“The Birds” begins as a light romantic comedy. A rich girl, Melanie, played by Tippi Hedren (gorgeous woman–was surprised to learn later that she’s Melanie Griffith’s mother), met lawyer Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor) in a pet shop, was attacted to him and pretended to be the sales girl. But, being a socialite who has had her photos plastered on gossip columns, Mitch knew who she was and told her off. She pursued him by buying a pair of love birds that Brenner intended to buy for his sister on her birthday. She found his residence by having an employee from her father’s newspaper trace his license plates through auto registration records. The pursuit brought her to a fishing village called Bodega Bay where Mitch spent each weekend with his mother and sister.
Melanie hired a small boat and went across the bay to the Brenner house to deliver the birds. On her way back, a seagull swooped down and attacked her. The mood of the film changes at this point. Meanwhile, the attraction between Mitch and Melanie apparently being mutual, Melanie spent the night in Bodega Bay in a rented room in Annie Hayworth’s (Suzanne Pleshette) house. Hayworth would later relate to her that she moved to Bodega Bay to be near Mitch even though their budding romantic relationship had been over years ago because Mitch’s mother, Lydia (Jessica Tandy), got in the way.
The following day, at the birthday party of Mitch’s young sister Cathy, a flock of birds attacked the children. The day after that, Lydia discovered the body of a friend with his eyes gouged out apparently from a bird attack. The school that Cathy attended was attacked by the birds on the same day. Later, the town’s commercial area would be attacked as well. One customer of the diner commented that the attacks only started after Melanie arrived in Bodega Bay.
Back at the Brenner residence, Mitch boarded up the windows to secure them against bird attacks. The birds came and was able to enter the house through a second floor room. Melanie, unaware that they had gotten inside, went up to investigate and got badly hurt. The film ended as the Brenners drove Melanie to the hospital. The reason for the bird attacks was never explained.
Okay, “The Birds” was made in 1963. Although the “bird attacks” were visually believable, there were obvious technical flaws especially in the car scenes. You know how a scene on the road usually looks in old films. But it wasn’t really the visual effects that “made” the film–it was the mood. It was macabre. But what made the theme so horrific was the message that humans are prey to forces of nature (symbolized by the birds) beyond their control–a truth so glaringly obvious yet the terrifying consequences elude us until we actually become victims.
Reason is not a consideration in the film. The reason for the attacks was never explained. In fact, the attacks were contrary to reason if we go by the known habits of birds. Perhaps, the irony of unreason was meant to drive home the point that there are no reasons when nature wreaks havoc on human lives.
As with most of Hitchcock’s films, the main storyline did not detract from the characterization of the main players. Every aspect of human emotion was explored–the attempt at reformation by a spoiled socialite (Melanie), the inexplicable feeling of weakness by a widow who had always relied on her husband for strength (Lydia), the resigned contentment of a woman to be just near a man she could never have (Annie)… Even the bit players represented significant facets of human character–a fatalistic man who interpreted the bird attacks as the end of the world, a macho whose solution was to shoot all the birds, a woman who was so ready to connect unrelated events (that it was Melanie’s arrival that brought the attacks) for the lack of explanation for the events…
Beautiful film, really. It is films like “The Birds” the justify the categorization of film as art–for it is often not. But Alfred Hitchcock was able to elevate film to art over and beyond its commercial and entertainment value. It would be nice to get a DVD copy of “The Birds”. If I can find one.
[tags]The+Birds, Alfred+Hitchcock, Tippi+Hedren, film, movie, entertainment[/tags]
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I've never seen Vertigo in its entirety, nor the Birds, but I will add it to my "to view" list soon. I am such an admirer of Hitchcock. He relies on artistic techniques instead of in your face gore, or the rock 'em sock 'em technical effects of today's films. He is one of a few directors I can say knows how to create works of art on film.
My fave movie of his is Rear Window.
Hi mam sassy. I am a fan of alfred hitchcock and really enjoyed your blog post. I read somewhere that his talent lies in his ability to draw the viewers to be participants in the storytelling. He present scenes and plots which leave a lot to the imagination of the viewer rather than just graphically present gory and shocking scenes. Thus, the suspense and horror becomes more psychological than visual. Thanks for this post!
Here you go Sas…
http://www.amazon.com/Birds-Collectors-Tippi-Hedr…
Pinayhekmi, did you notice Grace Kelly's wardrobe in Rear Window? Especially the evening dress with a black top and a full white skit with black embroidery? hehehe I loved that dress.
they don't make movies like that anymore, 'no, masc? today thrillers and horror movies are ALL GORE. They shock and disgust more than they scare.
Thanks, Chris. I'm ordering it now hehehehe
I hate to admit it but I've seen that film when I was in Grade 2. It gave me a scare at the time. I wonder how I would react to it today that I am a grown man, more knowledgeable of the language and having seen countless of films. I'd like to know what makes a classic a classic.
tito rolly, "I hate to admit it but I've seen that film when I was in Grade 2."
hehehehe
"I'd like to know what makes a classic a classic."
I don't know how other people define a "classic" but for me it is something that transcends time, age and generation. You know, something that continues to be appreciated, and stays, relevant, long after it was created.
Oh yes. We analyzed that film in drama class. The way they dressed in this era is what makes me want to live in that time period. Such pretty outfits.
We analyzed Psycho too. Did you notice that Janet Leigh's underwear changes from white when she was still doing everything as she should, to black once she decided to go through the theft of the money at the bank?
pinayhekmi, "The way they dressed in this era is what makes me want to live in that time period."
Me too!!!
Janet Leigh's undies. Noooo, I didn't notice that. I'm going to watch Psycho again. I just love subtle symbolisms like that.
Di ko pa napapanood ang film. But I'm excited to watch this film,
May nabasa kasi akong article on 9/11 and the writer mentioned that the TV footages we saw ( the airplane hitting the building) in 2001 were similar to the scenes in "The Birds". Yung scene ata na tinamaan ang babae sa mukha.
The analysis centered on how the real becomes the Real or how fantasy images become horror or Real in American pop culture.
Mong, what article is that? I think that's a perspective that should be disseminated. Galing nung "The Birds". Sa Cinemax ko napanood.
Connie, try Notorious. I am sure you’ll fall in love with Ingrid Bergman. I did. I was doing a film study on the movie when after a couple viewings I found myself falling in love with her. It probably was the black and white film and that Swedish accent that did it.
Hi Tom. I just googled “Notorious”. Now that’s one Hitchcock film I haven’t seen yet. I’ll watch out for it on TCM Channel. Thanks. I love Ingrid Bergman’s movies. Casablanca most of all. Second would be Anastasia. And The Inn of Sixth Happiness.
Oh! yes, Casablanca. Look at us, a movie made before both of us were born and decades after, still admiring the beauty of it. The power of good movies. Connie, help me flesh out the message Rizal imbedded in his novel “Noli Me Tangere”. If this novel was instrumental at inspiring our ancestry to revolt against their oppressors then, I believe its time to give this novel a second look to figure out what is oppressing us today. It will take a mind and conviction like yours to sort all this out. Just say yes, so we could start this project. Philippine Cinema needs a boost and I need a ticket to get me back home. He’s looking at you kid, as time goes by. I’ll be checking out “The Inn of Sixth Happiness”. Maraming salamat. Paalam.