THE BIRDS in '60s Horror and Sci-Fi Forum

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THE BIRDS

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Bill Warren	Re: THE BIRDS as allegory?	#21	[-]
Nov 3 05 2:35 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* I've always sort of thought the birds were acting out what would be the repressed feelings of Mitch's mother, who wants Melanie to stay away from her son. But Tandy is menaced by the birds herself, as when the sparrows come down the chimney. Everyone (justly) praises the gathering-of-the-crows series of shots, but to me another very effective moment, not often commented on, is in the house when Hedren looks at the fireplace and says "Mitch...." just before the birds explode into the room. Jojo, I read "The Birds" long ago; it seemed to me rather scrupulously realistic, not dreamlike. Three of Hitchcock's movies, not two, were based on stories by Du Maurier, the third being JAMAICA INN.
blackbiped	Re: THE BIRDS as allegory?	#22	[-]
Nov 3 05 2:55 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* But Tandy is menaced by the birds herself, as when the sparrows come down the chimney. As is her friend from down the road (can't remember his name -- Dan, maybe?) who is seen in those great shock cuts that used to scare the wits out of me when I was a kid. If the birds are acting upon a character's subconscious feelings (like the id monster) then, once unleashed, their actions would have to be uncontrollable and their attacks indiscriminate. Legend, oh legend, the third wheel legend...always in the way.
Jojo Lapin X	Re: THE BIRDS as allegory?	#23	[-]
Nov 3 05 3:24 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Jojo, I read "The Birds" long ago; it seemed to me rather scrupulously realistic, not dreamlike. Well, I was speculating. It is a legitimate research method.
Tim Lucas VW	Re: THE BIRDS as allegory?	#24	[-]
Nov 3 05 3:24 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Melanie and Lydia have always struck me as being similar women who become very territorial around each other, and around Mitch. Perhaps the birds represent the collison of their personalities? Calm is established from the point where Lydia begins to care for Melanie.
Bill Warren	Re: THE BIRDS as allegory?	#25	[-]
Nov 3 05 4:45 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hitchcock did plan for the fleeing car to be attacked by birds after leaving Bodega Bay, and for the survivors to arrive on a hill overlooking San Francisco to see the Golden Gate Bridge covered in silent birds. If those scenes had been in the movie, this kind of speculation, of course, would take a different turn. But inasmuch as those scenes are NOT there.....
chris schillig	Re: THE BIRDS as allegory?	#26	[-]
Nov 3 05 9:15 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	When I worked in advertising sales, I called on one of my customers, the manager of a pharmacy that was located across the street from the local college theater. The theater was showing THE BIRDS that weekend, and by way of conversation, I mentioned this to my customer and asked if she'd seen it. Imagine my surprise when she launched into a detailed story of being hospitalized in her early teens after watching the movie on television. Apparently, she because so traumatized by the idea of attacking birds that she refused to leave the house. Wow! Allegorical or not, the film packs a punch, and it's certainly a testament to Hitch's mastery of the medium -- or at least a testament to the histronics of teen girls!
ryanbrennan	Re: THE BIRDS as allegory?	#27	[-]
Nov 4 05 1:16 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I've always seen the lovebirds as a visual shorthand -- this one detail is meant to explain in a broad stroke humankind's general mistreatment of our feathered friends. Why wouldn't they revolt? As for the bird lady, blaming Hedren creates tension and conflict and helps smooth over the fact that a lengthy expository sequence has been dropped into the middle of the movie. Actually, this type of reaction, people blaming the outsider for their troubles, is a cliche that Hitchcock manages to pull off through its over-the-top irrationality. BTW, I like Tim's take on the allegorical aspects of the birds. As a sidebar: Remember the advertising campaign for THE BIRDS? "THE BIRDS is coming." Mad magazine, in their spoof of the movie, featured a billboard with that slogan and then included their own reaction -- "And good grammar in advertising has went."
oldmanster	Re: THE BIRDS as allegory?	#28	[-]
Nov 4 05 9:39 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* As a sidebar: Remember the advertising campaign for THE BIRDS? "THE BIRDS is coming." Mad magazine, in their spoof of the movie, featured a billboard with that slogan and then included their own reaction -- "And good grammar in advertising has went." An excellent reminder that we shouldn't take ourselves and our beloved genre _too_ seriously. Mad Magazine always managed to puncture the right balloons. A vampire Bat-boy, indeed! ... Reed
Richard Harland Smith Esq	Re: THE BIRDS as allegory?	#29	[-]
Nov 9 05 1:02 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	If you look closely, they're not really lovebirds at all. They're actually red herrings.
