Elmer Bernstein’s score for 1962’s Birdman of Alcatraz may well be the composer’s most important score never to have found its way to a commercial release. After nearly 45 years, however, the film music headlines finally can turn to this masterful score and, all hyperbole aside, trumpet a truly historic discovery.
Birdman of Alcatraz was released by United Artists in 1962. The film was directed by John Frankenheimer and starred Burt Lancaster as convicted murderer Robert Stroud. For the film, Lancaster gave one of the most memorable performances of his career.
Birdman of Alcatraz comes from a time that could be quite accurately described as the most important two or three-year period of Elmer Bernstein’s entire 50-plus year career. Birdman, along with The Magnificent Seven, Summer and Smoke, Walk on the Wild Side, To Kill A Mockingbird and The Great Escape, all fall between 1960 and 1963. An astounding run of inspiration and success!
For Birdman of Alcatraz, Bernstein composed a magical score, so subtle, and so delicate that he brought compassion to the character of a convicted murderer and, in one of the best-scored scenes of his entire career, brought a baby bird into the world. Hearing the hour of music that Bernstein composed for this film, assembled together for the very first time, is sure to bring a new appreciation for this important opus.
This CD contains many cues in their complete form that were only heard in abbreviated versions in the film. We’ve also got 11 cues that were not heard in the final cut at all! We couldn’t be more excited about this release and are so pleased to be able to finally offer this landmark score.
The CD cover features artwork by the great and legendary Bob Peak.
Tracklist:01. Main Title
02. The Letters
03. The Courthouse
04. Washington
05. Idleness
06. Flight
07. Bird Cart
08. Canaries Arrive
09. bottle Bath
10. Apology
11. Cage Preparations
12. Cage Building
13. Godfather Feto
14. Runty Returns
15. No Cure
16. Runty Dead
17. Apie Dead
18. Peggy
19. Oldest Enemy
20. Second Prize
21. Partners
22. The Tigress
23. No Parole Fight
24. Stround Drunk
25. Book Montage
26. Transferred
27. To Alacatraz
28. "D" Block
29. Bon Vivant
30. 23 Years
31. The Visitor
32. Saving Face
33. The Parting
34. Riot
35. Transfer Boat
36. Like A Bird
37. To Springfield
38. End Credits
39. The Birdman
