Customer Reviews

The Birds (Widescreen)

5 star:		(90)
4 star:		(40)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Birds is one of my favorite Alfred Hitchcock films. Perhaps that has a lot to do with the beautiful Tippi Hedren, who shines in everything she does. The gorgeous scenery, adorable costumes, and lavish colors also add to the surreal atmosphere, which quickly gets disrupted by a flock of killer birds. Like many firsts Hitchcock introduced with his films, this is the first "nature run amock" film, just like Psycho was the first "slasher" film. This Psycho follow-up was yet another ground-breaking addition to the horror genre and further revealed the master director's darker obsessions.

Like Hitchcock's fabulous Rebecca and mediocre Jamaica Inn, this is based on a story by the extremely talented Daphne Du Maurier, but Hitchcock was left with the task of fleshing out the short story into a feature film. He did one hell of a job. Hitchcock and screenwriter Evan Hunter borrowed only the title and basic conceit of Daphne du Maurier's 1952 short story, "The Birds." Du Maurier's tale, conventional and utterly humorless, is a Cold War parable that uses the unexplained bird attacks as an apocalyptic metaphor for nature thrown out of balance by technology and warfare. It's told from the perspective of Nat Hocken, a disabled war veteran and farmhand living in a cottage with his family in the British Isles.

The film version is set in Bodega Bay and follows bored, spoiled socialite Melanie Daniels (Hedren) as she romantically pursues dashing lawyer Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor). Tension soon develops among Melanie, schoolteacher Annie Hayworth, Mitch's former flame (Suzanne Pleshette), and Mitch's domineering mother (Jessica Tandy). The emotional interplay is interrupted (and reflected) by the sudden and unexplained attack of thousands of birds on the area.

Hailed as one of Hitchcock's masterpieces by some and despised by others, THE BIRDS is certainly among the director's more complex and fascinating works. Volumes have been written about the film, with each writer picking it apart scene by scene in order to prove his or her particular critical theory--mostly of the psychoanalytic variety. Be that as it may, even those who grow impatient with the slow build-up or occasional dramatic lapses cannot deny the terrifying power of many of the film's haunting images: the bird point-of-view shot of Bodega Bay, the birds slowly gathering on the playground monkey bars, the attack on the children's birthday party, Melanie trapped in the attic, and the final ambiguous shot of the defeated humans leaving Bodega Bay while the thousands of triumphant birds gathered on the ground watch them go.

Eerie, scary, and suspenseful, this is a great film and classic Hitchcock, which highlights his genius. There is no sound track to cue the audience in as to when to be scared. And what other filmmaker could take the simple sound of wings fluttering in a house and turn it into the sheer sound of terror?

I always get annoyed when people say that the special effects in "The Birds" are great. . .for its time. Well, I don't have a time machine to go back to 1963, so let me state unequivocally: the special effects are lame, unconvincing, and, at times, down-right laughable. And, believe me, the special effects are the only thing that this ridiculous movie could have ever had going for it. The acting is wooden. Are we sure that "Tippi" Hedren wasn't a former mannequin--not a model? Rod Taylor is so wooden Tippi shouldn't have rented the boat. . .she could have used him to float across the bay! And what's up with Suzanne Pleshette? Is she a woman playing a drag queen playing a woman? Add to that ridiculous plotting, screamingly funny dialogue, THE MOST ANNOYING SONG EVER WRITTEN and sung by the school children before the crow attack, an over-the-top piece of acting to the balcony by Jessica Tandy, and a DVD with grainy visuals and flat sound and you've got one of the most over-rated pieces of cinema ever to be foisted off on the public as a "Classic." Give this movie the bird.

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"Seems like a pattern, doesn't it? They strike, then disappear, and then start massing again."

The above line of dialogue is from this entertaining, suspenseful, scary, and romantic movie. It was directed by the great Alfred Hitchcock who said, "This could be the most terrifying motion picture I have ever made!"

This movie is based on the short story "The Birds" by Daphne du Maurier.

