Birdman of Alcatraz
“Inside the rock called Alcatraz they tried to chain a volcano they called 'The Bird Man'!”
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.
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Cast
50 people
Burt Lancaster
Robert Stroud
Known for
The Leopard
From Here to Eternity
Karl Malden
Harvey Shoemaker
Known for
Patton
On the Waterfront
Thelma Ritter
Elizabeth Stroud
Known for
Rear Window
All About Eve
Neville Brand
Bull Ransom
Known for
Eaten Alive
Riot in Cell Block 11
Betty Field
Stella Johnson
Known for
Bus Stop
Coogan's Bluff
Telly Savalas
Feto Gomez
Known for
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Kelly's Heroes
Edmond O'Brien
Tom Gaddis
Known for
The Killers
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Hugh Marlowe
Roy Comstock
Known for
All About Eve
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Whit Bissell
Dr. Ellis
Known for
The Time Tunnel
The Time Machine
Crahan Denton
Kramer
Known for
To Kill a Mockingbird
Hud
James Westerfield
Jess Younger
Known for
On the Waterfront
Hang 'em High
Robert Bailey
Reporter on Dock (uncredited)
Known for
The Lineup
John Frankenheimer Director · Guy Trosper Screenplay Thomas E. Gaddis Author
Worldwide gross $3.1M · Budget $2.6M · United States release July 4, 1962
Box office
Budget
$2,650,000
Worldwide gross
$3,100,000
Gross vs. budget
1.2×
Production
Norma Productions
Production
United Artists
Production
United Artists Pictures
Studio
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
United States · July 3, 1962
Premiere · Los Angeles, California
United States · July 4, 1962
Theatrical
Finland
October 18, 1962 · Theatrical
France
October 1, 1962 · Theatrical
September 28, 2026 · TV · Arte
Germany
October 1, 1962 · Theatrical
September 28, 2026 · TV · Arte
Italy
August 31, 1962 · Theatrical
Japan
September 25, 1962 · Theatrical
Netherlands
August 1, 2007 · Physical · DVD
United Kingdom
August 30, 1962 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.