Burt Lancaster plays Robert Stroud, a violent inmate sent to Leavenworth prison in 1912 for murder, but later kills a prison guard when denied a visit from a relative. He is sentenced to death, but due to his mother lobbying president Woodrow Wilson, has his sentence commuted to life, though warden Harvey Shoemaker(played by Karl Malden) gives Stroud a solitary cell for life, as his own punishment. Stroud takes this stoically, but one day, after helping an injured Sparrow in the outside exercise area, takes it in and helps it back to health, then dedicates his life to the care and study of birds, becoming a foremost authority on the subject, until one day many years later when he is transferred to Alcatraz, and must leave his beloved birds behind.
Beautifully directed by John Frankenheimer, engrossing film about Stroud is a bit long, and viewer must keep in mind that Stroud was no saint, but as far as helping birds, and being gentle with nature in a way he could never be with his fellow humans is most interesting, and Lancaster is excellent.
Beautifully directed by John Frankenheimer, engrossing film about Stroud is a bit long, and viewer must keep in mind that Stroud was no saint, but as far as helping birds, and being gentle with nature in a way he could never be with his fellow humans is most interesting, and Lancaster is excellent.