Burt Lancaster on Meeting The Birdman of Alcatraz | The Dick Cavett Show

[@kamuelalee]

Burt Lancaster was a true gentleman with class, intelligence and artistic integrity. He and his kind are dearly missed.

[@grahamdenman3023]

I'm in full agreement. Burt brought his roles to life.

[@nicholassgouros8612]

There was nobody like him.

[@steveperry1344]

a real movie star.

[@FrankIsAlwaysRight]

He was also great dancer…he could dance the pants off Churchill.

[@johnrogan9420]

Rock Hudson and he were close friends.

[@nathanwhite2129]

A towering figure of not just true manhood and supreme acting ability but a very insightful, intelligent and eloquent man, few like him exist today.

[@BeauDare-ov7py]

I had the pleasure of corrosponding with Burt Lancaster when I worked in Hollywood as an actor/ screenwriter and he was a joy to behold. Thoughtful, intelligent and had this wonderful way of including you in his life. A true gentleman and a unique human being.

[@robertwilson123]

I never ever saw a bad Burt Lancaster film, always intelligent and feeling... He commanded the screen with his presence.. Always unmissable.

[@SpeegBJ]

100% unmissable roles and films. A natural and major talent.

[@stevehinnenkamp5625]

What a sensational interview! Unlike anything today. Of course we don't have stars like Burt Lancaster, or interviewers like Dick Cavitt to bring out the inspiring humanity of Hollywood's most charismatic actors. A gem of a find! Thank you.

[@judex3226]

What a guy. A great actor, and a genuine Hollywood legend

[@lovetitleist69]

And an atheist to his last dying breath. How sad.

[@nicolasbouyiouclis4726]

​@@lovetitleist69I'll guess he way smarter than you I suppose.... he didn't believe in BS like you do...

[@user-nq9gz4xf7f]

Burt Lancaster, i will always remember him for a haunting role he had in The Swimmer, someone who seems to have it all, and it is slipping away imperceptively, wonderful film.

[@claudiocorleone7856]

Absolutely haunting indeed! Burt made really good movies. He also produced many very good movies.

[@kennethbrady]

Love that movie. Check him out (if you haven't) in The Leopard.

[@LPJack02]

RIP Burt Lancaster (November 2, 1913 - October 20, 1994), aged 80 You will be remembered as a legend.

[@paulkitt2376]

Burt Lancaster an impressive individual expresses himself so eloquently and intelligently that it's hard not to agree with him.

[@jamesdrynan]

Lancaster was one of the big stars of Hollywood. An eloquent actor. His perspective on various incidents is very articulate.

[@ronmackinnon9374]

Just the way he contrasts theater and film acting in this interview -- articulate is right.

[@MTMF.london]

They don't make stars like them anymore. The big stars of the Hollywood heydays were not just actors, a lot of them concerned themselves with the human conditions and politics of the day. The "stars" of today are mostly shallow and superficial, happy to shill their films or have a side-hustle, making millions in the "wellness" industry. Of course, they do pay lip service to whatever is the "woke" agenda of the day but never really care to get their hands dirty.

[@melodicman3032]

What a man. No one like him. Articulate, educated, handsome, well spoken, a brilliant actor on all fronts.

[@rogerzotti1]

Well said ...

[@KingKenny.]

His humble warm intelligence shone through ! What a legend !

[@Io-Io-Io]

He was physically very strong, tall and at the same time very empathetic with others. That's rather rare. Fascinating character

[@gringochucha]

I don't think it's that rare, to be honest. I've met a lot of "gentle giants" in my life. To be fair though, Lancaster was also famous for having a fiery temper. Human beings are complex things...

[@lovetitleist69]

And an atheist to the end. Sad.

[@gringochucha]

@@lovetitleist69 You mean he wasn't deluded. Doesn't seem sad to me.

[@mickeyh1961]

​@@gringochucha there are many forms of delusion Atheism amongst them

[@gringochucha]

@@mickeyh1961 Yeah, not imagining there are magical fairies in the sky is equally deluded as imagining them. Right.

[@chanang453]

The Rainmaker , Elmer Gantry , Birdman of Alcatraz were classic performances of his. Loved Burt Lancaster movies

[@robertp7209]

The Train 🤷🏼

[@h.calvert3165]

From Here to Eternity, too! 🌊

[@robertp7209]

8 days in May. 👍

[@robertp7209]

Rub silent run deep 💪.

