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Birdman of Alcatraz

Play trailer Poster for Birdman of Alcatraz Released Jul 3, 1962 2h 28m Biography Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Sentenced to life in solitary confinement after killing a prison guard, despondent inmate Robert Stroud (Burt Lancaster) combats loneliness and tedium by nursing an ailing bird back to health. Stroud develops an interest in caring for birds and becomes a talented ornithologist. After publishing a book on bird diseases from jail, he meets and marries Stella (Betty Field), a fellow bird enthusiast. When Stroud is suddenly moved to Alcatraz, though, his marriage and work are both threatened.
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Birdman of Alcatraz

Critics Reviews

View All (24) Critics Reviews
A.H. Weiler New York Times Birdman of Alcatraz avoids the norm and has been fashioned with subtlety and care for characterization that is memorable and refreshing. May 9, 2005 Full Review Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: 4/5 Aug 1, 2002 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand [Burt] Lancaster delivers an angry, brooding performance as real life criminal Robert Stroud, a violent killer who developed into an internationally recognized authority on birds and their diseases while in solitary confinement. Sep 14, 2024 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Burt Lancaster goes from coiled tension in the first half of this exemplary motion picture to beatific acceptance during the second part. Rated: 3.5/4 Aug 31, 2021 Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Burt Lancaster plays the role with a newfound subtlety and restraint. Oct 11, 2019 Full Review Dwight MacDonald Esquire Magazine The drama of his gradually converting his cell into a laboratory for the study of bird diseases is sure-fire material and Mr. Frankenheimer does justice to it; but it tails off at end into more prison melodrama. Aug 1, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (242) audience reviews
Gerry M Really well portrayed story - not sure how accurate this is to original story. As a standalone movie, one to watch. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/01/24 Full Review david l Birdman of Alcatraz is very well written in its dialogue and superbly acted by its talented cast with Burt Lancaster being excellent in the important main role. The movie is also beautifully shot, well directed and solidly scripted. My issue here lies in the slow pace, an overly fictionalized take on this real life story and an extremely bloated runtime, especially so for what is essentially a character study. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Birdman of Alcatraz sets up a fantastic story about an inmate who falls in love with the studies of birds. From the view of a murderer, this tale is an inspiring journey of kindness and forgiveness. This movie is great for anyone looking for a good drama to watch in their free time. Robert Stroud portrays an inmate exceptionally well and really draws out all the right emotions at all the right times. The filming has amazing cinematography, and mixed with the music leads to a gut-wrenching story that will leave you questioning many aspects of life. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Wonderfully entertaining. But despite the raves for Lancaster, he is one of the main problems with it. Why does Lancaster always get himself in these movies playing withdrawn men, when the last thing he’s going to do is be withdrawn? He always pops into Lancasterisms. When he does his speech with the line ‘that don’t mean Billy be Damned’, I just role my eyes and say ‘well, there’s the same thing again’. I still rate it highly though, as an engrossing, very misleading biopic). Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/24/22 Full Review Rich S The truth about Robert Stroud is probably much different than this movie's portrayal of him. Burt Lancaster takes some steps toward showing some hard edges, but the viewer never loses sight that this was a human being who did some very important research -- and had a genuine love for birds. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/21/20 Full Review steve d Not my cup of tea but the acting is great. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Birdman of Alcatraz

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Cast & Crew

Birdman of Alcatraz

Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - Give Her Up Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - Give Her Up 1:51 Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - Going Into Business Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - Going Into Business 2:05 Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - Prison Riot Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - Prison Riot 2:13 Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - Death of a Canary Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - Death of a Canary 2:13 Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - A Convict's Rights Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - A Convict's Rights 2:13 Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - Stupid Bird Tricks Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - Stupid Bird Tricks 2:12 Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - Leaving Alcatraz Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - Leaving Alcatraz 1:57 Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - I Give You My Word Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - I Give You My Word 1:45 Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - Learning to Fly Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - Learning to Fly 2:10 Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - Solitary for Life Birdman of Alcatraz: Official Clip - Solitary for Life 2:13 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Sentenced to life in solitary confinement after killing a prison guard, despondent inmate Robert Stroud (Burt Lancaster) combats loneliness and tedium by nursing an ailing bird back to health. Stroud develops an interest in caring for birds and becomes a talented ornithologist. After publishing a book on bird diseases from jail, he meets and marries Stella (Betty Field), a fellow bird enthusiast. When Stroud is suddenly moved to Alcatraz, though, his marriage and work are both threatened.
Director
John Frankenheimer
Producer
Stuart Millar, Guy Trosper
Screenwriter
Thomas E. Gaddis, Guy Trosper
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Norma
Genre
Biography, Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 3, 1962, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
2h 28m
Sound Mix
Mono
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