Starring
Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden, Neville Brand, Thelma Ritter, Betty
Field, Telly Savalas, Edmond O'Brien, Whit Bissell, Hugh Marlowe.
Directed by John Frankenheimer (1962/149 min).
Of
the five films Burt Lancaster and director John Frankenheimer
did together, this one is probably the most lauded (though Seven
Days in May is my personal favorite).
For
me, Frankenheimer's best work was during
the early-to-mid sixties, when few directors made better use of black & white than he did. As for
Lancaster...sure, he could play romantic leads and heroic figures in
his sleep, but he was more interesting as a villain or
extremely flawed protagonist (and not always playing with a full deck). One
could say Birdman of Alcatraz was their first perfect union.
 |
| "What I wouldn't give for some dippin' sauce." |
I've
often read Birdman of Alcatraz isn't an accurate portrayal of
Robert Stroud, the infamous inmate sentenced to life in
solitary confinement who found his calling in life by raising birds
and becoming the world's foremost expert. The real Stroud,
while quite brilliant, remained violently dangerous his whole life.
Frankly,
I don't care about the real Stroud, and I doubt anyone involved in the film's production
did either.
 |
| "Who loves ya, birdy?" |
Besides,
Lancaster doesn't portray the man as a saint. Stroud deserves to be
incarcerated and knows it, but his transformation from anti-social
egocentric to empathetic caregiver (to both friends & fowl) is
the heart that gives this story life. But Lancaster &
Frankenheimer aren't all that the film has going for it. The evolution
of the adversarial relationship between Stroud and beleaguered prison
warden Harvey Shoemaker (Karl Malden) is just as engaging - and
important - as Stroud's aviary achievements. So are the few
friendships he develops over the years, such as fellow inmate Feto Gomez
(Telly Savalas, still with hair) and prison
guard Bull Ranson (Neville Brand), the latter of which turns surprisingly poignant.
And
that's what we care about. Stroud's life as a bird keeper is
merely the catalyst for this inspirational journey. Like
the best biographical films, Birdman of Alcatraz wisely picks
and chooses facts in order to create a history that serves its own
dramatic purposes. Featuring one of Lancaster's best, most-nuanced
mid-career performances, the movie is a classic that belongs on every
serious fan's shelf. It was released on Blu-Ray before in 2014 as a Twilight Time limited edition with a much steeper price tag.
This new release (from Olive Films) is skimpier on bonus features,
but the picture & sound quality remain terrific.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
AUDIO
COMMENTARY - By Kate Buford, author of Burt Lancaster: An American
Life
TRAILER
KITTY CONSENSUS:
MEE-OW! LIKE BEING TURNED LOOSE IN A BIRD SANCTUARY
(OR BOB STROUD'S CELL)
No comments:
Post a Comment