The Birds (1963)

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Written by: Daphne Du Maurier (from the story by), Evan Hunter (screenplay)

Starring: Tippi Hedren, Rod Taylor, Suzanne Pleshette, Veronica Cartwright and Jessica Tandy

Glamorous, socialite Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren), decides to pull a gag over on the dashing and cocky Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor) after he pranks her in a pet shop in San Francisco. She drives to his hometown of Bodega Bay and leaves him a pair of love birds (watch the movie, it'll make sense.). Not long after Melanie arrives, strange instances with the local birds begin to occur. Theses events continue to escalate in violence until the entire town faces an all out catastrophe when the birds begin attacking and killing.

This is how all babies were made in the 60's. It all starts in a bird shop.

For those of you who know me personally, you knew this post was coming. Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 masterpiece, The Birds, is one of my favorite films. That's saying a lot because I like a LOT of movies. The Birds is also my favorite Hitchcock film and it's also the film debut of one of my favorite actresses, Tippi Hedren.

Tippi Hedren was actually working as a model in LA. Hitch noticed her on a diet drink commercial. He had her come in and sign an exclusive contract, which made it to where she was only allowed to work for him. Tippi was everything Hitch wanted in a leading lady and more. She was blonde, glamorous and had a certain coolness about her.

After the massive success of Psycho (1960), Hitchcock wanted to do another horror film. He decided he was going to adapt Daphne du Maurier's short story The Birds into an episode for The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. The episode soon expanded into an entire movie and became his next big project.He, along with Evan Hunter adapted du Maurier's novella into a screenplay, expanding the story and adding more characters. He offered Tippi the leading role of Melanie Daniels and began grooming her to be his next leading lady.

He attempted to change everything about Tippi, the way she wore her hair, her make up, her wardrobe, even the way she spoke. He became obsessed with her. This obsession came to a head on the next film they did together, but that's another blog post.

It's just one, it'll be fine.

The Birds was a difficult film to make, especially for Hitchcock. He hated location sets, something this movie called for many times. Hitchcock liked to be in control, something shooting on a set in a studio provided him with. He hated being at the mercy of mother nature and the it's surroundings. There were also the birds themselves to contend with. Hitchcock used real, trained birds for most of the attack sequences.

"Birds Gone Wild: Spring Break Edition!"

The movie was also especially difficult for Tippi Hedren to make. This being her first film, Hedren had no idea what to expect. She assumed everything that happened was the "norm". The infamous telephone booth scene resulted in an accident, when the glass wasn't properly replaced with plate glass. Tiny shards of real glass were scattered all over Hedren and she spent the rest of the day having it picked off her skin, hair and clothes.

Hitchcock called this shot "God's eye view."

It was promised to Tippi, many times, that their would be fake, robotic birds used in her final attack sequence. On the morning of the scene, Tippi was told that they had to use real birds. For five days, bird handlers hurled live, seagulls, ravens and crows at the actress. It wasn't until one scratched the skin near her eye that she collapsed on the set and began crying. She suffered from severe exhaustion, and was put on bed rest for a week by her doctor. Hitchcock protested the doctor's orders to which the doctor replied: "Are you trying to kill her?".

Despite the horrific troubles behind the scenes, the movie is an absolute masterpiece and far ahead of it's time. In typical Hitchcock fashion, everything about the movie is perfect. The editing is top notch and the camera work astounding.

Hitchcock's vision for Hedren was masterfully carried out by a team of people. Wardrobe designer, Edith Head made several of green dress suits for Tippi. Legendary makeup artist Howard Smit was in charge of her makeup. Smit kept Tippi's makeup a mixture of modern and classic. Her skin was a velvet texture with pinky-peach blush and lips that was very typical 60's makeup, but he also used a very 50's looking light-blue eye shadow on the mobile lid of her eye, with a medium brown in her crease. This is interesting because you can really only see a flash of blue when Tippi blinks, or closes her eyes. Virginia Darcy was in charge of keeping Hedren's golden, halo-like hair in the fabulous french twist style. Through out the movie, everything about Tippi is perfect. Her hair, makeup, nails, clothing, everything looks put together and well presented. It's not till the very end we see all this fade and tarnish.

There was just a bird attack, but let's all sit around and talk about it instead of getting flamethrowers. 