Jojo Lapin X	Korzybski reference in THE BIRDS	#30	[-]
Dec 10 05 8:29 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	When Rod Taylor asks her what she does, Tippi Hedren mentions that "On Tuesdays, I take a course in General Semantics at Berkeley." General Semantics, of course, is the pseudoscience invented in the 30s by Count Alfred Korzybski. It seems to me unlikely that it was ever taught at Berkeley.
yendor1152	Re: Korzybski reference in THE BIRDS	#31	[-]
Dec 11 05 12:16 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It's funny, but I have a completely different view of The Birds. I've seen it probably 20 times in my life, including a harrowing first showing when I was approximately 10 (during its original run). At one point, I even taped (just the audio) the "their brain pans are not big enough" scene in the diner when the movie was first shown on network television (maybe 1967?). Anyway, here's my spin: the catalyst for the birds attacking is indeed Melanie, but not because she deems to cage a pair of lovebirds. It's actually an outgrowth of Mitch's psyche. HE'S the caged bird, not Melanie. His mother is oppressive, grasping, unwilling to let go. And Melanie is just as determined to woo Mitch--to the point where she jumps in her car and travels all the way to Bodega Bay on a mere whim. She wants to "cage" him as a potential husband. Mitch is trapped in the middle of all these determined women, while also feeling responsibility to both Annie and his sister. When Melanie shows up at his home, bringing a symbolic gift of lovebirds, it psychologically tips Mitch over the edge and triggers the cataclysmic events. A bird attacks Melanie. A bird smacks into Annie's door. The birds almost kill Melanie in an upstairs bedroom. Though there are bird attacks on Mitch, the most vicious (aside from the dude with his eyes pecked out) are on Annie and Melanie. Mitch is the only robust male in a cast of strong women and ineffective men. Aside from him, all of the men are either weak or slightly "off" (like the Bible spouting drunk). The women surround him in a tightly closing circle, and like the Id monster of Forbidden Planet, he strikes out. I never once thought that Melanie was evil--just vapid and slightly stupid. Aside from being heroic and strong, Mitch is a cypher...but I think there's more going on inside his character than any other in The Birds. Rod
Dr Spyclops	THE BIRDS	#32	[-]
Jan 30 07 8:26 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I resurrected this thread due to an item that I just heard on the news. Did anyone know that THE BIRDS was partially inspired by a real life incident that happened in 1961?! Scan down to the bottom of this article from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife... wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/razorclm/domacid.htm
Bill Warren	Re: THE BIRDS	#33	[-]
Jan 30 07 8:48 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Did anyone know that THE BIRDS was partially inspired by a real life incident that happened in 1961?! I find that questionable; Hitchcock had been wanting to make a people vs. animals movie for some years--he bought the rights to Fredric Brown's novel THE MIND THING (1961), which resembles THE BEAST WITH A MILLION EYES. And du Maurier's story was first published in 1952.
Dr Spyclops	Re: THE BIRDS	#34	[-]
Jan 30 07 9:00 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	No question there, Bill. However, the real-life incident which occurred while Hitch was prepping THE BIRDS certainly seemed to be a source of inspiration for story possibilities.
Bill Warren	Re: THE BIRDS	#35	[-]
Jan 30 07 9:32 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* However, the real-life incident which occurred while Hitch was prepping THE BIRDS certainly seemed to be a source of inspiration for story possibilities. It's possible, but I wouldn't bet much money on it being a fact. Bird "attacks" of that nature have occasionally been reported down through the years. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that one in England prompted the Du Maurier story in the first place.
Dr Spyclops	Re: THE BIRDS	#36	[-]
Sep 19 07 5:40 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	"........Willikey-wallakey now, now, now." Ever wonder about that strange song the schoolkids are singing in class while the crows are gathering for attack? It's bothered me enough that I finally set out to do a little research on it. The tune originated from a traditional Scottish folk song called, "The Wee Cooper o' Fife" (More about that later.). Over the years, the lyrics were changed and the tune became known as "Risselty-Rosselty", a version of which can be found here. Some websites that I've visited during my research have claimed that the "Risselty-Rosselty" lyrics are the ones used in the movie but that's incorrect. For the key sequence in THE BIRDS, someone -- most likely scriptwriter, Evan Hunter, re-wrote part of the wording and phrases in the chorus. Portions of the song also awkwardly repeat a couple of times, suggesting that it was first recorded, then later edited to pad out its length and match the timing and pacing of the sequence. Below, you'll find the actual lyrics heard in the film, transcribed verbatim.... and if you'd like to sing along with the kids of Bodega Bay, open up another internet window and play this corresponding Youtube clip: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVDT4bWPypk (The lyrics are first heard when Melanie drives up to the school. The Youtube clip begins later, at the 4th stanza.) I married my wife in the month of June. Risselty-rosselty, now, now, now. I brought her home by the light of the moon. Risselty-rosselty, heyjohnny-dosselty, Nickety-nackety, rustical quality, Willikey-wallakey now, now, now. She combed her hair but once a year. Risselty-rosselty, now, now, now. With every stroke, she shed a tear. Risselty-rosselty, heyjohnny-dosselty, Rustical