“Andy crawled to freedom through 500 yards of s**8 smelling foulness I can’t even imagine, or maybe I just don't want to. Five hundred yards – that’s the length of five football fields, just shy of half a mile.”

If the narrator introducing Hillary Clinton at the Democratic convention sounded familiar, that is because you have heard him speak many times before. And if the video of her life’s highlights and achievements looked like it had been put together by a major director, well that’s because...

The Democratic candidate received a complete Hollywood makeover on Thursday night, courtesy of a number of the A-list names that are backing her campaign.

Ms Clinton pitched herself in sharp contrast to Donald Trump (AP)

The voiceover that accompanies the film, entitled simply Hillary, comes courtesy of Morgan Freeman, who played the prison inmate who spoke about the character Andy Dufresne escaping by crawling from a sewer in The Shawshank Redemption. And the 12-minute film itself was created by Scandal director Shonda Rhimes, and producer Betsy Beers.

The film includes interviews with former President Bill Clinton, President Barack Obama, a survivor of the 9/11 attacks and a member of the emergency response teams. It also features a childhood friend of the candidate, and talked response about the impact of her Ms Clinton’s mother, Dorothy.

Morgan Freeman provided the narration

“Here is a woman. What does she dream of? When does she feel proud,” begins Freeman, over bubbling, cinematic music. “How many times will she leave her mark? How many times will she light up the world.”

The films contributors include Mr Obama, who says there is a “joy and a mirth” to Ms Clinton that the public does not normally see. Debbie St John, a survivor of the al-Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington, says she remembers Ms Clinton, at the time just nine months into her first term as a New York senator, holding her hand. “I remember she tried to soothe me.”

The intention of this week’s convention has been not only to create an image of party unity after a hard-fought primary campaign from which some Bernie Sanders supporters are still smarting, but to promote the party’s candidate as a woman of action, compassion and humanity. For all her grasp of the details, for all her being “best qualified” for the White House, many people still fail to see the real person behind her sometimes robotic appearances.

Because of that, the film’s creators included interviews with Ms Clinton, dressed smartly but casually, looking friendly but determined.

Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures First Lady Michelle Obama called on Democratic party members to trust in the 'steady and measured' Mrs Clinton, in a speech critics described as "show-stealing" Getty Images Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures The first day of the convention was attended by a vast crowd of approximately 50,000 as the event got into full swing in Philadelphia Getty Images Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures Senator Bernie Sanders delivered an impassioned speech endorsing Mrs Clinton, and asking the party to unite for their prospective candidate REUTERS Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures Two advocates of the former candidate Sanders were reduced to tears as details of an alleged conspiracy against his nomination were gradually revealed REUTERS Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures Senator Elizabeth Warren was repeatedly heckled and booed as she endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential candidacy Getty Images Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures Former president Bill Clinton (left) looks pensive as the resentment against his wife's nomination appeared to grow during day one of the convention Getty Images Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures A Bernie Sanders supporter taped her mouth shut in protest against his perceived mistreatment at the hands of the Democratic party AFP/Getty Images Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures Senator Cor Brooker called for unity within the party, saying: "We are called to be a nation of love" REUTERS Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures Actress Eva Longoria gave a heartfelt speech in which she called upon members to trust in Mrs Clinton as their candidate Getty Images Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures Senator Al Franken was joined on stage by comedian and actress Sarah Silverman, with critics praising their double act Getty Images Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures Delegates danced joyously at the convention in the Wells Fargo Center as musical entertainment was provided Getty Images Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures Pop singer Demi Lovato told the DNC she was "living with mental illness" before performing her hit single 'Confident' Getty Images Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures Legendary singer-songwriter Paul Simon was another high-profile performer to entertain the crowd on day one Getty Images Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures Anastasia Somoza, an international disability rights advocate, also delivered remarks on the first day of the convention Getty Images Democratic National Convention 2016 in pictures A delegate holds a sign that reads "Stronger together" as the first day of the convention drew to a close Getty Images

Ms Rhines, whose credits as a writer and producer also include Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, said she felt “honoured” to be involved in the production of the film. She told People: “I wanted everyone who sees it to feel like they were sitting with a friend, drinking coffee, so that had to be authentic.”

She added: “Hillary drank tea, actually. You can’t drink coffee for five hours and expect her not to bounce off the walls.”

Shonda Rhimes produced the film (Rex)

JJ Abrams, the man behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens, produced the introduction video for First Lady Michelle Obama that was shown on Tuesday at the convention.

Actor Jon Voight narrated a similar video for Donald Trump when the billionaire businessman accepted the Republican presidential nomination last week in Cleveland.

Ms Clinton’s film concludes with piano scales, and then the candidate intoning: “I hope to unify the country. I hope to bring people together.”