FrogGlace In other words,this film is a surreal ride.

Suman Roberson It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

Adeel Hail Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

Cristal The movie really just wants to entertain people.

ElMaruecan82 John Frankheimer's "Birdman of Alcatraz" was adapted from the novel of the same name written by Thomas E. Gaddis. The original material was already a fictionalization of the life of Robert Stroud, a convict sentenced for life in solitary confinement in Leavenworth prison due to his rebellious and psychopathic behavior yet, thanks to his predispositions for intelligence, he turns into a self-taught expert on birds and avian pathologies writing many scientific essays and becoming an authority among bird lovers and poultry risers. The film tells the story of this evolution, and one of the most intriguing and captivating premises from any prison movie.So how futile and sterile can all these debates about the accuracy be? Granted the real Stroud wasn't as mild-mannered as Burt Lancaster in the film, although he wasn't the jolliest fellow either, all right, there are some inaccuracies but aren't they all diluted in the richness of a life totally dedicated to birds and living creatures? Isn't it worth enjoying the film for the inspirational lesson of self-made-rehabilitation and conquered dignity? There's so much to appreciate in the story that I fail to see what kind of improvement a 100% accurate movie would have done. And to conclude that parenthesis, I've read the man's biography and the changes are not crucial to the story. The main plot points of his life, so to speak, are all there.And what is remarkable is the slow pacing and the way that slowness conveys most of the excitement. It's the story of a man who's got only time, and at a time where time has become such a luxury, Robert Stroud is almost a wealthy man, because all his intelligence needs is a trigger, a compass to his actions. One of the greatest lines of the film describes the hellish nature of solitary confinement from the certitude of everything that will happen. Since he excitement of life comes from its unpredictability, a man in solitary is a living dead. Stroud's first admirable act will be to get rid of that miserable condition and find something to make his life enjoyable. In a certain way, he reminded me of Andy Dufresne and his passion for rocks, and I guess Dufresne had the stuff to become as respectable a geologist than Stroud a cytologist.Yet unlike Dufresne, Stroud had the time, but not the pressure. So it all started with a little sparrow found from a fallen nest during a stormy night, a bird promised to a certain death if someone didn't feed him. At that time, Stroud had no redeeming qualities, too many Oedipal ties with his mother (Thelma Ritter), misanthropist, constantly questioning the authority of the warden (Karl Malden) and signing his own death warrant by stabbing a guard to death. It's only thanks to the dedication of his mother that he's finally condemned for life sentence. Anyway, the guy is obviously a maniac but even the coldest heart can't just let a poor living creature to her death. Does it contradict his nature as a killer? I guess in a sense, he felt empathy toward the bird as if he was incarnating his own solitude and entrapment, helping the bird would break his routine and save a life, give his life a tiny purpose even for a few days.So, he takes him, stamps on a few insects and give him some parts, the bird grows, then learns to fly, and with the same patience and perseverance, Stroud in a fatherly wisdom encourages the bird to fly, and that's his epiphany. He knows what he's been born for. The rest is history, from one bird, he adopts many other sparrows, canaries, allowing many other inmates to have theirs, including his neighbor Feto (Telly Salavals), he also learns a lesson of courtesy of politeness from the same guard who's been watching him for years without getting one kind word, especially when he's been helping him for building cages and nests. His character evolves and so is his expertise, and his knowledge of the avian world, the movie almost takes a documentary style of directing as we can follow a bird getting from the eggshell and observe the whole process of making the medicine that could finally cure the septicemia that stroke his birds raising. The most surprising thing is that he never gets any money or recognition for his efforts and it's only when he's forced to live his birds and stop his medicine trade that he uses his mother and a supporter for his cause to give him publicity, and allow the legend to be born.The film gets more and more dramatic and while it sometimes serves the narrative, I, for once, appreciate the exchange between Stroud and Shoemaker about the difference of conception of what the judicial system on the true meaning of rehabilitation, and although a bit preachy, the part are well-written and hit a sensitive chord. But I don't understand why they feel the need to insert that battle of Alcatraz that adds nothing whatsoever to the plot, and distracts us from the core of the film. It had the same frustrating effect than watching the final part of "Cast Away" after the mesmerizing middle act where Tom Hanks conquered Nature. Stroud, like Chuck Nolan, was a fascinating character enough not to need any supplementary excuse for thrills.If the "Birdman of Alcatraz" stuck with birds, it would've been perfect, the film is still a remarkable inspiration for everyone to transcend adversity and to sometimes find the true path for their lives, when they think they're in dead-end.

