prison,prisoner,rebel,difficult childhood,human animal relationship,alcatraz prison,ornithology,biography,solitary confinement,warden,birds

Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)

Poster for Birdman of Alcatraz

Inside the rock called Alcatraz they tried to chain a volcano they called 'The Bird Man'!

After killing a prison guard, convict Robert Stroud faces life imprisonment in solitary confinement. Driven nearly mad by loneliness and despair, Stroud's life gains new meaning when he happens upon a helpless baby sparrow in the exercise yard and nurses it back to health. Despite having only a third grade education, Stroud goes on to become a renowned ornithologist and achieves a greater sense of freedom and purpose behind bars than most people find in the outside world.

Cast & Crew

Director
John Frankenheimer
  • Profile picture of Burt Lancaster
    Robert Stroud Burt Lancaster
  • Profile picture of Karl Malden
    Harvey Shoemaker Karl Malden
  • Profile picture of Thelma Ritter
    Elizabeth Stroud Thelma Ritter
  • Profile picture of Neville Brand
    Bull Ransom Neville Brand
  • Profile picture of Betty Field
    Stella Johnson Betty Field
  • Profile picture of Telly Savalas
    Feto Gomez Telly Savalas
  • Profile picture of Edmond O'Brien
    Tom Gaddis Edmond O'Brien
  • Profile picture of Hugh Marlowe
    Roy Comstock Hugh Marlowe

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Keywords

  • prison
  • prisoner
  • rebel
  • difficult childhood
  • human animal relationship
  • alcatraz prison
  • ornithology
  • biography
  • solitary confinement
  • warden
  • birds