One of Alfred Hitchcock's most ruffling (ahem) movies returns to theaters via TCM and Fathom Events for its 60th anniversary. It is, as might be expected, The Birds, which will be hosted by revered, movie critic/historian, Leonard Maltin.
Based on a story by Daphne du Maurier, and adapted for the screen by Evan Hunter (better known as bestselling author, Ed McBain), The Birds is part clever allegory and part cataclysmic weirdness. Thanks to Hitch, it vaunts immaculate pacing and is enriched by frightful visuals, rendered by Disney Studios' esteemed animator, Ub Iwerks.
Rod (The Time Machine) Taylor, Suzanne Pleshette, Jessica Tandy, Veronica Cartwright and Tippi Hedren (in her breakthrough role) comprise its forefront cast. They do an outstanding job drawing us into their characters (even allowing an admissible romance to bloom), as our fine, feathered fiends descend upon humble Bodega Bay, California.
The Birds is also the granddaddy of quotidian-beast-revolt pictures, a precursor to Jaws, Frogs, Willard, Ben, Stanley, Cujo, Grizzly, Claws, Alligator, Crocodile, Squirm, Day of the Animals, War of the Insects, The Deadly Bees, Empire of the Ants, Kingdom of the Spiders, et al. In addition, it establishes a last-act claustrophobia that envisages George A. Romero/John A. Russo's Night of the Living Dead.
The Birds, however, pushed its unwonted envelope with subtle, cawing grace, as demonstrated by a scene where a crow-flock occupies a climbing cage, near a schoolhouse where the unsuspecting children harmonize "Risselty Rossilty," in what might be Hitch's greatest ascent.
The Birds is the epitome of crème d' la crème cinema and will reinstall its fluttering unease in select theaters, October 22 & 23. Be there to be scared! 😁
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