Synopsis

In 1935, death row officer Paul Edgecomb oversees inmates awaiting execution at Cold Mountain Penitentiary. His routine changes when John Coffey, a physically imposing but gentle prisoner convicted of murder, arrives with an unexplained gift. As Coffey's ability affects the guards and those around him, Paul is forced to confront the limits of justice, mercy, and the burden of carrying memories across a lifetime.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film adapts Stephen King's 1996 serial novel, which was originally published in six separate installments between March and August 1996.

• The title refers to the green-floored corridor leading from the death row cells to the prison's electric chair.

• Frank Darabont completed the screenplay in less than eight weeks. The production later built the prison interiors as custom sets, while the exterior of Cold Mountain Penitentiary was filmed at the Tennessee State Prison in Nashville.

• The film runs for approximately 189 minutes, making it one of the longest major studio dramas released in 1999.

• The production used 15 trained mice for the scenes involving Mr. Jingles. Some shots used a laser pointer or other visual cues instead of a live mouse.

• Tom Hanks was originally expected to portray both Paul Edgecomb and the elderly version of the character. Makeup tests were not convincing enough, so Dabbs Greer played the older Edgecomb instead.

• Michael Clarke Duncan's casting was helped by Bruce Willis, who had worked with Duncan on Armageddon and recommended him for the role of John Coffey.

• At the 72nd Academy Awards in 2000, the film received four nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Michael Clarke Duncan, Best Sound, and Best Adapted Screenplay.