{"id":41294,"date":"2018-10-27T00:24:28","date_gmt":"2018-10-27T07:24:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=41294"},"modified":"2022-05-18T23:32:53","modified_gmt":"2022-05-19T06:32:53","slug":"birdman-of-alcatraz-1962","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=41294","title":{"rendered":"Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Even a convict&#8217;s got a right to breathe.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-of-Alcatraz-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-of-Alcatraz-Poster-199x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-41296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-of-Alcatraz-Poster-199x300.png 199w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-of-Alcatraz-Poster-85x128.png 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-of-Alcatraz-Poster-768x1158.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-of-Alcatraz-Poster-679x1024.png 679w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-of-Alcatraz-Poster.png 839w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nAgainst the wishes of his prison warden (Karl Malden), a convicted killer (Burt Lancaster) at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary &#8212; whose domineering mother (Thelma Ritter) has negotiated a life sentence for him rather than hanging &#8212; begins raising canaries in his cell and becomes a renowned expert in ornithology. Eventually he marries a woman (Betty Field) he meets through his bird research, and life seems to be looking up &#8212; until resentful Malden has him transferred to Alcatraz, without his birds.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Betty Field Films<\/li>\n<li>Biopics<\/li>\n<li>Burt Lancaster Films<\/li>\n<li>Character Arc<\/li>\n<li>Hugh Marlowe Films<\/li>\n<li>John Frankenheimer Films<\/li>\n<li>Karl Malden Films<\/li>\n<li>Neville Brand Films<\/li>\n<li>Prisoners<\/li>\n<li>Telly Savalas Films<\/li>\n<li>Thelma Ritter Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis highly fictionalized biopic about sociopathic but industrial prisoner <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Robert_Stroud\">Robert Stroud<\/a> (whose life story was memorialized in a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thomas_E._Gaddis\">1955 book by Thomas Gaddis<\/a>) remains an absorbing, well-acted film about a man who &#8212; cinematically, at least &#8212; recovered his sense of humanity within the most abject of conditions by connecting with birds. Thankfully, Lancaster&#8217;s initial crimes and temperament aren&#8217;t sugar-coated: the rationale behind Malden&#8217;s determination to keep him isolated for the rest of his life makes logical sense. While Malden is ultimately posited as an inflexible and grudge-holding baddie, Lancaster is no saint either; rather, he&#8217;s a weary and pragmatic man who comes to understand the inevitability of his situation. A surprisingly hard-hitting narrative moment occurs midway through the film, when details of Ritter&#8217;s character are revealed and Lancaster&#8217;s history (posited here as stemming at least in part from his &#8220;momma issues&#8221;) is brought to light; he&#8217;s forced to make a challenging choice, and &#8220;does the right thing&#8221;. Watch for Telly Savalas in a small but notable role as Lancaster&#8217;s next-door cellmate; Neville Brand playing against type in a wonderfully modulated turn as Lancaster&#8217;s long-time guard; and Field&#8217;s honorable performance as the woman who unknowingly threaten&#8217;s Ritter&#8217;s dominance over Lancaster. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Burt Lancaster as Robert Stroud<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Lancaster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Lancaster.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"368\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-41299\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Lancaster.png 608w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Lancaster-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Lancaster-300x182.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine supporting performances across the board<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Brand.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Brand.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"368\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-41302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Brand.png 608w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Brand-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Brand-300x182.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Savalas.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Savalas.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"368\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-41301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Savalas.png 608w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Savalas-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Savalas-300x182.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Ritter.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Ritter.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"368\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-41300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Ritter.png 608w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Ritter-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Ritter-300x182.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Field.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Field.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"368\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-41298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Field.png 608w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Field-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Field-300x182.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Burnett Guffey&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"368\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-41303\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Cinematography.png 608w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Cinematography-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Cinematography-300x182.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Cinematography2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"608\" height=\"368\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-41304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Cinematography2.png 608w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Cinematography2-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Birdman-Cinematography2-300x182.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Elmer Bernstein&#8217;s score\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as an engaging and well-made drama. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0055798\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/reviews\/66932\/birdman-of-alcatraz\/\">DVD Talk Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1962\/07\/19\/archives\/the-screen-birdman-of-alcatrazburt-lancaster-stars-in-role-of.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=11935&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tcm.com\/this-month\/article\/21846%7C0\/Birdman-Of-Alcatraz.html\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s4670bird.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Even a convict&#8217;s got a right to breathe.&#8221; Synopsis: Against the wishes of his prison warden (Karl Malden), a convicted killer (Burt Lancaster) at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary &#8212; whose domineering mother (Thelma Ritter) has negotiated a life sentence for him rather than hanging &#8212; begins raising canaries in his cell and becomes a renowned expert in ornithology. Eventually he marries a woman (Betty Field) he meets through his bird research, and life seems to be looking up &#8212; until resentful&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=41294\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41294","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41294","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41294"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41294\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84238,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41294\/revisions\/84238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}