20 Things You Somehow Missed In The Shawshank Redemption
16. Red’s Smoking Stipulation
One of Red’s claims to fame within the Shawshank prison is his ability to secure the goods and discreetly distribute them amongst the inmates. The most popular bit of contraband Red’s known best for is, of course, cigarettes.
Even though he’s seen trafficking, holding, and pocketing cigarettes throughout the film, careful viewers will notice that Red never actually smokes a single one.
This is not something that Morgan Freeman mandated — the actor smokes in his personal life — but rather a testament to the character of Red. He’s a good, pure figure in the prison, and smoking would distract from that.