MovieChat Forums > The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Discussion > Why didn't Andy contact an attorney afte...

Why didn't Andy contact an attorney after Tommy told him about Elmo Blatch?

posted 4 years ago by JackalopeCash57 (92)
6 replies | jump to latest

Howdy, folks. So first and foremost, I adore this film and nothing could change that; yet, there are a few murky plot areas that puzzle me about the film.

I recently re-watched this for the first time in years and something clicked in my mind that I never had thought about before: why didn't Andy contact an attorney upon learning of Tommy's recollection of Elmo Blatch? I mean, even a goofy redneck such as myself knows that one should never relay sensitive legal information such as this to the law/cops/state; this sort of thing is something one would discuss with their attorney in a manner of confidentiality.
It is highlighted and demonstrated throughout the film that Andy is a highly intelligent and extremely stoic dude. He is pretty much Mr. Spock without the pointed ears. It seemed very strange for such a bright guy to be discussing the situation with the Warden, whom Andy knows is already a ruthless crook. I just don't get why Andy didn't reach out to any lawyers and why he thought that going to the Warden first was a good move - thoughts?

[–] strntz (12736) 4 years ago

I doubt Andy had a lawyer at the time he heard Tommy's story. He never mentioned a lawyer or even any chance of appeal. The evidence was pretty solid against him (and really, he still *might* have committed that crime).

I think he thought he was doing the right thing by confiding in the warden, who he thought of as an ally I guess. Remember how Andy was stunned when the warden first didn't help him and then when the warden exploded when Andy tried to reassure him that he'd keep quiet about the goings on with the work program - he being as indictable as the warden himself.

In retrospect, sure, he would have been better off going to an attorney instead of the warden, but I have a feeling that Andy would have been shot in an "escape" or shived in some prison "fight" no matter what legal method he used to get out of Shawshank.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Warden Norton saw Andy as a secure revenue stream, netting him thousands upon thousands of dollars every month. If Andy made an appeal and was successful, goodbye revenue stream and of course, Andy had all the knowledge of his activities with Norton's finances, so could land him in trouble easily if he spilled the beans.

This is why Norton had Tommy shot to death and absolutely threw the book at Andy, giving him the harshest punishment he could think of, to get rid of the only witness to exonerate Andy and to tell Andy in no uncertain terms that he was his, to do with as the warden wished, or he would throw him to the wolves. Basically, an evil villain.

[–] ExTechOp (2770) 4 years ago

Simplest reason I can think of: once Norton made it clear he wouldn't let Andy leave, there would be no point in contacting a lawyer. That would only make Norton crack down on Andy more, and likely expose his already-finished escape tunnel.

[–] redban (6645) 4 years ago

Hmm ... did the prison allow the inmates to call anyone? I also guess he could have wrote a letter, but I think the prison staff reads those letters.

So possibly, the prison didn't allow him to get in touch with a lawyer.

[–] strntz (12736) 4 years ago

With no new evidence or any misconduct by the prosecution, Andy had no chance for a retrial, so presumably he wouldn't be in contact with a lawyer.

[–] Who (5146) 3 years ago

Remember, Andy wrote piles of letters to get books and resources for his prison library project. Of course he could (and should) have contacted a lawyer. But I think Andy had become complacent at that point in the film, trusting the very system that betrayed him at the start. The library project, the job as the warden’s bookkeeper, the respect he was getting from guards and inmates all fooled him into thinking he could trust the warden. Andy got a rude awakening after Tommy’s murder which pushed him to put his final escape plan into action.