Because of its special effects (where no computer animation was used) and apocalyptic theme, this movie influenced later "revenge of nature" films. (It was nominated for a special effects Academy Award.)

Briefly, Melanie Daniels ("Tippi" Hedren) is attracted to Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor). She decides to unexpectedly visit him at his home located in a small Pacific coastal village. In this village, she discovers three things:

(1) Mitch has a much younger sister (Veronica Cartwright) and a possessive, widowed mother (Jessica Tandy)
(2) Mitch's former lover and now the village's school teacher (Suzanne Pleshette)
(3) The gradual strange behaviour of the birds in this village.

Look for Hitchcock's cameo just after the opening credits.

What makes this movie especially suspenseful is that the viewer does not know when the birds will attack.

Those who like their movies to tell them everything as it proceeds will not like this movie. By not telling the viewer everything, Hitchcock effectively adds another dimension to his movie.

Two other things unique about this movie are:

(1) It has no background music (thus adding to the suspense)
(2) It has no conventional ending (thus giving the impression that the events portrayed in the film are just the beginning...)

Finally, the DVD (the one released in 2000) is perfect in picture and sound quality. It has thirteen extras, many of which are brief but interesting.

In conclusion, don't be a birdbrain!! Be sure to see this classic movie directed by "The Master of Suspense!!!"

(1963; 2 hr; wide screen; 20 scenes; colour)

<<Stephen Pletko, London, Ontario, Canada>>

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Received said DVD and was surprised to hear it rattle in the case. Poor packaging. One plastic bag. When I watched it, was very pleased to find it in excellent condition & what a super movie. Enjoyed it very much.

