evanston_dad Fascinating biopic about Robert Stroud, a man committed to life in prison who became one of the premier experts and authors in the world of bird diseases.The film has that raggedy visual style common to John Frankenheimer movies, which I like. But the screenplay is straight up inspirational Hollywood stuff about the inherent dignity of human life no matter what the circumstances, not a perspective I particularly share. It's also far too long, losing the thread of Stroud's story a bit along the way. A long segment detailing a famous escape attempt from Alcatraz will satisfy those who like a good prison break movie, but it feels tangential to the main plot and adds a good 20 minutes or so to the movie.Burt Lancaster was a go-to actor for steely resolve, and he reeks of it in this film. Another welcome presence is Thelma Ritter as Stroud's mother, a sweet old lady who turns out to have a heart of ice. Yikes, am I glad I wasn't born into this family. Lancaster and Ritter were both Oscar nominated, as was Telly Savalas as a fellow inmate and friend to Stroud. But one of my favorite performances came from the unrecognized Betty Field, as the woman who would eventually marry the incarcerated Stroud and turn his mother against him.Rounding out the film's quartet of Oscar nominations was the black and white cinematography of Burnett Guffey, who had already won for "From Here to Eternity" and would go on to win again for "Bonnie and Clyde."Aside: With her sixth loss, Thelma Ritter tied Deborah Kerr as the female actor with the most nominations never to have won, a record that stands to this day, though Kerr did win an honorary award in 1993. The all-time loser record goes to poor Peter O'Toole, with eight losses. O'Toole was also thrown an honorary bone in 2002, but lord knows he should have won legitimately any number of times.Grade: A-

rodrig58 What a story! What interpretative performances! Burt Lancaster is better than in any other film. Karl Malden the same. And Telly Savalas is a super delight. All three are competing themselves. A true masterpiece of director John Frankenheimer. And Neville Brand, Thelma Ritter, Betty Field, Edmond O'Brien, Whit Bissell, all are excellent. Movies with action in prison they have something special and this one has a very special charm. The scene after Harvey Shoemaker (Karl Malden) finds the manuscript of Robert Franklin Stroud's (Burt Lancaster) is the most important, what Stroud says to Shoemaker is the quintessential injustice in all prisons of the world.

SnoopyStyle In 1912, convicted murderer Robert Stroud (Burt Lancaster) is transported to Leavenworth Prison. He breaks a train window and immediately gets on the wrong side of warden Shoemaker (Karl Malden). When a guard costs him a visit from his mother, he stabs and kills the guard. After 3 separate trials, he is sentenced to hang. His mother intervenes and President Wilson commutes his sentence to life. Warden Shoemaker keeps Stroud in solitary. He raises a bird found in the yard. Shoemaker is transferred and the new warden gives him permission. The other inmates start getting canaries. Feto Gomez (Telly Savalas) is his neighbor. When his birds get sick, he works to formulate the right cure. Then fellow bird lover Stella Johnson comes and they form a partnership in selling his cure. New directives ban pets and businesses. To gin up more publicity, Bob marries Stella. Shoemaker and the system relents but his mother wants him to end his marriage. He ends up writing a scientific book on birds. In the middle of the night, Bob is transfered to Alcatraz with only the shirt on his back leaving behind his birds. Shoemaker is his warden once again as he is put in solitary there.It's a compelling story but may be not that real. The movie is playing up the nice guy angle. It might be more compelling and possibly more real to play up his anger. Burt Lancaster is more than capable of that. That would have been much more interesting. The character growth and inner turmoil seems to be a better way to go with the material.

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.