Rent Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
3.8 of 5 from 94 ratings
2h 23min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- How does bitter convict Robert Stroud (Burt Lancaster) cope with a lifetime of solitary confinement? The answer, in a sense, comes from above - in the form of a feeble sparrow he finds in the isolation yard. Stroud brings this new-found companion to his cell, nurses it to health and, from that point on, there's no turning back. Despite having only a third grade education, and no hope of parole, Stroud becomes a renowned ornithologist - and achieves a greater sense of freedom and purpose behind prison walls than many in the outside world will ever know.
- Actors:
- Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden, Thelma Ritter, Neville Brand, Betty Field, Telly Savalas, Edmond O'Brien, Hugh Marlowe, Whit Bissell, Crahan Denton, James Westerfield, Robert Bailey, Nicky Blair, John Burnside, Robert Burton, Mushy Callahan, James J. Casino, James Cavanaugh, Lewis Charles, Noble 'Kid' Chissell
- Directors:
- John Frankenheimer, Charles Crichton
- Producers:
- Stuart Millar, Guy Trosper
- Writers:
- Guy Trosper, Thomas E. Gaddis
- Others:
- Burnett Guffey
- Studio:
- MGM Home Entertainment
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama
- Collections:
- All the Twos: 1902-62, Award Winners, BAFTA Nominations Competition 2024, BAFTA Nominations Competition 2025, Behind Bars: Visit These Essential Prison Films, Cinema Paradiso's 2022 Centenary Club, Films & TV by topic, Getting to Know..., Getting to Know: Burt Lancaster, Lions on the Lido, Oscar Nominations Competition 2025, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to: Charles Crichton, Top 10 Films With Voiceover Narration, Top Films
- Awards:
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 06/08/2018
- Run Time:
- 143 minutes
- Languages:
- English LPCM Mono
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.66:1
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Audio commentary with film historian and editor Paul Seydor, moderated by Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman
- Illusion of Freedom: Richard H. Kline on John Frankenheimer's "Birdman of Alcatraz" (29 mins) - a new video piece on the film directed by Robert Fischer
- An exclusive new video interview with film historian Sheldon Hall
- Original Theatrical Trailer
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Reviews (2) of Birdman of Alcatraz
Classic - Birdman of Alcatraz review by D C
get settled down for a saturday afternoon classic with plenty of what you like to snack on.........
2 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
Solitary Life. - Birdman of Alcatraz review by Steve
Epic biography of murderer Robert Stroud who was sent down in 1909 and remained in solitary for 50 years, and in prison until his death in 1963. From his cell he began to keep and study birds and develop remedies for disease. Given a simple microscope he researched haematology and histology. To keep his menagerie, he studied law.
When first jailed, Stroud (Burt Lancaster) wears stripes and chains. He feeds his birds with insects infesting the jail. Under a reforming public servant (Karl Malden) the cells become cleaner and safer and less physically brutal. But the message is that prisons are instruments of revenge, and fail because they do not mend the psychological faults of the convicts.
Stroud is sociopath, resentful of anyone but his mother, and he kills a warden. But his sullen malevolence is ameliorated by nurturing birds. At first this is to ease the monotony of solitary, but then he lives vicariously through them. Eventually his obsession releases his talent. Or maybe his genius.
Lancaster does well to maintain interest in this troubled, unlikeable introvert. The direction overcomes the limitation of shooting within a tiny space, by dealing mostly in closeups and expressionistic angles. We don't get a realistic idea of what motivates the prisoner. The aim is to advance a reformist agenda, and it makes this case with intelligence.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.