The Birds (1963)

Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

The second film in this pairing is one of Hitchcock's few outright horror films! Again directed by Hitchcock and written by Evan Hunter (based on short story by Daphne Du Maurier), 1963's "The Birds" follows big city socialite Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) as she's out and about for the day. After running into an interestinb but rude man at a pet shop, while waiting to pick up a bird as a present for her Aunt, she decides to track him down and deliver to him the purchase he was there to make. She finds out that he is Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor), who weekends in a little community up the coast called Bodega Bay. After driving up, and making the acquaintance of several of the townsfolk, including the schoolteacher, Annie Hayworth (Suzanne Pleshette), she tracks him down to his home across the bay and leaves his desired purchase in his living room. As she heads back across the bay, Brenner spots her and drives around to meet her at the dock. Just as she's about to make it to shore, she's struck in the head by a seagull. After tending to her wound in the local restaurant, he invites her to dinner that evening. There, she meets his mother, Lydia (Jessica Tandy) and his little sister Cathy (Veronica Cartwright). Mitch convinces her to stay the night, and she returns to Annie's home to stay in a room she has for rent. The next day is Cathy's birthday party at the Brenner home. Unfortunately, the festivities are broken up when a flock of seagulls attacks the assembled partygoers. Thus begins a series of attacks by various birds throughout that day and the next, all unexplained, and resulting in several deaths! Also starring Ethel Griffies, Charles McGaw, Ruth McDevitt, and Lonny Chapman! Plus, the gents reveal which two films they've selected in order to take a look at the career of Keanu Reeves!