The Shawshank Redemption

[Carsten Schermuly]

A great movie, I have seen today first times
seven times nominated for Oskar
great actors
I am not sure - "Brooks" - was that Spencer Tracey?

The story is a masterpiece

(long years ago I saw another US american black / white movie playing in prisons with Burt Lancaster, constructed a new short gun, a break through in military gun constructions - main theme was resocialisation too)

The movie "The Shawshank Redemption" bases on Stephen Kings book
"Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption"
WikiPedia english
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Hayworth_and_Shawshank_Redemption

The Movie Database
http://imdb.com/title/tt0111161/

WikiPedia english
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shawshank_Redemption



german TV version
http://programm.daserste.de/detail1.asp?heute=28.10.2007&id=X000424429&sdatlo=27.10.2007&sender=1&dpointer=41&anzahl=46&ziel=41
Samstag, 27.10.2007 | 01:10 Uhr

Samstag = Saturday (more usual is Sonnabend)
01:10 in morning, one hour after midnight, not one hour after highnoon

[Hal Paul]

Yes, I really enjoy watching The Shawshank Redemption. Another prison theme, Stephen King movie that I really like is The Green Mile.

[Barbara Moulton]

A couple of scenes in Shawshank Redemption which I fast forward through.

But the end of the movie is tremendous!

[DA Weaver]

My husband and I like the movie so well we bought the DVD...

[Meghan Schoonover]

One of my favourites!

[Carsten Schermuly]

The only one thing I do not like is,
the story does suggest to pay back unright by unright.
He was not guilty, so he should have been free, but his freedom should have based on legal acts. To break out and to take that money* was not his right. After moral it was right, but after law it was not correct. The danger is to suggest: "create your own righteousness".

money*
It was not correct to take all of that money. It was money, earned by his comrades in prison (after law it should been paid in a public cash, owned by the state or county, responsible for the financial basis of that prison). Better had been to erect a fundus with to better the situation of his prison comrades.

But - the story were not this story without that.
A really great story.

[Carsten Schermuly]

James Whitmore

played the role of Brooks Hatlen.
Sorry.
How did I come on Spencer Tracey?
tsss tsss tsss

[Carsten Schermuly]

When I was 22aged, I had to pay a fee of DM 200,- or to go in jail for ten days. After military duty, I took a jackett, a winter coat from my reserve sack and did wear it on my workplace - "unallowed wearing of an uniform" - a fee of 200 talers.

I told the autorithies, I had not enaugh money (I know, I know, we shall not lie, but I did lie) so I was put in jail. It was friday before resurrection sunday, I was cought. Controlled on the Nürnberg railway main station. On the Autobahn have been to that time also often routine - controlls (police was looking for RAF - terrorists and sympathysants, for drugs and weapons), all cars have been stopped - from country to country to different times to prevent a traffic chaos.

My boss in a company in Frankfurt / Main was informed, he had to await daily my phonecall: "Sorry, I need ten days of vacancies" to any time. I was sent to Nürnberg to work for an international fair.

That was my desire once I did lie - to see a prison inside,
because
normally nobody can do that - looking in - only family members of prisoners and such visitors do not see what really is going on, they just do see a visitors room and the way to.

As in the movie was told, "Every man here is not guilty" (on table while eating) I have seen in Nürnberg too. Not all prisoners did think so, but alot. What all had in common and have told to me was, their retribution was too high or too hard.

AND
there was a kind 85 aged whitehaired gentleman, had been in prison for his whole life. While walking daily for one hour under free sky, was the only one chance to talk to others (I as a short time visitor got no workplace, I sat in cell around the clock - with my bible - I liked that peacefull days). This gentleman did push a steel wagon like seen in hospitals down the floor with hot pots on while feeding the prisoners.

He told me in the prisons back yard, all years together had been around 50 years. After his last case, he was over 65aged and had reached by this the end of the life time to work (normally people get by this age their monthly retirement money from social insurance). He should go home - but had no home. Once he was set on street, he had not known where to go and must live from social help.

He wrote to the bavarian Ministerpräsident as the right official, to give him the grace to stay in prison, he had no family ecxept his friends in prison and since he was well known by the prisons leaders, they liked to see him on a helpers workplace in kitchen.
A court proofed that and the speech was, he is allowed to stay for lifetime in prison.

