Birdman of Alcatraz

Birdman of Alcatraz, 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.

STARS: Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden, Thelma Ritter

147 min | Biography, crime, Drama | 1962 | Color

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The great Burt Lancaster in perhaps his greatest performance!
It's hard to believe, but I think that Burt Lancaster is an underrated actor! I think he was more known for his classic movie star looks and athleticism more so than for his acting prowess. But yet he is one of the more honored actors in film history (four Best Actor nominations, including this film, and a win for ELMER GANTRY in 1960). Strange, but I really think he's not considered among the all time greats, but he should be. He was amazingly versatile: he did films of all genres (Westerns, film noir, historical drama, political thriller, biopic) and he did them all well. He's really one of the most watchable actors in all of film history. And his greatest accomplishment may just be in this film, THE BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ.
Try to find a false note in Lancaster's performance, here! You can't! Lancaster plays convicted murderer Robert Stroud, sentenced to life imprisonment in solitary confinement in the early 20th century. Stroud really did exist. To cope, deal with, and exist, Stroud became a bird expert, perhaps the best in the world. He created his own aviary and learned how to care for and treat all kinds of birds. He wrote books on the subject and was world-renowned and honored for his accomplishments, all the time being in prison. While the film may embellish Stroud's character, that is irrelevant to me, because I find it one of the most inspirational biopics I've ever seen. It may be the best biopic ever! You would think a prison movie would be boring, but BIRDMAN is not even close to that. Why? Character, baby! Character! And Lancaster exudes character! He makes you care for and understand Stroud, at least his version of him. This is a full-blooded performance. No tricks, no gimmicks, no over-the-top antics. It makes me feel good to know that Lancaster received Best Actor nom for this great performance, b/c he plays a REAL person, regardless of the cinematic liberties taken.
I can watch a film like this a lot easier than any of the tedious, Oscar-begging biopics they show nowadays. Why? Again, character! In addition to Lancaster, this film has one of the best casts I've ever seen: Thelma Ritter as Stroud's mom, Neville Brand as his longtime cell block guard, Telly Savalas as his fellow inmate, Betty Field as his nominal wife, and last but not least Karl Malden as Stroud's 2-time warden (once at Leavenworth and last at Alcatraz). All these actors give sterling performances. This is one reason the film holds up so well.
The director John Frankenheimer, who Lancaster worked with a lot, deserves special mention as well. Actors and filmmakers who do biopics nowadays should really take notes of films like BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ. The film is like watching BIOPIC 101. An inspirational, 'true' story, with simplistically brilliant dialogue and true character performances. A real classic!