jjnxn-1 Sincere drama that poses some interesting questions about what constitutes rehabilitation. Famous story, perhaps more so when the film was made but still in the public consciousness today, of convicted killer Robert Stroud sentenced to life imprisonment in solitary confinement who discovers any affinity for birds and their care. Simple enough it would seem but the meat of the story comes about when the penal system's rigid code of what it sees as rehabilitation and Stroud's abilities conflict. The powers that be fail to recognize that in his way Stroud, apparently an extremely intelligent man who educated himself in various sciences, has rehabilitated himself by becoming a productive person in the cures he invents that help thousands of animals and their owners. Because it doesn't fit into the establishment's narrow view of how to be properly mainlined his work is stopped, benefiting no one. It's extremely frustrating to watch and raises several questions. Is Stroud a model citizen? No. Is he fit to mix with the prison population let alone the public at large? Probably not. Is he making a valuable contribution? He most certainly is. Are the men in charge of redeeming him shortsighted and wrong? You bet. Does the film make a strong case for looking at the individual versus the group dynamic? Indeed it does.Wonderful performances all around. Burt Lancaster is very strong in the lead conveying Stroud violent tendencies as well as his more cerebral side convincingly. Karl Malden also does well as the warden who can't see any other way but his way. Betty Field mixes just the right amounts of sadness and warmth as Burt's initial partner and eventual wife. Then there's Thelma Ritter as Stroud's complicated mother and fiercest champion with whom he had an odd relationship until a breach came between them. The actress was Oscar nominated, as was Burt, for her work and while she is as always solid the role isn't really nomination worthy. A fine film with an intriguing story. A trifle long but well worth seeking out.

LeonLouisRicci The Director is Well Known for his Social Commentary in Films and is at His Best when Exercising such Personal "Crusades". This is one of His most Popular Movies (but nowhere near his best). Mainly because it is a Reclamation of Redemption Perching Itself on top the Moral High Ground of Rehabilitation versus Capital Punishment.It takes a Goodly Amount of Liberties on the Real Life Robert Stroud, but the Movie is Nothing if not Inspirational. Not much really Happens Outside the Transformation of Killer to a Kinder Gentler Soul except His On-Going Sparring with the Toe-the-Line Warden. The Power of the Movie is how a Third Grade Dropout, with Nothing but Sheer Dedication, could become a World Renowned Ornithology Expert and Bestselling Author.In the Final Act it does have an Attempted Prison Break from Alcatraz, with The Birdman Watching from His Elevated Cage most of the Time. But this seems Tacked On and is of Little Consequence.After being Denied His Feathered Friends at Alcatraz the Prisoner turns His Attention to the History of the Cruel Prison System and even Writes a Book on the Subject that is Confiscated and Suppressed, but not Before Stroud makes a Compelling Speech about it to His Long Time Warden Nemesis, Played by Karl Malden. This again seems to be an Afterthought and not much is made of it.Overall it is a Thoroughly Likable Film, unlike the Real Life Birdman of Alcatraz. From all Reports He was not only a Double Murderer but a Wholly Unlikeable Person.

AaronCapenBanner Burt Lancaster plays Robert Stroud, a violent inmate sent to Leavenworth prison in 1912 for murder, but later kills a prison guard when denied a visit from a relative. He is sentenced to death, but due to his mother lobbying president Woodrow Wilson, has his sentence commuted to life, though warden Harvey Shoemaker(played by Karl Malden) gives Stroud a solitary cell for life, as his own punishment. Stroud takes this stoically, but one day, after helping an injured Sparrow in the outside exercise area, takes it in and helps it back to health, then dedicates his life to the care and study of birds, becoming a foremost authority on the subject, until one day many years later when he is transferred to Alcatraz, and must leave his beloved birds behind.Beautifully directed by John Frankenheimer, engrossing film about Stroud is a bit long, and viewer must keep in mind that Stroud was no saint, but as far as helping birds, and being gentle with nature in a way he could never be with his fellow humans is most interesting, and Lancaster is excellent.