The Birds (1963) directed by Alfred Hitchcock; starring Rod Tayler, Jessica Tandy; Suzanne Pleshette and introducing Tippi Hedren / Z-View
The Birds (1963)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Screenplay: Evan Hunter from The Birds by Daphne Du Maurier
Stars: Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, Suzanne Pleshette, Jessica Tandy, Charles McGraw, Ruth McDevitt, Lonny Chapman, Joe Mantell, Malcolm Atterbury, John McGovern, Karl Swenson, Richard Deacon, Elizabeth Wilson, Bill Quinn, Doreen Lang, Alfred Hitchcock and Veronica Cartwright.
Tagline: Suspense and shock beyond anything you have seen or imagined!
The Plot…
Something strange is happening in Bodega Bay.
Birds have randomly attacked individuals. At first it is thought to be a coincidence. Then a farmer is found dead, with his eyes pecked out and other wounds that appear to be caused by birds.
And now the birds are gathering…
Thoughts (Beware of spoilers)…
Another classic from the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. This is one of a few movies I was always allowed to stay up and watch even on a school night as a kid.
Most of the birds seen in the film are real. Hitchcock said that 3,200 birds were used during filming. They were combined with mechanical birds and special effects. Hitchcock used several effects houses including MGM, Disney and FOX.
Hitchcock wanted the film to close with out a “The End” title card to leave the audience with a sense of unresolved terror.
The Bodega Bay school house where scenes were filmed was reportedly haunted. When Hitchcock was told this he was thrilled to be filming there.
Hitchcock’s movie and Du Maurier’s story only share a bayside town setting and birds attacking humans. Du Maurier’s story takes place in Britain with a man protecting his wife and two children at their isolated cottage.
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