The Birds (1963)

Nothing You Have Ever Witnessed Before Has Prepared You for Such Sheer Stabbing Shock!
director	Alfred Hitchcock
producer	Alfred Hitchcock
writer	Evan Hunter (screenplay)
story by	Daphne du Maurier
starring	Tippi Hedren Rod Taylor Jessica Tandy Suzanne Pleshette
cinematographer	Robert Burks
editor	George Tomasini
running time	119 minutes
colour	colour (Technicolor)
sound mix	mono (Westrex Recording System)
aspect ratio	1.85:1
studio	Universal Pictures
availability	DVD & Blu-ray
film-1407 (add your rating)

Synopsis

Spoilt socialite and notorious practical joker Melanie Daniels is shopping in a San Francisco pet store when she meets Mitch Brenner. Mitch is looking to buy a pair of love birds for his young sister's birthday; he recognises Melanie but pretends to mistake her for an assistant. She decides to get her own back by buying the birds and driving up to the quiet coastal town of Bodega Bay, where Mitch spends his weekends with his sister and mother. Shortly after she arrives, Melanie is attacked by a gull, but this is just the start of a series of attacks by an increasing number of birds.

Production

Coming soon...

See Also...

For further relevant information about this film, see also...

• 1000 Frames of The Birds (1963)
• articles about The Birds (1963)
• awards and nominations
• books about The Birds (1963)
• complete cast and crew
• documentaries
• film scripts
• filming locations
• production documents
• quotations relating to the film
• radio adaptations
• trailers
• trivia
• web links to articles, information, reviews, etc

Blu-ray Releases

released in 2012

The Birds (1963) - Universal (Blu-ray, 2012) as part of the box set: Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection - Universal (Blu-ray, 2012)

DVD Releases

released in 2005

	The Birds (1963) - Universal (UK, 2005) PAL
	The Birds (1963) - Universal (USA, 2005) - part of a box set NTSC 1.85:1 (anamorphic) [01:59:24]

...view older DVD releases

Image Gallery

Images from the Hitchcock Gallery (click to view larger versions or search for all relevant images)...

Film Frames

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Themes

• birds ...everywhere!
• mother - the relationship between Mitch and Lydia
• taboo: nudity - Lydia is disgusted at the story of Melanie dancing naked in the fountain in Rome
• the MacGuffin - what is causing the birds to attack?
• the colour green - Melanie's green suit
• the icy blonde - Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren)
• the mirror that Mitch uses to stop the birds getting in
• the Hitchcock cameo - walking his two pet dogs out of the pet shop
  

Cast and Crew

Directed by:

• Alfred Hitchcock
• James H Brown - assistant director

Starring:

• Tippi Hedren - Melanie Daniels
• Rod Taylor - Mitch Brenner
• Jessica Tandy - Lydia Brenner
• Suzanne Pleshette - Annie Hayworth
• Veronica Cartwright - Cathy Brenner
• Ethel Griffies - Mrs Bundy
• Charles McGraw - Sebastian Sholes
• Ruth McDevitt - Mrs MacGruder
• Lonny Chapman - Deke Carter
• Joe Mantell - Traveling salesman
• Doodles Weaver - Fisherman
• Malcolm Atterbury - Deputy Al Malone
• John McGovern - Postal clerk
• Karl Swenson - Drunken Doomsayer in Diner
• Richard Deacon - Mitch Brenner's neighbour in the city
• Elizabeth Wilson - Helen Carter

Produced by:

• Alfred Hitchcock

Written by:

• Daphne Du Maurier - original short story ("The Birds")
• Evan Hunter

Photographed by:

• Robert Burks

Edited by:

• George Tomasini

Music by:

• Bernard Herrmann - sound consultant

Costume Design by:

• Edith Head

Production Design by:

• Robert F. Boyle