Birdman of Alcatraz
“Inside the rock called Alcatraz they tried to chain a volcano they called 'The Bird Man'!”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2024-01-29
Top Cast
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Burt Lancaster
Robert Stroud
Karl Malden
Harvey Shoemaker
Thelma Ritter
Elizabeth Stroud
Neville Brand
Bull Ransom
Betty Field
Stella Johnson
Telly Savalas
Feto Gomez
Edmond O'Brien
Tom Gaddis
Hugh Marlowe
Roy Comstock
Whit Bissell
Dr. Ellis
Crahan Denton
Kramer
James Westerfield
Jess Younger
Robert Bailey
Reporter on Dock (uncredited)
Nicky Blair
Inmate (uncredited)
Mushy Callahan
Inmate (uncredited)
James J. Casino
Inmate (uncredited)
Noble 'Kid' Chissell
Inmate (uncredited)
John Indrisano
Inmate (uncredited)
Pete Kellett
Inmate (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Los Angeles, California
Festival / Special Debut
July 4, 1962
Wide Cinema Exhibition
August 1, 2007
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$2.6M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$3.1M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.17x
+$450K net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Frankenheimer
- Screenplay & Story
- Guy Trosper
- Original Score
- Elmer Bernstein
- Original Title
- Birdman of Alcatraz
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 27m
- Production Budget
- $2.6M
- Worldwide Gross
- $3.1M
- Production Studios
- Norma Productions, United Artists
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Frankenheimer
Guy Trosper, Thomas E. Gaddis
Elmer Bernstein
Burnett Guffey, John Alton
Edward Mann
Harold Hecht, Stuart Millar, Guy Trosper
Department Leadership Roster
John Frankenheimer
Director
Guy Trosper
Screenplay
Burnett Guffey
Director of Photography
Stuart Millar
Producer
Elmer Bernstein
Original Music Composer
Edward Mann
Editor
John Alton
Director of Photography
Guy Trosper
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Birdman of Alcatraz.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Birdman of Alcatraz
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Birdman of Alcatraz about?
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.
Who directed Birdman of Alcatraz?
Birdman of Alcatraz was directed by John Frankenheimer.
Who stars in Birdman of Alcatraz?
The principal cast of Birdman of Alcatraz includes Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden, Thelma Ritter, Neville Brand, Betty Field.
When was Birdman of Alcatraz released and how long is it?
Birdman of Alcatraz was released in 1962 with a total runtime of 2h 27m.
What was the box office and production budget of Birdman of Alcatraz?
Birdman of Alcatraz had a reported production budget of $2.6M and grossed $3.1M at the worldwide box office (1.17 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for Birdman of Alcatraz?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Birdman of Alcatraz was composed by Elmer Bernstein.
Is Birdman of Alcatraz based on a book or true story?
Birdman of Alcatraz is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Thomas E. Gaddis".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Birdman of Alcatraz?
Birdman of Alcatraz holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).