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    Birdman of Alcatraz

    Reviewed by
    pietroantoni@

    This is quite an extraordinary film by the late John Frankenheimer aside the fact that at two and a half hours it is really a bit too long. The real life story of Robert Stroud has become a work of art from several points of view: the script, B + W photography, the direction and then, of course, the Lancaster performance which is more than brilliant, a passionate, admirable documentation of his life's work with birds and diseases relating to birds. Frankenheimer is such a great director that I was not at all surprised at the real punch he gave us in this movie. The character studies are so brilliant including the inter-personal relationships of these people who did indeed exist. For example, the constant tension and mistrust with Warden (Karl Malden) and prisoner is a real enigma as Stroud was a pretty model inmate. Stroud's relationship with his mother is a very strong bond that nothing can seem to shake. However, Stroud's falling in love turns a mother (Thelma Ritter) totally against her son in every way, becoming embittered and betrayed. These ideas WON'T alter the film goer's enjoyment of the movie as I am not relating the very intricate plot line. Burt Lancaster in a brilliant Lead Actor Oscar Nomination is joined by masterful Karl Malden and Thelma Ritter in dazzling performances that earned each Supporting Oscar Nominations. This is a true life life story of unimaginable consequences that one absolutely must see. One of the very great films of 1962 or for that matter, the entire 1960's.

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    pietroantoni@  16.3.2015 age: 36-49 14,540 reviews

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