[@dbarker7794]

Brute Force Atlantic City

[@jimtruscott5670]

For my money one of the true GREATEST greats of twentieth century movies.

[@SpeegBJ]

You said it!

[@railwaystationmaster]

What a fantastic bloke , powerful good looking intelligent a true legend of the silver screen .

[@seadog2396]

Burt Lancaster - A talented, handsome, strong and warm-hearted individual who just radiated confidence, intelligence, worldliness and wisdom. Very Talented. We need more like him....

[@MTMF.london]

Don't hold your breath. They don't make men like him anymore.

[@nicolasbouyiouclis4726]

What an Icon of an actor and a gentleman !

[@torontoross]

Dignified, charming, a gentleman. Just love watching and listening to him. A natural class act.

[@nataliacaetano6326]

I love his voice...😍

[@melissamell1785]

WHAT A VOICE!

[@jeffsilverman6104]

An interesting, shy but open man filled with talent and natural charm. I would've liked to hung out and had a beer with Burt. Old time class, is what he was.

[@jerrylevi8269]

Love these type of interactions. You watch Kimmel or Fallon or anyone else and it’s all entertainment, pomp and in your face based around humor and sarcasm. They’d never let a guest get so articulate because our attention spans aren’t weren’t they were in those days. It’s very indicative of how we’ve come as a society. Zero conversational skills and limited vocabularies that rarely delve into the human condition…

[@duderama6750]

Those guys are performers. Second rate at that. Dick Cavett was always just Dick Cavett.

[@JeffKellyMedia]

In Agreement 100%

[@zorkwork3841]

When television was intelligent.

[@JohnC-er3rg]

Yes it’s not all staged of questions and answers it’s a conversation. It achieves the same of promoting the movie or record but it gets there through an intelligent conversation and not a stupid gag

[@MTMF.london]

@@duderama6750 One of the consummate talk-show hosts of all time - intelligent, articulate, funny, knows his subjects and doesn't take himself seriously.

[@janiegolden5338]

Nice talk with my favorite actor. I wish he did more interviews or a sit down with fans in a theater like Cary Grant did.

[@zovalentine7305]

I went to elementary school w/his son. Rest in powerful peace Burt Lancaster 🙏 2 November 1913 ~ 10 October 1994⚘

[@at_brunch3852]

🌹✨♥️🇨🇦 my favourite actor. Thank you.

[@frankporter6169]

@@at_brunch3852 Mine too.

[@waynej2608]

Was he Bill Lancaster, the screenplay writer? I believe he wrote the original Bad New Bears. Cool.

[@ronmackinnon9374]

@@waynej2608 If it's Bill they're talking about, he also appeared in of one of Burt's films (credited as William Lancaster) -- 'The Midnight Man,' 1974.

[@h.calvert3165]

@@waynej2608 He wrote John Carpenter's The Thing, too. 👾

[@Confused_Philosopher]

Never realizec to this moment just how eloquent and intelligent Burt lancaster was. I loved his work and now repect also his humanity and insights.

[@zorkwork3841]

Always loved Burt..great actor..very complex and intelligent man.

[@janmargaret7972]

What a lovely man and he had such an endearing smile.

[@andrewmacdonald4833]

I could listen to these guys for hours...Dick was a wonderful host..

[@maggielarson5472]

What a classy beautiful man, intelligent and wise. Just a joy to listen to him speak.

[@chemicalbrother7613]

To me, Burt Lancaster is up there with Paul Newman as a true star, actor, and genuine human.

[@marsazorean62]

No kidding.

[@janetmccoy7945]

No disrespect to Newman, but comparing him to Burt Lancaster is like comparing man to child.

[@2hereyez]

My childhood hero growing up in Middle East,. I remember back then in the 60s during the golden age of Hollywood , great memorable films were a treat for children and became part of the culture and childhood memories. We could easily identify with them like other kids around the world I guess. Cinema had a world of its own. It had so much meaning and impact. I'm glad I lived through those times and not the time of Netflix and youttube like now, to see those movies including Western ones with legendary actors like Burt Lancaster.

