'Shawshank' and its damaged tree have achieved cinematic immortality." (HERE)

About the tree, Hill writes:

The Pleasant Valley oak tree, a victim of straight-line winds, may or may not survive. I hope it does. But I highly doubt this tree cares a whit about being prominently placed in one of today’s most cherished motion pictures, and if the tree is soon no more I think tabloid readers in London and website visitors in India will get over its loss without much fuss.

Now. . . aren'tcha glad ya know all that? Just building up material for  someone to use on a commentary track!

Why is Shawshank So popular?

The fun part of the article  is Hill discussing what makes Shawshank such a popular film.  Is it destined to be a "classic" of the genre?  Why is it so popular?

Of course, asking this question is like asking what makes certain kids in high school so popular.  Who really knows!

Hill suggests that we love it because it's been shown so many times on television.  He writes, "The cable TV network TNT has shown “The Shawshank Redemption” about once every two months since 1997. I think this explains more than anything the movie’s enduring popularity."