It is certainly true.What Spielberg would do in 1975 for the reputation of sharks,12 years earlier venerable director Alfred Hitchcock did it for birds.Everyone I know who ever watched it certainly thought twice afterwards about our fine feathered friends hovering above us and the possibility of their "turning" at any moment.However what is easily forgotten in Hitch's 1963 film is that there is a romantic story that plays out throughout its' run of two hours.
It involves one Melanie Daniels(Tippi Hedron) who is the daughter of a wealthy west coast newspaper owner.She goes into a pet shop one day to pick up a myna bird she ordered,which isn't in.In walks Mitch Brenner(Rod Taylor)a lawyer who instantly recognizes her and decides to play a joke on her by making her think he thinks she is a store employee.He asks for some love birds for his daughter and asks many detailed questions on birds that Melanie can't possibly know.In the end the joke comes out,Mitch leaves the store and Melanie though infuriated has taken an instant liking to the handsome prankster.
Obtaining his address through a jotted down license plate number she drops a cage of lovebirds with a note in front of his apartment door;but he has gone out of town for the weekend.Melanie follows directions and ends up in a town called Bodega Bay about 60 miles north of San Francisco.She motor boats her way to his house,leaves her present,and leaves the same way.Just before she reaches the dock a seagull swoops down on her head and flies off;drawing blood.Mitch having spotted Melanie boating away arrived ahead of her and helps her.The two become more closely acquainted and Melanie decides to stay overnight and rents a room in town.While there a seagull smashes mysteriously into the house door.Next day she attends Mitch's daughter's birthday party and birds make an all out attack on the attendees.
Meanwhile Melanie and Mitch's mother Lydia(Jessica Tandy),who is weary of all of Mitch's "interests",draw ever so slowly closer;through their own efforts and through their joint stand with the mounting avian problem.When Lydia discovers the grisly remains of a neighbour the bird problem is about to blow wide open.In town later that day in a restaurant there is some lively discussion,both pro and con,about what is happening.Suddenly a gas attendant gets attacked and gas flows down a hill.A nearby smoker ignites the gas which kills him and the ignited trail follows itself back to the pumps which blow up.All bets are off now and the birds take this moment to launch an all out assault and pandemonium reigns supreme.
Mitch,his daughter,Lydia and Melanie board themselves into Mitch's home to stave off the onslaught.In the claustrophobic atmosphere all wonder when and how the next attack will come.They hold their own and for the time are relatively safe,but when Melanie decides to investigate a scratching noise in an upstairs bedroom she almost ends up another victim of the birds.Luckily Mitch and his mother come to her rescue but she is badly cut and in shock.In need of immediate medical attention there is nothing else to do but make a dash for freedom.Mitch slowly makes his way to the garage and brings his car out front.The house and surrounding property is filled with birds of all kinds which he has to gingerly make his way through and as does his family with Melanie.Once inside the car he slowly drives down the lane way and to freedom and help.
The ending is a kind of "cheat",in the sense we get no resolution as to the whys of the bird attacks,just a "sailing off into the sunset" moment.But I'm sure Hitch wanted to leave it up to the audience as his message of railing against complacency comes through loud and clear in this film;take nothing for granted in life,not even the birds.However I find the picture gets a little bogged down in the sub plot of Melanie and Mitch and their growing relationship(along with a clinging mother and Melanie's lack of one),which tends to drag the films' pace at times.Hitch seemed a little over zealous in trying to create an escalatingly ominous atmosphere in regards to the bird attacks.The two hours of celluloid seems just a little more than it should have been.
Technically speaking this film while crisp and generally clear shows it still needs some work on it as there are many areas of excess dirt and it does get grainy;for the price tag they are asking this should have been pristine.I would invite a comparison of Hitch's "To Catch a Thief" released in a two disc remastered set by Paramount and you will see what "The Birds" SHOULD have looked like.There are alot of special features however that are a welcome addition to this release.A featurette about the film,the surviving scripts of the original ending and a deleted scene,the storyboard sequence,Hendron's screen test,a Universal newsreel on Hitch,production stills and notes,cast and filmmaker bios and the trailer.
Finally,The Birds is definitely one of Hitchcock's more well known pieces and it certainly had a changing effect on many viewers after its' initial theatrical showing and subsequent airings on TV.The underlying romantic aspect of the film in my opinion tends to be a bit of a drag at times on the films' pace as the "master of suspense" I found got a little more "heavy handed" in his later years/offerings.This along with the less than stellar release print brings this rating down a good full star.Still,Hitch's most obvious stride into Sci-Fi territory,has many memorable and unforgettable moments that make it worth recommending.You may not remember the plot,but you will remember "The Birds".

This eerie Hitchcock thriller doesn't have a shower scene but is has its fair share of suspense, dread and anticipation as to when the birds will attack. Filmed in color and without the accompaniment of music, the movie builds steadily towards tense and dangerous moments when hundreds of blackbirds swoop down on the human populace and scratch, peck and claw them to shreds without rhyme or reason. Even a lone seagull gets in its licks on Melanie Daniels who has followed Mitch Brenner to Bodega Bay to close in on the handsome fellow. The film has several attacks in which adults and school children are ravaged, and the air assaults are frightening to watch. The dangerous birds' unexplained sheer destructive force is displayed in the attack in a bedroom where the unfortunate Ms. Daniels is trapped, and their determination to destroy every human in their path is awful to behold. The movie's special effects are first-rate, and the gloomy, overcast skies of the Northern California coast add to the depressed mood of the film. The characters all seemed detached and distant from each other and although Ms. Daniels tries very hard to connect with Mr. Brenner, the romance angle is never developed.

Last night I saw the horrifying film "Arachnophobia," and my eyes were opened. Let me now tell you, "The Birds" is dangerous extremist propaganda. "The Birds" recklessly demonizes our avian friends, at the expense of global stability. Have you ever heard, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend?" Well, spiders are on the warpath, organizing as we speak. We must mend fences (or bird houses, if you will) with our avian allies and forge ahead -- to combat apocalyptic arachnids! Let's put it this way, folks. For every one bird you shoot, hundreds of spiders are free to carry on for their evil empire. For the first time in decades, I'm asking Americans to sacrifice!