[@robertnicholls8222]

Really insightful interview. Burt comes across as thoughtful, intelligent and modest. A great actor and a good man.

[@koo7an]

Such an iconic,endearing, gentleman.Gone but never forgotten.Bravo!

[@zovalentine7305]

Fascinating questions, equally fascinating answers. Thank you!

[@RussMcClay]

GREAT! There are so few interviews with Burt Lancaster. Thank you. 😊

[@ZulcanPrime]

You can tell Burt is an authentic person who doesn't hide under a mask when interviewed. A man of great integrity and a great actor too. Something that is very rare in this acting world today and missing in Hollywood too.

[@elizabethgalligan1805]

What a great actor and Gentleman!😊

[@frankporter6169]

Underrated as an actor and human being. One of the best ever. God Bless you.

[@movid]

😮😅😊😂... there's always an idi*t who has nothing to say and comes up with the famous 'underrated' comment 🎉😅😅😅 Burt Lancaster was never underrated or overlooked either, he was a major star ⭐⭐ from the 50s to the 70s and later, I grew up in the middle east and he was a ✨ star in Lebanon, Sir.

[@Bigmonk54]

Great actor, humble human being, a class act. Loved him in Field of dreams but his best performance for me was in Twlights last Gleaming, not enough superlatives for this film. One of my all time film heroes.

[@brianfinn4105]

One of my favorite actors. Top shelf

[@JSB1882]

There's few actors that I'll watch in anything. Henry Fonda, Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum and Burt Lancaster.

[@LoyalOpposition]

All amazing. All before my birth. My generation has contribute NOTHING but misery to the world. I also will watch anything with Marlon Brando, Steve McQueen, Mort Sahl, John Cassavetes. There's a great Jimmy Hoffa on Cavett episode.

[@waynej2608]

Those are some of my favorites, too, esp Mitchum. I'd also put Humphrey Bogart on that list. Paul Newman as well, although he came along a few years later.

[@briandubois-gilbert8182]

I’ll add to that list Robert Redford, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino.

[@SpeegBJ]

That's a great lineup of actor choices before your time. I was born in '48, so it's what led the way for me to appreciate. In film and television

[@SpeegBJ]

Robert Mitchum 'Night Of The Lonely Hunter'. Absolutely stunning role.

[@LoyalOpposition]

I wasn't even born, but everything I like (music, movies, comedy) was all made before me.... Please keep uploading this. The people in my groups don't care for the last 40 years of stuff. Those who are serious will eventually find talent.

[@ronmackinnon9374]

I'm older than you (though I would have only been 3 at the time of this interview), and I agree with you.

[@LoyalOpposition]

@@ronmackinnon9374 Odd that I just got this notification! What do you like? Favorite stuff? Might as well exchange...

[@wmorris189]

What a great man he was. A truly exceptional actor, a serious, highly intelligent man with immense charm and humour. Not only were his looks on an Olympian scale his body of work, I think is exceptional. Too many to mention but I’ll go for my three favourites, though he’s always at worst, impressive. The Swimmer, Sweet Smell of Success and the Killers.

[@benfernkay8974]

The Truth is spoken by Lancaster.... a legend in the movies , classy man and his expressions are incredibly stated,, what a great actor, i loved alot of his movies, the BIRDMAN movie i own on DVD and its an incredible story and no one could have portrayed it better, what an actor,,, God bless

[@davidjones1467]

One of the classiest and greatest actors of all time. 🙏☝️🇺🇸

[@SpeegBJ]

Lancaster not only an exquisite actor, but so, so intelligent.

[@stellamal7088]

His integrity was the most extraordinary thing about him i absolutely 💯 loved him

[@tancreddehauteville764]

A man of huge charisma and a wonderful actor. One of the greats.

[@dianepeters8685]

What a beautiful man, inside and out.

[@robandchristheateam5053]

What a beautiful human being

[@wotan10950]

There are so many wonderful things one could say about Lancaster, as an actor, producer, civil rights advocate. But I always marvel at his perfect diction! After Brando made an art form of mumbling, Lancaster never abandoned his commitment to the author’s words. Even in this interview, you can understand every word.

[@qwer123211]

My two favorite films: "Jim Thorpe - All American" and "The Scalphunters", great actor.

