A wealthy San Francisco socialite 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 ... Read allA wealthy San Francisco socialite 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.A wealthy San Francisco socialite 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.
- Director
- Writers
- Daphne Du Maurier(from the story by)
- Evan Hunter(screenplay by)
- Stars
- Director
- Writers
- Daphne Du Maurier(from the story by)
- Evan Hunter(screenplay by)
- Stars
- See more at IMDbPro
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 5 wins & 7 nominations total
Videos2
- Samas Sam
- (as William Quinn)
- Director
- Writers
- Daphne Du Maurier(from the story by)
- Evan Hunter(screenplay by)
- All cast & crew
Storyline
- Taglines
- Suspense and shock beyond anything you have seen or imagined!
- Genres
- Certificate
- PG
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaWhen audiences left the U.K. premiere at the Odeon, Leicester Square, London, they were greeted by the sound of screeching and flapping birds from loudspeakers hidden in the trees to scare them further.
- GoofsAfter two birds break the glass on the phone booth, it appears that the glass isn't shattered when Melanie is grabbed out of it.
- Quotes
Mother in Diner: [to Melanie] Why are they doing this? Why are they doing this? They said when you got here the whole thing started. Who are you? What are you? Where did you come from? I think you're the cause of all of this. I think you're evil. EVIL!
- Crazy creditsThere were no ending credits. And in the opening credits the title "THE BIRDS" was slowly pecked away by the passing crows.
- ConnectionsEdited into Cada ver es... (1981)
- SoundtracksRissle-dy, Rossle-dy
(uncredited)
("I married my wife in the month of June")
Derived from the traditional Scottish folk song "The Wee Cooper o'Fife"
Additional lyrics by Evan Hunter
Sung by the schoolchildren
The screeching bird soundtrack in itself was chilling.
The absence of backgound music added a sense of calm before the storm which made the bird attack scenes all the more intense.
The film builds up slowly and that serves to build up the tension and edginess.
The most chilling scene was definitely when Melanie (Tippi Hedren) was waiting outside the school while the singing was going on in the school. At each loop of the song, a few more crows would perch on the climbing frame. The site of them was truly grotesque. This scene is a lesson to all the "subtle as a sledge hammer" so called 'thrillers' that are churned out today.
By the end of the film, there is no conclusion, no neat result. It is somewhat uncomfortable watching a film like this and not seeing a conclusion. How will it end? Why did the birds attack?
Why spoil the film with an explanation?
- jonrose
- Aug 20, 1999
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $2,500,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $53,647
- Runtime
- 1h 59min
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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