Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)

Exceptional

As someone noted previously, this role was unusual for Lancaster in that it required him to project a thoughtful, quiet intensity and and a more introverted personality, rather than the extroverted, flamboyant personalities he tended to portray before in such movies as Elmer Gantry or From Here to Eternity. Playing a convict rather than a handsome leading man, Lancaster never did anything like it before or since. Telly Savalas also turns in a notable performance many years before his well known TV series Kojak debuted. Playing a fictionalized warden character, Malden also turns in an excellent performance.

Robert Stroud eventually became famous for researching and writing on bird diseases. I once looked up his book in a college library, and read some of it to see what it was like, since I was a physiology major and interested in medicine. Interestingly enough, the edition I found had included with the text many of the letters Stroud received commenting on his book, along with his replies. Many of the letters were from academic veterinarians who had questions, criticisms, or comments on the book, and it was interesting to see Stroud's responses. He came across as intelligent and thoughtful, although a bit piqued at times, pointing out that he never had the advantages of a college education, compared to the professionals who were critiquing his research.

Much of the movie is devoted to the story of Stroud's famous research and his book, and the sensation it created among the public. The idea of a convicted murderer who spent most of his time in solitary becoming a published author and respected scientist was certainly sensational.

How it all got started was innocent enough. Since Stroud spent so much of his prison career in isolation, he's allowed to keep a few canaries, which eventually leads to his famous discovery, when he wins a research contest to find a cure for septic fever, a common killer of birds. He eventually goes on to invent remedies for several other avian illnesses and conditions. Considering that Stroud only had a third grade education, his research and the resulting book is certainly a remarkable achievement.

Stroud actually wrote four books while he was in prison. He wrote two books on birds, The Diseases of Canaries and Stroud's Digest on the Diseases of Birds. After being transferred to Alcatraz, he wrote an autobiography, Bobbye, and A History of the U.S. Prison System from Colonial Times to the Formation of the Bureau of Prisons.

This is an interesting passage from the Wikipedia article on Stroud:

"According to those who knew Stroud while he was in prison, the mild-mannered characterization of him, as presented in Gaddis's book and the subsequent film was largely fiction. In Full Circle with Michael Palin, one of his fellow prisoners said, "He was a jerk. He was a guy that thrived on chaos, turmoil, upheaval. He liked other people to be involved in these kind of things, but he was never a participant."

Coincidentally, my sister once lived in the apartment complex in Alaska where Stroud committed his first murder. Overall, this is one of director Frankenheimer's and Lancaster's most remarkable movies, and still worth seeing today despite much of it being a fictionalized account of Stroud's life. December 11, 2007

THE LIFER AND THE BIRDS

1962. One of John Frankenheimer's early masterpieces, based on Birdman of Alcatraz (Signet Book, D1550), features Burt Lancaster as Robert Stroud who spent more than 50 years in jail. This outstanding film will surely oppose once again the followers of the Rehabilitation thesis and those of the Repression's. As usual, only true movie lovers will agree that BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ is a masterpiece. October 18, 2007

classic

2.5 hours flies by when you watch this movie. It really keeps your attention. Good actors, good acting and a true story to boot. Well worth the $ and the time to watch July 10, 2007

Birdman of Alcatraz

Based on the book by Tom Gaddis, who first told Stroud's remarkable story to the world, this involving tale of a caustic, antisocial man whose prison cell becomes a veritable bird sanctuary is beautifully directed by Frankenheimer. Lancaster's brooding, restrained performance steers clear of gushing sentiment, earning him an Oscar nod. Malden is excellent, too, as the peeved warden who makes it his duty to "punish" Stroud--and who gets his chance when the birdman gets transferred to "the Rock." Oscar nominees Thelma Ritter (as Harvey's mom) and Telly Savalas (as fellow inmate Feto Gomez) raise the film a notch with colorful supporting work. This "Birdman" flies high. June 27, 2007

oh if i had the wings of a canary over these prison walls i would fly ...

poor burt lancaster had just won an oscar 2 years before, and he was running up against gregory peck, peter o'toole, marcello mastroianni, and jack lemmon (robert preston in "music man" wasnt even nominated!) so truth be told he really had no chance of winning in this marvelous semi-accurate biopic of murderer-turned-ornithologist robert stroud. while the movie takes considerable liberties with the facts (stroud was much more an SOB than the sympathetic character lancaster portrays) it is on its own terms an eloquent argument for fairness -- even for those barely meriting same. strong supporting performances from karl malden, thelma ritter, and the still-hairy-headed telly savalas. good picture. March 30, 2007

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