Birdman of Alcatraz Movie Review 1962

Robert Stroud, convicted of two murders and sentenced to life imprisonment on the Island, becomes an internationally accepted authority on birds. Lovingly told, with stunning performance from Lancaster, and exceptionally fine work from the supporting cast. The confinement of Stroud's prison cell makes the film seem claustrophobic and tedious at times, just as the imprisonment must have been. Ritter played Stroud's mother, who never stops trying to get him out of prison.

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Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 143 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Birds, Men in Prison, Alcatraz, Only the Lonely

Screenplay

Guy Trosper

Cast

Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden, Thelma Ritter, Betty Field, Neville Brand, Edmond O'Brien, Hugh Marlowe, Telly Savalas

Cinematography

Burnett Guffey, Robert Krasker

Director

John Frankenheimer

Music

Elmer Bernstein

Other

Edward Mann

Producer

United Artists

Awards

British Acad. 1962: Actor (Lancaster).