The Birds

The Birds

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Writers: Daphne De Maurier (Story), Evan Hunter (Screenplay)

Stars: Tippi Hendren, Rod Taylor, Suzanne Pleshette

The Story:

Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hendren) is a wealthy San Francisco socialite who is used to getting everything she wants. She pursues a potential boyfriend to a small town in North California where things take a turn for the worst. The birds of the town begin attacking the villagers causing chaos and panic.

What qualities does this film have of an archetypal thriller?

o   Birds outside the school with the children inside.

o   The children’s birthday party.

o  

This film is a classic example of a thriller. There is plenty of fast-paced action that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seats whilst rooting for the main characters to avert the crisis and save themselves and the town.

Devices:

This film uses various techniques to create tension and add suspense.

o   No soundtrack – Alfred Hitchcock chose not to make a soundtrack for ‘The Birds’. He did this as the audience can really listen for the sound of the bird’s wings flapping and their cawing. This lets the viewer know that the birds are getting closer and there is about to be another attack. It also adds a sense of reality to the film. As there is no backing music, the viewer can actually believe that what they are seeing is real and not staged. It makes it more believable and so the audience feel more involved, heightening their fear. It’s as if the sound of the birds is the soundtrack of the film.

o   Extended silences – the elongated silences create tension as the audience is anxious to hear the sound of the birds.

In my opinion, this is a successful thriller as it keeps the audience on the edge of their seat and there are lots of twists in the story.