Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Sexyloutak Absolutely the worst movie.

Jonah Abbott There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

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-

grantss Interesting and often heartwarming true story. A convicted double-murderer finds solace and peace through caring for birds in his prison cell. Well directed by John Frankenheimer: good use of camera angles to convey the isolation, and subsequent changes to the Birdman. Only negatives are that the story is quite linear, and a bit long-winded.Good performance by Burt Lancaster in the lead role, a performance for which he received an Oscar nomination. Telly Savalas and Thelma Ritter received Best Supporting Actor/Actress Oscar nominations for their performances. Good performance too from Karl Malden as the warden.

jjnxn-1 Sincere drama that poses some interesting questions about what constitutes rehabilitation. Famous story, perhaps more so when the film was made but still in the public consciousness today, of convicted killer Robert Stroud sentenced to life imprisonment in solitary confinement who discovers any affinity for birds and their care. Simple enough it would seem but the meat of the story comes about when the penal system's rigid code of what it sees as rehabilitation and Stroud's abilities conflict. The powers that be fail to recognize that in his way Stroud, apparently an extremely intelligent man who educated himself in various sciences, has rehabilitated himself by becoming a productive person in the cures he invents that help thousands of animals and their owners. Because it doesn't fit into the establishment's narrow view of how to be properly mainlined his work is stopped, benefiting no one. It's extremely frustrating to watch and raises several questions. Is Stroud a model citizen? No. Is he fit to mix with the prison population let alone the public at large? Probably not. Is he making a valuable contribution? He most certainly is. Are the men in charge of redeeming him shortsighted and wrong? You bet. Does the film make a strong case for looking at the individual versus the group dynamic? Indeed it does.Wonderful performances all around. Burt Lancaster is very strong in the lead conveying Stroud violent tendencies as well as his more cerebral side convincingly. Karl Malden also does well as the warden who can't see any other way but his way. Betty Field mixes just the right amounts of sadness and warmth as Burt's initial partner and eventual wife. Then there's Thelma Ritter as Stroud's complicated mother and fiercest champion with whom he had an odd relationship until a breach came between them. The actress was Oscar nominated, as was Burt, for her work and while she is as always solid the role isn't really nomination worthy. A fine film with an intriguing story. A trifle long but well worth seeking out.

ramonhleigh When I first saw this film I thought that Lancaster had done a very good job. Unfortunately, I then read up on the man the movie had practically immortalized and realized I'd been had. Again. I lost a lot of respect for Lancaster after that. Apparently the only way a story can turn out the way Hollywood wants is to simply manufacture it. Of all the historical films that I've seen whose events I am familiar with, the only one that I can honestly say was accurate was The Longest Day. As for the other reviewers who somehow find deep meaning in what, for all intents and purposes, seems to be some sort of religious or propagandistic morality play, well, I didn't discern any deep thinking floating around the cell block.