The Birds (1963)

11/28/06

Just rewatched The Birds, great movie. The film starts out as kind of an odd romantic comedy, with dark undertones of forboding. Eventully these undertones make their way to the surfice and the flick crashs head on into horror movie territory. Model Tippi Hedren was introduced to the world as an actress in this film, and her character of Melanie Daniels remains her signiture role. In fact most people couldn't name another film with her in it, though for me when that name comes up I'm as likely to think of Citizen Ruth, in which she played a feminist leader, as I am of The Birds. A lot of people also forget that Jessica Tandy and Suzanne Pleshette are in this movie as well. Also featured is underapricated leading man Rod Taylor, best known by geeks for his lead role in George Pals 1960 rendition of The Time Machine.

It is also amazing what they are able to do with the birds in this movie. Of course with modern computer effects we wouldn't have to think twice about doing even more complicated shots, but the visuals in this film have more impact than any aided by CGI. In many ways this is also the most unsetteling of Hitch's films because of the lack of any clear cut explination for the various happinings. Any explination would kill the film, you need to not know whats going on, just like the characters, in order to be properly effected by the picture. If you haven't experinced The Birds, then I suggest you do so.

DVD set also contains a 80 minute All About The Birds documentary made in 1999.