The Birds Overview:

The Birds (1963) was a Horror - Thriller/Suspense Film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and produced by Alfred Hitchcock.

The film was based on the novel of the same name written by Daphne du Maurier published in 1952.

SYNOPSIS

Hitchcock, the master of suspense, ventures into the realm of horror with the depiction of a world in which nature can go suddenly, terrifyingly mad. When Hedren appears in the idyllic coastal village of Bodega Bay with two lovebirds in tow, the local birds inexplicably begin to wage an all-out war on humans. Hitchcock's follow-up to Psycho tops even that landmark for shock value. Loosely based on a Daphne du Maurier short story.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

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BlogHub Articles:

The Birds - 60th Anniversary in Theaters Tonight!

By The Metzinger Sisters on Oct 23, 2023 From Silver Scenes - A Blog for Classic Film Lovers

Alfred Hitchcock's suspense classic The Birds is back in theaters for one day (this evening, October 23rd) to honor its 60th anniversary. Check out Fanthom event's website to see if it is showing in a theater near you.... Read full article


4K UHD Blu-ray Review: The Birds

By Devon Powell on Jun 6, 2021 From Hitchcock Master

Distributor: Universal Pictures Release Date: May 25, 2021 Region ? 4K UHD: Region Free Blu-ray: Region A Length: 01:59:31 Video? 4K UHD: 2160P (HEVC, H.265) Blu-ray: 1080P (MPEG-4, AVC) Main Audio ? 4K UHD: 2.0 Mono English DTS-HD Master Audio Blu-ray: 2.0 Mono English DTS-HD Master Audio Altern... Read full article


The Birds (1963) (2)

By Beatrice on Nov 21, 2017 From Flickers in Time

The Birds Directed by Alfred Hitchcock Written by Evan Hunter from the story by Daphne de Maurier 1963/USA Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions Repeat viewing/Netflix rental One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Not my favorite Hitchcock but undeniably made by a master. Melanie Daniels (Tippi... Read full article


The Birds (1963) (3)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Jun 1, 2017 From 4 Star Films

The Birds is about all sort of birds. The ones we are acquainted with initially?are actually a pair of humans. Lovebirds you might call them. Except they don’t know it quite yet, but the moment Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) and Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor) meet in a pet shop, the sparks are alr... Read full article


The Birds (1963) (1)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Jun 1, 2017 From 4 Star Films

The Birds is about all sort of birds. The ones we are acquainted with initially?are actually a pair of humans. Lovebirds you might call them. Except they don’t know it quite yet, but the moment Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) and Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor) meet in a pet shop, the sparks are alr... Read full article


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Quotes from

Annie Hayworth: Did you drive up from San Francisco by the coast road?
Melanie Daniels: Yes.
Annie Hayworth: Nice drive.
Melanie Daniels: It's very beautiful.
Annie Hayworth: Is that where you met Mitch?
Melanie Daniels: Yes.
Annie Hayworth: I guess that's where everyone meets Mitch.


[first lines]
Melanie Daniels: Hello there, Mrs. MacGruder.
Mrs. MacGruder, pet store clerk: Oh, hello, Miss Daniels.
Melanie Daniels: Have you ever seen so many gulls? What do you suppose it is?
Mrs. MacGruder, pet store clerk: Well, there must be a storm at sea, that can drive them inland, you know. I was hoping you'd be a little late because he hadn't arrived yet.
Melanie Daniels: Oh, but you'd said three o'clock...
Mrs. MacGruder, pet store clerk: Oh I know, I know. I've been calling all morning. Oh, Miss Daniels you have no idea. They are so difficult to get, really they are. We have to get them from India, when they're just baby chicks, and then we have...
Melanie Daniels: But this one won't be a chick, will he?
Mrs. MacGruder, pet store clerk: Certainly not. Oh no, certainly not. This will be a full grown mynah bird, full grown.
Melanie Daniels: And he'll talk?
Mrs. MacGruder, pet store clerk: Well yes, of course he'll... well no, you'll have to teach him to talk. My. I guess maybe I'd better phone, they'd said three o'clock. Maybe it's the traffic. I'll call. Would you mind waiting?
Melanie Daniels: Well, maybe you'd better deliver him. Let - let me give you my address.
Mrs. MacGruder, pet store clerk: Oh, well, alright, but I'm sure they're on the way... Would you mind if I called?
Melanie Daniels: No, alright, but...


Mitch Brenner: I'd like to see you. Maybe we could go swimming or something. Mother tells me you like to swim.
Melanie Daniels: How does Mother know what I like to do?
Mitch Brenner: I guess we read the same gossip columns.


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Facts about

The film does not finish with the usual "THE END" title because Alfred Hitchcock wanted to give the impression of unending terror.
There is no musical score for the film except for the sounds created on the mixtrautonium, an early electronic musical instrument, by Oskar Sala, and the children singing in the school.
The climactic scene, in which Tippi Hedren's character is attacked in the bedroom, took seven days to shoot. Hedren said, "It was the worst week of my life." The physical and emotional tolls of filming this scene were so strong on her that production was shut down for a week afterward.
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