Most impressive was the lutheran sunday service on resurrection sunday, in german Himmelfahrtstag or named by children of the world Vatertag (a reason to drink). The sermon was a message of grace, "forgiveness".
"What, you were free because another one took your place by free will for you?"
The song
Lobe den Herren - Praise to the Lord
http://htmbibel.de/musik/hymns/lobedenf.htm
was sung loudly - not raugh, but powerful - I do not forget.
The men around me did love truely the Lord Jesus Christ as their one and only hope.
--- edited
I guess, all men in Nürnberg prison had been together about 800 to 1000, in sunday service have been not more than 50. I remember I did count them, but am no more sure, it had been 45 or 48 or so.
---

I was told to leave next sunday morning, pentecostal sunday. On eight o'clock I stood in front of the large iron door.
It was 1971, annual birth year of the painter Albrecht Dürer (1471 - 1528), son of Nürnberg. The town was filled by Dürer - collections, by Dürer - exhibitions and was decorated for fine arts tourists. I took the chance and have spent a very interesting day. I did know Nürnberg, its churches and the Nürnberg castle already from my children years.
In late evening I returned to Frankfurt / Main to be back on workplace next morning, a monday.

[Carsten Schermuly]

I have to say "Excuse me!"
I have seen too late the subforum "movies".
Next time I do find a good movie, I will talk about on the right place.

[Eugenia Whitten]

Thanks for sharing, I know this was an important journey in your life and made a major impact of your future.

[Gina Stevenson]

That was my desire once I did lie - to see a prison inside,
because normally nobody can do that - looking in - only family members of prisoners and such visitors do not see what really is going on, they just do see a visitors room and the way to.

So, you got yourself into a position where you'd be put in jail just to see what it looked like, huh? 'Knew someone once who did something like that, only the authorities were in on it, too ... he & they "planned" on catching him do whatever, so he could get inside there "firsthand," as part of his sociology project.

Anyway, once did see the inside of the county jail ... no, I wasn't there ... nor did I visit anyone there. One of the Sheriff's Deputies asked us if we wanted to see the inside of the new jail before it housed people, figuring it might be something interesting to folks working within the legal system who sometimes saw folks before they were there at that place we'd never seen.

So, a few of us rode in the back of the KCSD car over to the jail ... probably looking from the outside, to those who knew no better, as tho' we were gals picked up off the street ... or something (thinking now of a rather old gal who used to hang around the Hall of Justice/PD frequently, visiting various court sessions for "something to do" who let us know she did used to work the streets in her younger years ... a rather sad case ....).

[Carsten Schermuly]

So, you got yourself into a position where you'd be put in jail just to see what it looked like, huh? Yes and No.
No question, not needed to say,
it was not correct to misuse the coat as part of an uniform.
(Today on many places to buy in different qualities, used from the Bundeswehr for about 10 Euro upwards, new from factory outlet or through trade for about 80 to 120 Euro, today nobody does talk about "unallowed wearing an uniform".) It had been better to leave the coat where it has been and not to get a conflict with law & order.

But
it was already too late for the better decision - so I was enjoyed to see a prison inside and did my choice. Only ten days looked like a funny adventure, not as a hardness to me.

'Knew someone once who did something like that, only the authorities were in on it, too ... he & they "planned" on catching him do whatever, so he could get inside there "firsthand," as part of his sociology project.

Anyway, once did see the inside of the county jail ... no, I wasn't there ... nor did I visit anyone there. One of the Sheriff's Deputies asked us if we wanted to see the inside of the new jail before it housed people, figuring it might be something interesting to folks working within the legal system who sometimes saw folks before they were there at that place we'd never seen.

So, a few of us rode in the back of the KCSD car over to the jail ... probably looking from the outside, to those who knew no better, as tho' we were gals picked up off the street ... or something (thinking now of a rather old gal who used to hang around the Hall of Justice/PD frequently, visiting various court sessions for "something to do" who let us know she did used to work the streets in her younger years ... a rather sad case ....).

Yes, we can read again and again such stories. I do see a good motion in the right direction "more psychology in prisons to reach the goal of resocialisation better".

Every violator was born like everybody as an innocent baby,
but must grow up under bad circumstances, formed his personality as a little child and teached him later to do wrong steps in life.

Circumstances, he is not responsible for.

Peace and love for prisoners!

[Carsten Schermuly]

Best were, prisons will be seen as a school for life (including education - as seen in the movie) to give violators a second chance.

It does cost good will
to make violators willingly students
and
to make prison personals willingly teachers.