The acting in the movie is top-shelf. Jessica Tandy gives an emotional performance as a mother afraid of being abandoned. Rod Taylor plays his typical role as a cocky playboy. Taylor does a fantastic job shifting mid-movie from wise-cracking, playful bachelor to a concerned citizen of the town, hellbent on protecting his family and new love interest. The young Veronica Cartwright was just made to be in movies. Even at such a young age, she carries out a fantastic performance. And we can't forget about the one and only Suzanne Pleshette. Can we just talk about her for a minute? She's just an awesome sex-kitten. She plays a heartbroken, school teacher who now lives in Bodega Bay to be near her former lover. She pulls off her role so well, even acting as a stark contrast to Hedren's character.

Why can't small ties come back? They look so sharp!

We have to talk about Tippi Hedren's performance. What a pro. This was her first ever acting job. EVER. She just happened to land a role on a huge blockbuster directed by the most popular director of the time. This was a big deal! Tippi was criticized for her performance as being too passive, but that's what made her part perfect! No matter what happened, Melanie Daniels remained calm and cool. Tippi even goes as far to change her characteristics in this film. The way she walks, her little actions, everything just screams classy socialite.

Oh haaai Suzanne Pleshette...

This is a signature in almost every Hitchcock film. The ladies in the films were always intelligent, independent, class acts. They knew how to handle themselves and had 0 fucks to give. They were always sexy, but not overly sexy. Hitch thought women who didn't advertise their sex appeal were the most attractive. He was never a big fan of revealing wardrobe, or over-done makeup. All his leading ladies looked polished and put-together.

When in doubt, you're always safe in a telephone booth.

While Hitchcock was fantastic about creating these lovely ladies, he was equally as great at tearing them apart. I've noticed in many of his films, Hitch will have a strong, independent, beautiful woman doing her thing throughout most of the film, but by the end she's reduced to a shriveling mess, reliant on a man. This pattern can be seen in Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho, Marnie, and especially in this movie.

Even jealousy is a great color on Suzanne Pleshette.

We also need to talk about the suspense! Alfred Hitchcock is known as the "Master of Suspense" and he brings his A game with The Birds. There is no soundtrack to this film, instead Hitch relies on complete silence during some of the most nerve-racking scenes. The only soundtrack this movie has is the squawking and flapping of birds. It's fucking boss!

Umm... it's okay I don't need to go to recess.

Another running theme I found interesting was the theme of motherhood. In a way, It's almost a continuation from Psycho. Jessica Tandy plays Lydia Brenner, the mother of Rod Taylor's character, Mitch. Throughout the movie, there's conflict between the two of them. Lydia is obviously scared stiff of Melanie. She sees her as a potential threat of taking Mitch away and leaving her abandoned. There's even a whole dialogue between Suzanne Pleshette's character (Annie) and Melanie about Lydia and her grasp of Mitch, much like Mrs. Bates grasp on Norman in Psycho, however less severe.

Quick! Get Tippi Tide Stick! That is an Edith Head design!

Spoiler alert, it's never explained why the birds attack. Film historians have come up with many interesting theories. do the bird attacks mirror the tension between the characters? Is it an political statement on how humans are ruining the environment? Is it Melanie's fabulous green dress suit? No one knows and that's the way it's meant to be. Hitchcock has always been tight-lipped about his works. He'd rather the audience come up with their own hypothesis. The fact that the bird's motivations are unknown makes this movie far more intriguing and frightening.

Having birds in your bedroom is NEVER the answer.

Complacency is a dangerous thing. Taking things for granted is very harmful to us humans. One day, it could all be gone. It's a terrifying thought that birds, these small, harmless creatures, could turn on you and make it impossible for you to even leave your house without getting mauled. Be grateful for what you have now, because tomorrow the birds could decide to launch a mass attack and kill you. That the moral of this story.

She's already traumatized, you're not making it any better.

Despite all the terrifying sequences, and apocalyptic undertones, there's a glimmer of hope at the end. These characters have all grown closer. The ending shows Lydia and Mitch helping a very injured Melanie into the car so they can flee the town. When Mitch goes to get his little sister, Cathy, she asks if she can bring the love-birds Melanie brought her toward the beginning of the movie. Despite everything that has happened with birds, this child still believes there is good in these two birds. It shows a child-like innocence and forgiveness. It also shows Lydia holding Melanie in a motherly way in the backseat. A moment of acceptance and love that would never have happened if it weren't for this bird attacks. With that, our four character and the set of love-birds ride off into the night as the horde of wild birds watch, almost as if they're allowing them to go.

He hates you!

For more information on The Birds, visit the IMDB page.

You can also buy the movie here.