[@waynej2608]

Awesome films, esp Jim Thorpe. Mine are Sweet Smell of Success, Brute Force and Atlantic City. He's had so many gems, I think I've seen and enjoyed most, if not all of them. The Train, Seven Day's in May, Local Hero... A one of a kind actor.

[@mark11967AD]

Damn Burt Lancaster was man. Total dignity and masculinity but also total chivalry and charity. Great example of the up side of his amazing generation.

[@rievans57]

...and a great, great actor!

[@eottoe2001]

He was 56 when this was done. He is brilliant Was he an acting teacher? It sounds like a lecture at UCLA. There is a nice ease to him that you don't see in a lot of people. You want to get a couple of beers, give him one, sit on a wall and talks. Magic.

[@DnBclassictunes]

His films were so good. The Train. Is my favourite

[@Jehucurliss2kings]

I just turned this on and I already know what movie he's talking about...I think. Lol. "Valdez Is Coming " was a great great movie. The man could still really move at that age.

[@jeffsmith2022]

A splendid man and actor...

[@kevinkeller-w8w]

he was such a great actor

[@MicheleHuffman-d8c]

He was so great in all of his movies. I loved the Birdman of Alcatraz. He is so gracious speaking about Robert Stroud. I like that he felt him very interesting and felt he didn't get fair treatment with the penal system. He will always be remembered as a class act.

[@patbutler4532]

He was immense as an actor but more importantly his humanity, loved his movies. They don't make them like him anymore!

[@Cefdfsacq]

Gotta love a guy so free of bull. Being an actor was his job. He wanted to be great at his job.

[@DrCrabfingers]

No one laughs like Burt Lancaster! Ha ha ha! He looks totally devoid of physical tension and very at peace...great to see. The Birdman film, made by one of the very great directors John Frankenheimer simply didn't portray the fact that Stroud was a nasty violent psychopath who murdered a number of people and made everyone in the prison very nervous. Perhaps Hollywood didn't want Burt to play a part like that. Love Burt though...there were some real greats around this time...Kirk Douglas, Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston...

[@cinesanti7]

That and apparently, from the post-screening trivia commentary by TCM's Mankiewicz, Lancaster decided to construct the character of Stroud without any research and solely from his imagination

[@stephenclemence5856]

I lost all respect for Lancaster when he portrayed Stroud as he did. In real life Stroud was was described by inmates and guards as “an aggressive homosexual with a bad temper.” He was a murderer, and wrote stories about having sex with children. He was a very sick man, and Lancaster never should have played the role the way he did.

[@massagegarage9261]

Don't know what Robert Stroud was like but Burt Lancaster played the Birdman of Alkatraz with incredible dignity. I saw his performance while still a young child but it has stayed with me throughout my life.

[@leonardbenzies6374]

Three great actors Burt Lancaster,Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis. .....Three great guys.

[@mfrost71w]

The western he mentions he's about to make must be "Lawman", one of my favorites of his

[@markthoele1808]

Burt is one of my all time favorites.

[@kaisersossaa]

7 days in may with him and kirk douglas was an acting powerhouse.

[@user-be2cq4wk5j]

Burt a class act

[@Io-Io-Io]

Good man. Never seen these interviews over here in Europe

[@LoyalOpposition]

America used to have talent.

[@Io-Io-Io]

@@LoyalOpposition America had values and decency

[@photo161]

I am surprised to find Bert Lancaster altogether more attractive a man in this interview than I ever found him to be in film.

[@aimaction7393]

A GREAT ACTOR. THE PORTRAYAL OF THE BIRDMAN FROM ALCATRAZ WAS MAGNIFICENT.

[@charlo8664]

i appreciate Burt Lancaster more after hearing and watching this clip. Very nice.

[@steveperry1344]

two good guys in an insightful discussion.

[@christoph404]

Mr Lancaster is incredibly intelligent and articulate here...nowadays chat shows are strictly 100% for laughs.

[@lucajordan525]

Burt the best

[@peterohalloran5954]

Magnificent in all his movies especially in Elmer gantry classic

[@Bertiesghost]

Thoughtful, intelligent, all round lovely bloke.

[@puma51921]

Love so many of his movies. The train is probably my favorite

[@williamfinnie5005]

what a great man

[@okay5045]

Mr. Lancaster was at the March on Washington. A great activist.