The Birds earns 5 stars as the epitome of dangerous agitprop. But I highly recommend "Winged Migration," and the Disney movie with "Mr. Bluebird on my shoulder...." These films actually teach us how to appreciate birds! And that's something the spiders and their backers soon must reckon with, believe you me. You may have one question at this point: "Why did the birds take out Tippi Hedren?" A high level Cabinet source (or near-Cabinet level source) informs that Hedren was in the spider camp! Enough said. Birds are now, and have always been, on our side.

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast: Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette, Veronica Cartwright, Ethel Griffies.
Running Time: 120 minutes.
Not Rated, but equivalent to a PG-13 for its violence, some gory scenes, and brief language.

Hitchcock's unforeseen success of "Psycho" put him in a tough spot--so many high expectations were placed on all of his films thereafter that it almost was not fair. Many of his films were scrutinized due to the fact they weren't as explosive or haunting as his 1960 classic and "The Birds" is no exception. While it portrays the story of avian, murderous birds terrorizing California with a horrific sense of dread and atmosphere, this film is a showcase for a cast of exceptional actors and actresses who do not even have a chance to show their stuff.

Rod Taylor and Tippi Hedren are throw into an unusual relationship when the area is attacked by flesh-eating birds of prey (for no apparent reason mind you), setting the stage for a showdown of man versus flock. The premise seems laughable, but Hitchcock uses his uncanny tools to create a film that possesses great cinematic urgency, using the birds as a sharp shock of terror. With such attention placed on horrific scenes (such as the Tippi Hedren pay phone scene that has become a classic), the incredible ensemble cast does not have time to develop themselves as characters and vital chess pieces of the film. "The Birds" is a well-respected thriller and for good reason, but it is no "Psycho" and it should not have been created in attempt to be one.

That quote used in my review title is from my favorite scene in 1963's "The Birds", Alfred Hitchcock's tale of nature gone crazy. "The Birds" stars Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, Jessica Tandy, and one of my favorites of all-time -- the beautiful Suzanne Pleshette.

The underrated Miss Pleshette plays school teacher "Annie Hayworth" in this movie, and is just great in her part, IMO. This was just the 4th movie role for the then-25-year-old Suzanne. For Tippi Hedren, age 31 when the movie was shot in late 1962, "The Birds" was only her 2nd motion picture appearance (and first U.S.-made film).

"The Birds" is all about how the whole bird world suddenly goes amok and begins orchestrating concentrated, unprovoked attacks on the population of a small California community. Hitchcock (as usual) builds the suspense up, little by little, during the film. Despite the lack of computer-generated technology, Hitchcock still manages to create a quite realistic array of special effects, featuring hundreds of real and fake birds blended together in many scenes.

As I said at the top, my favorite scene in this flick is not any of the various "attack" scenes -- but, instead, the nerve-racking, tension-filled "Tides Restaurant" scene (Chapter #12 on the DVD), which is dialogue-driven and very well done, and eerie, in my opinion. The restaurant scene is made all the more believable and realistic by the casting of England-born actress Ethel Griffies as bird expert "Mrs. Bundy". Griffies was 84 years of age when she made "The Birds". It was her 90th (of 92) films.

Mrs. Bundy's presence in this scene (coupled with her character's "expertise" on all matter bird-related) roots the scene in "fact", and makes these "impossible" bird attacks on the town even more frightening. When Mrs. Bundy says that all the continents of the world "probably contain more than 100-billion birds!", it puts things in better context. And now the audience begins thinking: "Gee, what would happen if all of these birds attacked at once?" A scary proposition indeed.

This Universal "Collector's Edition" of "The Birds" was released initially on March 28, 2000 -- 37 years to the day after the movie premiered in theaters. This single-disc, single-sided DVD delivers a finely-tuned Anamorphic Widescreen image, in its original theatrical ratio of 1.85:1. The print looks very clean and virtually blemish-free. Colors look natural and "warm". The audio is in 2.0 Dolby Digital Mono (in both English and French).

