Birdman of Alcatraz
“Inside the rock called Alcatraz they tried to chain a volcano they called 'The Bird Man'!”
John FrankenheimerCast
Burt Lancaster 
Karl Malden 
Thelma Ritter 
Neville Brand 
Betty Field 
Telly Savalas
Credits
Written by: Guy Trosper
Plot
Robert Stroud, a violent prisoner who killed a guard, is sent to solitary confinement for life. In his cell he cares for an injured sparrow, then breeds and studies birds, and becomes a respected authority on their diseases. Burt Lancaster plays Stroud, based on a true story.
Sinekatalog’s take
A slow, serious prison drama carried by Lancaster's controlled performance. It is long, but the quiet obsession with the birds makes it compelling and humane.Sinekatalog’s own editorial review – not a user or critic quote.
Ratings
IMDb: 7.8 / 10 (21,643 votes)
IMDb rating and vote count from the IMDb ratings dataset (October 2026). Scores change over time.