[@iap-ug3oy]

I really miss actors like him these days 2022 …I used to go to the cinema twice a week when I was a young girl …82 now and so called stars are not what they used to be……mores the pity….

[@ged3680]

Good evening from England, UK. I hope you have many more trips to the cinema. Merry Christmas to you. Ged

[@mccypr]

Burt was obviously a bright Man. Thanks! 😎

[@Moondoggy1941]

We had gentlemen who was a retired guard at Alcatraz, he was interviewed by a local paper, and was there when Robert F. Stroud was at Alcatraz he stated that he liked the movie and would NEVER turn his back on Robert.

[@melancholiac]

Burt Lancaster is so intelligent and articulate. The only other actor I have found so impressive in this regard is Peter Ustinov.

[@risatzinberg1170]

What a gentle human ❤️

[@Cola64]

Hawaii misses you Burt , Aloha

[@4jeffinseattle]

my favorite actor and birdman my favorite film

[@BX138]

People weren't sent to Alcatraz because they were sweet guys. I heard Robert Stroud spent almost his entire time on Alcatraz, in solitary, because he was too dangerous to be around other inmates.

[@jeffsilverman6104]

I too always understood him to be full blown violent crazy. Keeping a man segregated especially under the conditions Stroud was kept, you know he was dangerous. I wish Hollywood had told his real story.

[@waynej2608]

Read the book, Birdman, by Jolene Babyak. She was the daughter of a correctional officer on Alcatraz. She spent her childhood on 'the rock' and her father knew Stroud. To say that Stroud had antisocial tendencies, would be an understatement. Amazing read. But, I take nothing away from the great Burt Lancaster, who gave a brilliant performance of a complicated man, even though the film veered away from some hard truths. Karl Malden was impressive in that one, too, as the warden.

[@stephenclemence5856]

@@waynej2608 I lost all respect for Lancaster when he portrayed Stroud as he did. In real life Stroud was was described by inmates and guards as “an aggressive homosexual with a bad temper.” He was a murderer, and wrote stories about having sex with children. He was a very sick man, and Lancaster never should have played the role the way he did.

[@h.calvert3165]

@@waynej2608 He was too violent to be rehabilitated. But his research on birds is peerless. One of his books is still a standard in the pet bird keeper community. 🐦

[@open_water2411]

When I visited Alcatraz in 1994 I was told that if you wanted to imagine what Stroud was like you’d have to think of Hannibal Lecter. That focussed my mind. None of what he says though takes away from his brilliance as an actor - he’s left us with such amazing performances.

[@stephenannese8228]

I stopped by to watch this because of Burt Lancaster....and ...because I watched Kevin Costner on Rich Eisen, ...Kevin worked with Burt (Field of Dreams?)..and they chatted about "The Kentuckian"....great stuff.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Burt .! A true LEGEND ! 🇬🇧 👍 !

[@simonclayton3813]

Well said Sir!!!

[@kenmccready2870]

The Prison system, political conduct, the circus, and his movies were off the mainstream trend, acting, independently-minded he was great !!

[@dmoney668]

From here to eternity baby

[@jackspruceiii3920]

I ❤ BURT ... not only my all-time favorite actor ... but favorite all-time human being ... and a real, old-time New Yorker ... he was one of a now nearly extinct brand of human being; a courageous, sensitive, intelligent artist ... exactly the opposite of the cry-baby, postmodern, critical theory, vain, IDIOT "personalities" of today.

[@rogerzotti1]

Burt: Great to listen to ... Super actor ...

[@jaygbardo8781]

Very articulate....

[@fredfungalspore]

All people are given a gift Burtons gift was to portray characters in-depth and bring that person to life on the Big Screen Being a Movie Buff I can tell you only a handful are ever successful The likes of Sidney Poitier Charles Laughton Kirk Douglas Spencer Tracy and Burton Stephen Lancaster had such a gift 🙏✴️✴️✴️✴️✴️✴️

[@okay5045]

I saw Mr. Lancaster having dinner in Sardi's in New York not too many years before his death.

[@ighdesigns]

No man is perfect, but he’s about as close as you can come.

[@mctasty6094]

Fantastic thanks for sharing

[@kerryroberthughes8054]

One of my favourites.