…and remember, the next scream you hear may be your own!|Mar. 28, 1963|United States|119 Min.|TV-PG
Genre: Horror
Description: The Birds is a 1963 film set in the early 1960s. The story begins in a San Francisco pet shop, where socialite Melanie Daniels encounters lawyer Mitch Brenner. He is searching for lovebirds to gift his sister Cathy on her 11th birthday. Recognizing Melanie from a past court case involving a prank, Mitch pretends to mistake her for a shop assistant and questions her knowledge of birds, which she lacks. He reveals he knew her identity all along and intended to teach her a lesson about being on the receiving end of a joke. Mitch leaves without purchasing anything. Intrigued by him, Melanie buys the lovebirds and travels to Bodega Bay after discovering Mitch is spending the weekend at his family’s farm.
In Bodega Bay, Melanie seeks out local teacher Annie Hayworth to learn Cathy’s name. Annie had previously dated Mitch but ended the relationship due to his overbearing mother, Lydia, who disapproves of any woman in Mitch’s life. Melanie rents a boat to discreetly deliver the lovebirds to the Brenner farm. Mitch notices her during her retreat and meets her at the dock. As she approaches the wharf, a seagull attacks her. Mitch treats her injury at a nearby café, where Lydia arrives and meets Melanie. Despite Lydia’s reservations, Mitch invites Melanie to dinner.
At the farm, Lydia’s hens stop eating, and she voices her disapproval of Melanie’s reputation. Mitch later invites Melanie to Cathy’s birthday party the following day. Shortly after, a dead seagull crashes into Annie’s front door, foreshadowing the strange and terrifying events to come.
Cast director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast actor: Tippi Hedren, Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette, Veronica Cartwright, Ethel Griffies, Charles McGraw, Ruth McDevitt, Lonny Chapman, Joe Mantell
Original name: The Birds