The Hitchcock series of Universal "Collector's Edition" DVDs all contain very informative (and virtually feature-length) documentaries. And "The Birds" DVD is no exception. The "Making Of" program for this film is terrific. A very satisfying effort from the "featurette master", Laurent Bouzereau.

Here's a complete summary of this disc's Special Features .................

>> "All About The Birds" Documentary -- Lots of interesting behind-the-camera tidbits are offered up by the stars and crew in this featurette. Running time = 79 minutes.

>> Newsreel Excerpt featuring remarks by Alfred Hitchcock (Run Time = 1:55.) -- I love this extra bonus, for Mr. Hitchcock's droll, humorous comment to his audience regarding the title of his current film project. He dryly utters: "There were four words in the title. But we cut the first word, "FOR" -- and call it simply 'The Birds'." (This is followed by prodigious laughter from the "National Press Club" gathering. LOL!)

>> Another Newsreel Clip, "The Birds Is Coming" (Length = 1:15).

>> "The Original Ending" -- This "alternate" (and very intriguing) ending to the film was never shot. But this bonus offers up some script pages and original sketches of what the scene would have entailed. This ending is also discussed in some detail during the "All About The Birds" feature on this disc as well.

>> "Deleted Scene" -- This, like the "Original Ending" extra, isn't a video bonus either. It details (through script pages and still photos) a scene from the original script that was never used in the final cut.

>> "Tippi Hedren's Screen Test" -- This is really some cool stuff. A lengthy "test" featuring Miss Hedren acting out several scenes (which have nothing to do with this film) opposite Martin Balsam (who, of course, had co-starred in Mr. Hitchcock's previous picture, "Psycho"). You can even hear "Hitch" giving directions off-camera. Video quality isn't very good and it hasn't been color-corrected, but it doesn't really matter here. This is a fabulous bonus, lasting 10 minutes. I'm glad this was dug out of the archives for this DVD release.

>> "Stroryboard Sequence" -- This "Gallery"-like bonus shows storyboards linked with actual related film frames from the movie. Nicely done.

>> Original Trailer.

>> Photo Gallery.

>> Production Notes, plus Cast & Crew Bios (text features).

The DVD's Menus are simple and "static", with the Main Menu accompanied by the only real "score" that shows up in this film -- the sound of flocks of birds (up to no good, of course). It's quite amazing to think that this picture contains absolutely NO MUSIC whatsoever. Not a single note. But Hitchcock's previous effort, "Psycho", if placed in the same "music-less" state, would have been much less effective. Can you just imagine "Psycho" without that Bernard Herrmann score? Impossible! And, by the same token, it's difficult to imagine "The Birds" WITH any music. Just wouldn't "feel" right somehow. Mr. Hitchcock worked wonders, with AND without musical adornment attached to his feature films. I suppose that's part of the reason he was "The Master".

The DVD has with it a 4-page booklet, with a Chapter List for the 20 chapter breaks on the disc; plus some personal notes by Alfred Hitchcock and his daughter, Pat (who oft-times popped up in small roles in her dad's movies -- although she was not in "The Birds"). This paper insert also re-produces five "Lobby Cards" advertising the film.

For all Alfred Hitchcock aficionados, this DVD of "The Birds" is a must-have item. Fine picture quality, good bonuses, and .... Suzanne Pleshette, to boot. What MORE do you want, for heaven's sake?! :)

The Birds suspense movie well i would say it was at the time it was. I thought that i was directed perfectly for its time. I know now any teenager would look at this movie and be like what this this but i have seen it and i enjoyed it. You thave to thgink that to the time and it was a great movie at the time. In its time it scared people out of their mind but now you wathc it its like you are watching a comedy. The players in the movie were great they fit the parts perfectly, Melanie Daniels was played by tippi hedren a rich girl that falls for a man Mitch Brenner who was played by Rod Taylor, she fallows him to a small town to bring him a couple of birds he ordered. She ends up saying and things get bad in this ocean front town.