BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ (DVD/WS-1.66/UA/AFI O-RING/SENSORMATIC) DVD

Birdman of Alcatraz
In this film based on a true story, Burt Lancaster plays Robert Stroud, a withdrawn prison inmate who cures a sick bird that flies into his cell and eventually becomes a world-renowned ornithologist -- all while serving a life sentence. An overbearing warden (Karl Malden) eventually transfers Stroud to the notoriously brutal prison on Alcatraz, but he is able to continue his research, abort a riot, start a romance, and eventually get his story out through a determined reporter (Edmond O'Brien). Directed with his usual solid craftsmanship by John Frankenheimer, Birdman Of Alcatraz tells a quietly moving tale for which Lancaster, Telly Savalas (as one of Stroud's fellow inmates), and Thelma Ritter (as Stroud's mother) all received Oscar nominations. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide

Cast Burt Lancaster as Robert Stroud Karl Malden as Harvey Shoemaker Thelma Ritter as Elizabeth Stroud Neville Brand as Bull Ransom Telly Savalas as Feto Gomez Betty Field as Stella Johnson Edmond O'Brien as Tom Gaddis Hugh Marlowe as Roy Comstock Whit Bissell as Dr. Ellis Graham Denton as Kramer James Westerfield as Jess Younger

Crew John Frankenheimer - Director Edward Mann - Editor Elmer Bernstein - Composer (Music Score) Burnett Guffey - Cinematographer Guy Troper - Producer Stuart Millar - Producer Harold Hecht - Producer George Cooper - Sound/Sound Designer Guy Troper - Screenwriter Thomas E. Gaddis - Book Author

Birdman of Alcatraz
Burt Lancaster sits comfortably in his manly yet sensitive mode as Robert Stroud, and director John Frankenheimer gives him an easy road to absolution. The film manages to stay interesting despite being locked for the most part inside a jail cell. In what has to be his best movie role (outside of perhaps The Dirty Dozen), Telly Savalas brings a lot to the proceedings as a jail mate of Stroud's. Thelma Ritter, a consistently underrated character actress, is also notable as Stroud's mother. As Hollywood went through a significant transition in the mid-Sixties, Frankenheimer helped to reshape the action-thriller genre with a string of exciting, intelligent, and successful movies with a distinct political awareness: The Manchurian Candidate, Seven Days in May, The Train, Seconds, and The Fixer were all made in a six-year period after The Birdman from Alcatraz. ~ Brendon Hanley, All Movie Guide
 

Burnett Guffey: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Black and White Cinematography (nominated) Burt Lancaster: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Actor (nominated) Burt Lancaster: British Academy of Film and Television, Best Foreign Actor (winner) Burt Lancaster: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama (nominated) Burt Lancaster: Venice International Film Festival, Volpi Cup for Best Actor (winner) John Frankenheimer: Directors Guild of America, Best Director (nominated) Telly Savalas: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (nominated) Telly Savalas: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic (nominated) Thelma Ritter: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Supporting Actress (nominated)

National Board of Review, Best Picture (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: French, Spanish Sound Processing: 1: PCM mono Additional Features: Original theatrical trailer English: mono French and Spanish subtitles DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1: Vistavision MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 149 min Part of Series: Vintage Classics   DVD Chapters: Scene Selections 0. Scene Selections 1. Chapter 1 [3:35] 2. Chapter 2 [8:08] 3. Chapter 3 [14:38] 4. Chapter 4 [9:28] 5. Chapter 5 [14:53] 6. Chapter 6 [4:59] 7. Chapter 7 [2:36] 8. Chapter 8 [8:41] 9. Chapter 9 [11:44] 10. Chapter 10 [3:32] 11. Chapter 11 [6:41] 12. Chapter 12 [7:58] 13. Chapter 13 [7:40] 14. Chapter 14 [7:59] 15. Chapter 15 [3:53] 16. Chapter 16 [7:28]