[Hans Deventer]

today nobody does talk about "unallowed wearing an uniform".)

I've actually worn mine for quite a while too! Your story made me wonder if it was illegal here. I don't think so, but if you were called back for military service, and the coat was damaged, you had to pay for a new one. That I vividly remember.
I was actually present one day when a group of these guys returning for a few weeks of military serice came for inspection. Of some, their bags wern' complete, but some didn't even have their bag with them at all! No problem, they were charged ƒ 960 immediately (in 1980, this would have been a month's salary for me) and they got everything new :basic05

To my astonishment, some even produced a complete UZI gun from their bag!

[Carsten Schermuly]

I've actually worn mine for quite a while too!Welcome in our beloved Hotel "To the Swedish Courtains"!

In Germany is said in this case "Swedish" because Sweden as a country with the tradition to deliver good steel. In fact, the iron from Sweden (and Norway) comes from a geologic area with better iron molecular structures as continental iron like found in Poland, Germany and Belgium. Sweden delivers iron since centuries, iron in Norway was found just some decades back - so Norway is not named in related elder speeches.

Your story made me wonder if it was illegal here. I don't think so, but if you were called back for military service, and the coat was damaged, you had to pay for a new one. That I vividly remember.A reserve officer "Leutnant" did watch me and called the military police "Feldjäger". They entered my workplace, read some paragraphs from several laws out of a small book, they had in pocket and teached me to stop my crime. As a proof for a court process they took my coat with them. I never got back and later I must pay for. The eyewittness "Leutnant" and the both military police officers have been named in the courts papers so I did know who the informer (shamus) was.

I was actually present one day when a group of these guys returning for a few weeks of military serice came for inspection. Of some, their bags wern' complete, but some didn't even have their bag with them at all! No problem, they were charged ƒ 960 immediately (in 1980, this would have been a month's salary for me) and they got everything new :basic05

To my astonishment, some even produced a complete UZI gun from their bag!In chronology order

July 1st 1966 to June 30th 1968 I served as soldier for two full years - I was not a "soldier after law" Wehrpflichtiger (to that time 18 months), I was "Soldier after time" Zeitsoldat. Why that? I was better paid, the difference was just to serve for six months longer than soldiers after law, Wehrpflichtige.
I left as Ersatzreserve 2 (Ersatzreserve 1 = only officers) and like all reservists, after two years I was set back from Ersatzreserve 2 to Ersatzreserve 4 - and this status will be held unto 45th birthday, end of Wehrpflicht in times of peace. After 45th age I must no more watch any military related law - only in peace time. In case of defence (war time) the borders were set upwards.

Changing the status from Ersatzreserve 2 to Ersatzreserve 4, the uniform sack must been given back and missed things must been paid. In Germany it is forbidden to own a weapon to prevent crime, so reservists do not get a gun. In Switzerland (just as an example) this is another law situation, reservists must take home their gun.
I am not sure what I should do. Where to put a gun? In sleeping room in top of clothes cupboard where boots, helmet and gas mask will be saved? I think, I had digged a gun deep in earth for that two years and had erected a terrace over it to hide the place where I digged. What, it was stolen and used for crime? My Goodness!

In winter 1968 / 69 I was caught while misusing military material.

The Amtsgericht Göttingen, the civil court house did act in the following months as Truppendienstgericht, as military court. The difference is, my case was not a civil case (after Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch BGB), my case was a case under soldier law, Soldatengesetz.
That means, my case got the same weight like a Disziplinarverfahren, discipline process - it does not touch ziviles Recht, civil right. So I have not a black spot on my vest. I am not identified as a violater of a crime law. My coat story can not take influence on a carreer once I tried to make a carreer in a profession under a public status e. g. any political position, from secretairy, accountant (paper pusher) in any office upwards to town major or to Bundeskanzler, Chancellor or what ever.

Once the courts speech was fallen in 1969, a copy was sent to my home address - home of my mother. The speech did include a last time point to pay the fee. I was not at home. I lived in Frankfurt / Main where I have found a good job. I have no more thought back to that coat thing, so I failed to pay the fee in the right time and the second part of the speech "200 DM or ten days" got power, my name was set on police "most wanted" lists.

[Carsten Schermuly]

The coat was not stolen by me.
I did wear it to a wrong time.
That was my crime.

A curiousity, a funny thing - no more.
The court was bound on law so a speech must fall.
I guess, the judge did smile about a naughty boy while undersigned the papers.

