Accountant Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is sent to prison in the Forties for the murder of his unfaithful wife and her lover, despite protesting his innocence. He slowly comes to terms with the injustices of the corrupt prison system and quietly inspires some of his fellow prison inmates to have a more positive outlook on life. Meanwhile, the Governor of the prison discovers Dufresne's book-keeping talents and recruits him to do a spot of creative accountancy. Fellow inmate, ageing gangster 'Red' (Morgan Freeman), uses his connections to take care of Dufresne's material needs, and narrates the story of his friend's term in jail through to the late Sixties.