The Birds is one of my all time favorite movies. If I happen to come across it while changing channels, I'll watch it, not matter where it is in the movie. I own the DVD, but I love the movie that much.
My sister, Pam, told me that a local theater was going to show The Birds on the big screen for one night only!
We hurried and bought tickets. My other sister, Linda, wanted to go, too.
Before the movie started, Alfred Hitchcock trivia questions like this one flashed on the screen. (Yes, I had my camera with me!)
(The answer is B. Notorious. Hitchcock thought the FBI had him under surveillance for three months because the film dealt with uranium.)
Before the movie began, which was sponsored by TCM (Turner Classic Movies, a GREAT TV station in the States that runs old movies non-stop), one of the hosts from that station did an interview with Tippi Hedren, who played Melanie in the movie. There is a scene in the movie where Melanie goes upstairs by herself because she hears something. She opens the door.....(this is the part where you are yelling - DON'T OPEN THE DOOR!) and a gazillion birds attack her!
Hitchcock told her that there would only be mechanical birds in the room. HE LIED! There were both REAL birds and FAKE birds! So the TERROR is real that you see in her eyes! She had somewhat of a nervous breakdown after that scene!
Here is the trailer for the movie. It has a little bit of the scene I am talking about.
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| taken in the theater |
Hitchcock did several cameo's in his movies and you can read about them here.
He is leaving when Tippi Hedren enters the pet store.
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| Those are his actual pets, too! |
One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Melanie is driving out to Bodega Bay in her fancy convertible to deliver the love birds and the winding roads cause the birds to sway back and forth.
At this point the young man behind me (about mid-30's) leaned forward and said quietly to me, "Are you about done?"
I said, "Why is this bothering you?"
"Yes"
"I am SO sorry!" I immediately put my camera away. I was very embarrassed. I really didn't think I was bothering anyone since I didn't use the flash, it was my small point and shoot camera, and I was taking the photos right from my seat. But I guess the "brightness" from the screen of the camera bothered him. I am always of the mind that my camera gives me a pass to do ANYTHING! I am bolder, AND, ANYTHING for the sake of my blog, right?
I wanted to apologize to the guy again when the show was over, but he was gone by the time we stood up to leave.
I soon forgot about the guy and got engrossed in to movie. Linda, had never seen it before, so Pam and I really got a kick out of her as she had her face covered through most of the movie and had to squelch several screams!
It was great to see this classic on the big screen. You should check your local theaters because TCM is sponsoring several of showings in the coming months of old favorites.
Speaking of birds, could you imagine coming across these? Watch this fantastic video!
