Birdman of Alcatraz poster
Director John Frankenheimer
Screenplay Guy Trosper

Birdman of Alcatraz

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

Release Date: 1962-07-04

Duration: 147 minutes

Synopsis

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.

Casting

  • Telly Savalas
    Feto Gomez
  • Whit Bissell
    Dr. Ellis
  • Betty Field
    Stella Johnson
  • Burt Lancaster
    Robert Stroud
  • Leo Penn
    Eddie Kassellis (uncredited)
  • Edmond O'Brien
    Tom Gaddis
  • Karl Malden
    Harvey Shoemaker
  • James Westerfield
    Jess Younger
  • Len Lesser
    Burns (uncredited)
  • Hugh Marlowe
    Roy Comstock