Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)

A surly convicted murderer held in permanent isolation redeems himself when he becomes a renowned bird expert.

Directors:

John Frankenheimer, Charles Crichton (uncredited)

Writers:

Guy Trosper (screenplay), Thomas E. Gaddis (book)

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden, Thelma Ritter

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Burt Lancaster	...	Robert Franklin Stroud
Karl Malden	...	Harvey Shoemaker
Thelma Ritter	...	Elizabeth Stroud
Neville Brand	...	Bull Ransom
Betty Field	...	Stella Johnson
Telly Savalas	...	Feto Gomez
Edmond O'Brien	...	Tom Gaddis
Hugh Marlowe	...	Albert Comstock
Whit Bissell	...	Dr. Ellis
Crahan Denton	...	Kramer
James Westerfield	...	Jess Younger

Storyline

In 1912, the notorious and violent prisoner Robert Franklin Stroud is transferred to the Leavenworth Prison convicted for murdering a man. When a guard cancels the visit of his mother, Elizabeth Stroud, due to a violation of the internal rules, he stabs and kills the guard and goes to trial three times. He is sentenced to be executed by the gallows, but his mother appeals to President Woodrow Wilson who commutes his sentence to life imprisonment. However, the warden, Harvey Shoemaker, decides to keep Stroud in solitary for the rest of his life. One day, Stroud finds a sparrow that has fallen from the nest in the yard and he raises the bird until it is strong enough to fly. Stroud finds a motivation for his life raising and caring for birds and becomes an expert in birds. He marries Stella Johnson and together they run a business, providing medicine developed by Stroud. But a few years after, Stroud is transferred to Alcatraz and has to leave his birds behind.

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Plot Keywords:

bird | prison | alcatraz | solitary confinement | life sentence | 

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Taglines:

now the world will know the story of the most defiant man alive!

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 July 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Gefangene von Alcatraz

Filming Locations:

Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,650,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Norma Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

147 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During shooting a difference of opinion arose between Burt Lancaster and John Frankenheimer about camera placement. According to Kirk Douglas, Lancaster physically picked the director up and carried him across the room, placing him down and emphatically stating, "That's where the camera goes!" Despite this incident and problems that had arisen on their earlier film The Young Savages (1961), the two worked together again in Seven Days in May (1964) and The Train (1964).

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Goofs

Mrs. Stroud goes to Washington sometime before 8 November 1918, to meet with Mrs. Wilson in lieu of the President, who, as Gaddis' narration states, was suffering from a grave illness. Mrs. Stroud says, "They've turned on your husband in his fight for peace." The references are to Woodrow Wilson's massive stroke and resultant infirmity, and his fight with the Senate regarding the Treaty of Versailles. All of that happened in 1919 and 1920.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Tour guide: ...during which you will see all of the man-made and natural beauties, the most spectacular bay in the world. You'll pass beneath the famous Golden Gate Bridge, considered by most authorities to be one of the most striking structures ever erected by man. From the bay, you will thrill to the magnificent San Francisco skyline. Your cruise ship, the Harbor King, will circle Alcatraz, a maximum security prison containing the most dangerous criminals in America. It has been the home of ...

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Alternate Versions

European release is five minutes longer than original US theatrical version.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Laserblast (1996)

User Reviews

Excellent uplifting film in utterly depressing surroundings

Always like Burt Lancaster's acting/entertainment ability, and he doesn't disappoint in "Birdman". I found this movie, whatever it's historical faults notwithstanding, to be an uplifting experience due to the characters ability to rise above the incredibly depressing circumstances of his existence. And, a sad commentary on societies inability to rehabilitate as in "To restore to good health or useful life, as through therapy and education.", those who stray from the straight and narrow. When men are treated with respect, or as animals, they usually respond in kind. Karl Malden's warden character summarized societies treatment of inmates. Whether using carrots or sticks, the end goal was conformity and submission, with true rehabilitation an incidental byproduct should it occur at all. There is little wasted footage in this film, the "quiet" periods mentioned in earlier comments, add to the realism. Think about it, here's a man who spent nearly 50 years of his life in solitary confinement, to do true justice, a silent film would have been more appropriate! Stroud was spared the death penalty by President Wilson, due to his mothers pleading on his behalf. I can't imagine the occupier of the White House today doing anything but smirk at such a request. Not a political statement, just a point of fact. Another point, this film was made while Stroud was still in prison, which he never viewed, and which failed to earn him his release before his death in 1963. Lancaster also played a convict in "Brute Force", one of his earliest films, and a good one.