Rob Baker’s Reviews > Birdman of Alcatraz > Status Update

"The most expensive prison per capita in the world, Alcatraz remained a black molar in the jawbone of the nation's prison system, a rooted symbol with a life of its own. The Federal Prison Bureau itself recommended its close, only to discover that an atavism is difficult to remove" (206).

"In World War II, Leavenworth inmates exhibited the proverbial patriotism of convicts...Prisoners produced five million dollars worth of shoes, brushes, and clothing during the first year of the war. They donated their blood to the Red Cross...The prison population fell off 9%, for the first time in decades" (198).

"During the next thirty days bird-lovers throughout the country were amazed and appalled. Their birds, they read, had been cured by a convict. The man who had found the cure for septic fever, and whose articles they had read and consulted was a convicted killer living in solitary confinement in Leavenworth" (146).

"Each letter he wrote forged a tiny link in a new kinship. The cement which held together the 'Gray Brotherhood' was hatred--hatred of the world which immured them. But Stroud's second loyalty was held together by love--the love of birds. Curiously, Stroud was to retain this twin loyalty throughout his life" (130-131).

"Through letters, Stroud was entering a realm of people as passionately absorbed in birds as he was. Perhaps for the first time in his adult life, he could feel kinship with a group other than prisoners" (113).

"When the guard came to his cell the next morning...he saw the convict sitting on the floor with dazed eyed. In his hands he was cradling the (dead) sparrow...

The cell block was silent at the news of Feto's loss.

The muscle-bound, two-time killer was heartbroken. The uncouth black stubble on his battered face stayed wet with tears for days (83).

"Can I have a word here?" (Stroud) suddenly asked. The conferees looked at him, startled. "I"m not sure I want to be released from Isolation. I can stand being alone, if allowed to study and improve myself...

...This is the best way to show the world I'm worthy of my life being spared" (70-71).

"Over the year of his brother's imprisonment, Marc had developed an odd hobby: slipping handcuffs and rope ties...

When his act was perfected, he changed his name to L.G. Marcus and in 1917 entered vaudeville: The Great Marcus, Escape Artist." (61).

"No pictures were allowed in the cell. No gazing about at meals. Bread crusts were allowed to be left only on the left side of the plate. Inmates were required to stand at attention...until any official, visitor or guard moved beyond sight...

Serious violators were beaten and handcuffed to the cell door. More stubborn men rated the Hole. Occasionally, a prisoner was strung up by his thumbs" (25).

I remember seeing the movie a zillion years ago and was curious when I came across a copy of the book, which was written in 1955:

"Prison, in the Arabian phrase, is engraved on his eyeballs. He has been kept in isolation for forty-two years, longer than any Federal prisoner in history" (7).