Friday, June 28, 2013

Birdman of Alcatraz 1962

Birdman of Alcatraz     Based on the true story of Robert Stroud, he served a life sentence in prison.  He was sent to a penitentiary to serve 12 years on Puget Sound’s McNeil Island for killing a man in 1909 who was beating up a woman.  Because he was so violent, he was moved to Leavenworth Kansas in 1912.   He was there only six months when he killed a guard.  He was supposed to be hanged but his mother intervened through Edith Bolling Wilson, the wife of President Woodrow Wilson.  His sentence was changed to a life sentence in solitary confinement.  While in Leavenworth, he became interested in birds and he started raising and caring for them to fill his time.  He was transferred to Alcatraz in 1942.
     This is very good, the birds change a man so hard that nothing can reach into his protected core.  The birds are innocent and needy plus they don’t ever judge their caretaker.  I have a feeling that the real Robert Stroud was nothing like the man portrayed by Burt Lancaster.  4* (I really liked this movie)

147 min, Drama directed by John Frankenheimer with Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden, Thelma Ritter, Neville Brand, Betty Field, Telly Savalas.

Note:  Blockbuster 3 ½*, imdb 7.8 out of 10, 82% critic 79% audience on Rotten Tomatoes.

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