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The Birds (1963)
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Overview
Tagline:
Suspense and shock beyond anything you have seen or imagined! morePlot:
A wealthy San Francisco playgirl pursues a potential boyfriend to a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people there in increasing numbers and with increasing viciousness. full summary | full synopsis (warning! may contain spoilers)Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations moreUser Comments:
Haunting moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Rod Taylor | ... | Mitch Brenner | |
| Jessica Tandy | ... | Lydia Brenner | |
| Suzanne Pleshette | ... | Annie Hayworth | |
| Tippi Hedren | ... | Melanie Daniels (as 'Tippi' Hedren) | |
| Veronica Cartwright | ... | Cathy Brenner | |
| Ethel Griffies | ... | Mrs. Bundy, elderly ornithologist | |
| Charles McGraw | ... | Sebastian Sholes, fisherman in diner | |
| Ruth McDevitt | ... | Mrs. MacGruder, pet store clerk | |
| Lonny Chapman | ... | Deke Carter, cook in diner | |
| Joe Mantell | ... | Traveling salesman at diner's bar | |
| Doodles Weaver | ... | Fisherman helping with rental boat | |
| Malcolm Atterbury | ... | Deputy Al Malone | |
| John McGovern | ... | Postal clerk | |
| Karl Swenson | ... | Doomsayer in diner | |
| Richard Deacon | ... | Mitch's city neighbor |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
119 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)Certification:
Australia:M (TV rating) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1963) | UK:X (1963) | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Finland:K-15 (uncut) (2002) (DVD) | South Korea:15 | UK:15 (1987) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | France:-12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:16 (1976) | Norway:18 | Peru:14 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (1984 re-release) | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG | Iceland:16MOVIEmeter: 
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Although it was never shot, another ending was scripted by Evan Hunter and sketched by Harold Michelson. The script and sketches appear as a bonus feature on the DVD version. moreGoofs:
Continuity: At the end of the movie when Mitch gets in Melanie's car to take it out from the garage, he closes the window of the car. After a minute when he gets of the car in front of the garage the window is open. moreQuotes:
[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?
[...]
more
Soundtrack:
Risseldy, Rosseldy moreFAQ
What was causing the birds to attack? Why did they suddenly turn against man?How could a bird attack be fatal to a human being?
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What I love about this film is that it`s so understated . There is absolutely no attempt whatsoever to explain why the birds are turning against humanity , indeed there`s a scene in the cafe where a character points out that bird species joining together to wage war against the human race would be impossible , and the concept is totally ridiculous but Hitchcock and screenwriter Evan Hunter ( Using the basic premise of Du Maurier`s short story - the screenplay is almost totally original ) manage to leave the unsettling thought that this might just happen one day.
The film is slightly dated in some ways , most notably the FX which are sometimes obvious back projection , but this was made in 1963 don`t forget . And THE BIRDS does contain some classic scenes like the discussions in the diner , the downbeat ending and the bit where the woman walks into the farmhouse and finds .... no I won`t spoil it for you . I rate this as Hitchcock`s best film .
If you want to get your own back then make sure you stuff a turkey this Christmas