Did you know what Brooks was in jail for? (The Shawshank Redemption)

In The Shawshank Redemption although not stated, Brooks' character (James Whitmore) is in prison for murdering his wife and daughter after a losing streak in poker.

#shawshankredemption #movie #funfacts

[bobbycallen]

They probably left out him killing his wife and child in the movie because it lessens your identifying and empathizing with the character.

[FatimaMarques]

And everyone here is FORGETTING the freaking point of the story: HUMANIZING convicts. Some are innocent, others made horrible bad decisions, and others are just plain evil. Brooks committed an appalling crime, yes, and he paid greatly for his actions: 50 years of imprisonment, nothing and no one is waiting for him outside, and ultimately takes his own life. Red even mentions he has had long nights with no more company than hunting thoughts, I bet Brooks went through the same thing. Rummaging through that moment over and over and over. He's old, alone, and afraid. Remember that.

[thegadflygang]

He isnt even in the book. Just a mention of a hardened old con named Brooks who ran the library before Andy. Probably the best adaptation ever, takes a great story and gives it even more heart

[PhilMante]

Knowing how Brooks felt on thd outside afterwards, getting out of prison was a bigger punishment than the 5 decades he stayed.

[duglife]

Honestly that could be just another contributing factor to why he was not able to cope on the outside. He probably regretted that decision every day of his life, and did not feel worthy of living free in society ever again. On the inside he had built things that could serve as a distraction from the horrible deed he had done. But when he got outside and left all that behind, he had nothing else to turn to. No routine to keep him occupied, no friends to speak to, etc.

It is quite fitting that he was the character who raised Jake, because in all likelihood the bird probably did not last very long outside on account of knowing no other life than being in the safety of the prison. The caged bird allegory is one of the themes that really run deep in this film.

[aguy]

Had we known that, he’d have been less likable.

[That_s_Guy]

50 yearsin prison, released in the early 50s, in his late 60s-early 70s. That'd mean he went into prison in Between 1890 and 1910. He literally stepped out into a different world.
When he first went to prison, he was probably brought in on horse and buggy instead of a bus like Andy. I absolutely love Brook's charecter

[solobusiness]

Red also committed a horrible crime that resulted in a child dying it makes it hard to feel bad for the character but then you realize that even if someone commits a horrible crime they are still human

[Dylan-orxs]

It’s very easy to forget that most of the characters in this movie are murderers

[VannTheDawn]

This is a problem even in the Philippines. They would sentence a mere petty thief to a lifetime behind bars then release them once they’re old and sick. They’ve given presidential pardons to inmates 65 years old and above. Some have family to go back to while others don’t.

[carolchristiansen]

Good to know. Now I don’t feel bad about him dying.

[WillyC]

The reason they didn’t put this in the film is because nobody would sympathize with Brooks, in the movie he’s clearly not evil or even remotely close to it, and yet he did something so appalling that had he not been surrounded by the same or worse he probably would’ve been killed for his actions.

[MH-yxpv]

All these prisoners did really stupid and horrible things to be in prison.
They are still human.

[gdsmchris]

He lost a steak in poker.... Must've been big steaks

[nomadk]

Well a lot of things from the book had been left out. And it was good that frank darabont did that ! For example Andy dufresne was described as a short skinny guy in the book. And Red was a tall white irish american. It all worked out though :) the great Stephen king himself said that the movie could not have been anymore perfect.

[louchat]

Then he never should have been paroled.

[mespud]

When authoring a book or making a movie, it's crucial that each character has a "backstory" on why, how and/or what makes them who they are.

[SPturns]

As per my knowledge, everyone was innocent in Shawshank except Red.

[rcriderexc]

That doesn't seem likely because Brooks refers to himself as an "old someone who kills his wife and daughter would not refer to themselves as someone who commits crimes like stealing a car or commiting armed robbery.... if he was truly sorry for what he did he refer to himself as a monster

[kingbeef]

I don’t condone what Brooks did, but I do feel sorry for him trying to restart his life again at his age after finally receiving his parole and making penitence for it after a very long time. It’s a bit like some of the death row inmates like Del and the Chief in The Green Mile, only they get their lives snuffed out quickly.