Maybe that law "unallowed wearing of an uniform" was later revised - because thousands of such coats are seen in daily life today - and nobody will think to crime. Ruth got such a coat (absolutely identic to military coats - also with the german colours on arms) from a warehouse while we have been engaged.

http://haufenzeug.de/cs/fuji1300/altnstdt/bootru~1.gif

--- edited
The photo does show 18aged Ruth between Altenstadt and Büdingen in Oberhessen on a channel to lead melted snow waters to a men made lake (held by a dam) in March 1974, one year before we have been married. It is in the Nidda valley, ~ 40 km, 25 miles east of Frankfurt / Main. The boat was a rest of a minivan, Mercedes Hanomag, the dog was one year old - "our first child", the dog became 16 years old. Ruth saved its life once it was six weeks old, the owner liked to kill it because it was a girl, nobody was interested in.

[Carsten Schermuly]

Thanks for sharing, I know this was an important journey in your life and made a major impact of your future.I often have me asked "What sense has that story?" because it does look as wasted time and a risk to lose a workplace or to get a bad name, a questionable nimbus, "Whisper, whisper - he was in jail."

I sometimes was enjoyed, I got this experience.
Please watch this story, it was told by Mike as a joke. I also have read as joke - it does not touch me, I am not involved, I do smile or do laugh about.

A man, wanting to rob a downtown Bank of Montreal, walked into the branch And wrote "this iz a stikkup. Put all your muny in this bag."While standing in line, waiting to give his note to the teller, he began to worry that someone had seen him write the note and might call the police before he reached the teller's window. So he left the Bank of Montreal and crossed the street to the CIBC. After waiting a few minutes in line, he handed his note to the teller. She read it and, surmising from his spelling errors that he wasn't the brightest light in the harbour, told him that she could not accept his stickup note because it was written on a Bank of Montreal deposit slip and that he would either have to fill out a CIBC deposit slip or go back to Bank of Montreal. Looking somewhat defeated, the man said, "OK" and left. He was arrested a few minutes later, as he was waiting in line back at Bank of Montreal. Don't bother with this guy's sign. He probably couldn't read it anyway.copied from
http://www.naznet.com/community/showthread.php?t=15555

I have learned just a little bit about psychology. I asked me why I had this and this weak sides, this and this mistakes in personality.

Imagine,
I were the writer of the note.
Why I had been not able to write in my mothertongue without such spelling mistakes?
Possible reasons
A - during my first children years my developing was disturbed to become what is named in daily language stupid. It could get another name, like leghasteny or so. Once we see such children or persons around us we do not laugh about. Psychic or physic defects as base, biochemy or biophysic does not work well, nerves or there are somatic automatisms, misfunktion of circulation, of metabolism etc etc etc - a lifetime tragedy.
B - as a consequence of that, he was not able to learn - or he had a bad parents home or no parents home.

As we do know, to steal is the same as to take late missed love during children years.

In our neighbourhood lives a married Lady, has her own business, a wellness studio and her husband has a best paid job in one of the local cure hospitals as leader of the physiology subdivision (in prior rehabilitation after surgeries and profession accidents, covered by profession insurances Berufsgenossenschaften BGs), her father is building engineer and owns a building company in the neighbourtown Seesen. She was caught on a supermarket cash, she had stolen a little bottle of perfume - she, a Lady with pockets filled by money.
(By the way, very proud people, do not greet me, looking down on me.)

While her children years she had got no love.
Her parents had no time, did build up that business - her fathers construction company.

The writer of the misspelled note tried to take missed love.
His soul is yearning to be satisfied.
His will is not to become rich - his will was to become able to have the same life quality like others around him.

Surely, a laughingly figure.
A tragic figure.
It is already to see - he never will come out of jails.
He never will have a happy marriage.
Once he will become a father, his children must go the very same way - a way without love because he did not learn to love so he can not teach his children to love.
This satanic chain can only been broken by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Maybe I do laugh about
but then - I am ashamed and do think - I can not do that, it is arrogance.
I am looking down on him.

So I do ask me,
how I would look on such a story without that "funny" 10 days in Nürnberg prison.

[Ryan Scott]

Shouldn't this be on the movie forum?

[Hans Deventer]

Shouldn't this be on the movie forum?

Absolutely!!

[Carsten Schermuly]

I have to say "Excuse me!"
I have seen too late the subforum "movies".
Next time I do find a good movie, I will talk about on the right place.

Again - sorry.