quality, risselty-rosselty, Now, now, now. I brought her home by the light of the moon. Risselty-rosselty, heyjohnny-dosselty, Nickety-nackety, rustical quality, Willikey-wallakey now, now, now. She combed her hair but once a year. Risselty-rosselty, now, now, now. With every stroke, she shed a tear. Risselty-rosselty, heyjohnny-dosselty, Nickety-nackety, rustical quality, Willikey-wallakey now, now, now. She swept up the floor but once a year. Risselty-rosselty, now, now, now. She said that brooms were much too dear. Risselty-rosselty, heyjohnny-dosselty, Nickety-nackety, rustical quality, Willikey-wallakey now, now, now. She churned the butter in her dads old boot. Risselty-rosselty, now, now, now. And for a catch, she used her foot. Risselty-rosselty, heyjohnny-dosselty, Nickety-nackety, rustical quality, Willikey-wallakey now, now, now. The butter, it came out a grisly grey. Risselty-rosselty, now, now, now. The cheese took legs and ran away. Risselty-rosselty, heyjohnny-dosselty, Nickety-nackety, rustical quality, Willikey-wallakey now, now, now. She let the critter get away. Risselty-rosselty, heyjohnny-dosselty, Nickety-nackety, rustical quality, Willikey-wallakey now, now, now. I asked my wife to wash the floor. Risselty-rosselty, now, now, now. She gave me my hat and she showed me the door. Risselty-rosselty, heyjohnny-dosselty, Nickety-nackety, rustical quality, Now, now, now. I married my wife in the month of June. Risselty-rosselty, now, now, now. I brought her home by the light of the moon. Risselty-rosselty, heyjohnny-dosselty, Nickety-nackety, rustical quality, Willikey-wallakey now, now, now. She combed her hair but once a year. Risselty-rosselty, heyjohnny-dosselty, Nickety-nackety, rustical quality, Willikey-wallakey now, now, now. Risselty-rosselty, now, now, now. Now, the lyrics don't exactly depict the type of woman you'd want to bring home to meet Mom but what's really interesting is that the original Scottish folk song is a charming little diddy......... about wife-beating! The Wee Cooper o' Fife There was a wee cooper lived in Fife Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. And he has ta'en a gentle wife. Risselty-rosselty, hey, pomposity Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. She wouldna card and she wouldna spin, Nickety nackety noo, noo. noo For shamin' of her gentle kin. Risselty-rosselty, hey, pomposity Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. She wouldna bake and she wouldna brew, Nickety nackety noo, noo. noo For spoilin' of her gentle hue. Risselty-rosselty, hey, pomposity Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. She called him a dirty Hieland whelp. Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. If you want yer dinner, go get it yourself. Risselty-rosselty, hey, pomposity Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. The cooper's awa tae his wool-pack Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. And lain a sheepskin across her back. Risselty-rosselty, hey, pomposity Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. I'll no thrash you, for your gentle kin Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. But I will thrash my ain sheep-skin. Risselty-rosselty, hey, pomposity Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. He laid the sheepskin across her back Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. And with a good stick, he went whickety-whack. Risselty-rosselty, hey, pomposity Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. Oh, I will card and I will spin Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. And think nae mair of my gentle kin! Risselty-rosselty, hey, pomposity Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. She drew the table and spread the board Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. And, "My dear husband", was every word. Risselty-rosselty, hey, pomposity Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. All you who have gotten a gentle wife, Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. Just send ye for the cooper of Fife! Risselty-rosselty, hey, pomposity Nickety nackety noo, noo, noo. So, why are the children of Bodega Bay singing a song that was originally about domestic abuse? Does it relate to the plot in any way or say anything about the director's supposed controlling attitude towards women? I'm not sure but one thing's for certain --- Hitch must've gotten a good chuckle out of slipping one past us.
Mark Hodgson	Re: THE BIRDS	#37	[-]
Sep 20 07 7:55 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I was very disappointed that while the 'schoolhouse' and the Church building can still be found in the actual Bodega Bay, the climbing frame is no longer there... Anyhoo, I'm sure I've seen an interview where Hitch cited actual bird attacks in California as inspiration. This may have been part of the publicity drive to steer the image of the film away from the fantastique, but the incidents certainly made headlines. The first evidence I could easily dig out were Camille Paglia's 1998 BFI book on the film. The intro mentions Hitch seeing newspaper articles about a 1960 incident in La Jolla, Southern California, where birds flew down a chimney and attacked a family. In 1961, a bigger incident hit the headlines in Santa Cruz "Seabird Invasion Hits Coastal Homes", where flocks of gulls smashed into houses and cars in the fog. There's a reprint from the front page that includes a photo of a smiling policeman with a dead seagull decorating his police car! Francois Truffaut's fantastic book-length 1967 interview with Hitchcock, mentions that the Du Maurier story was also based on real incidents, which Hitch replies as probably being caused by the bird version of rabies (which he thinks would be "too unpleasant" for the big screen). He also mentions that while shooting the film, a San Francisco paper reported birds attacking young lambs - an item that inspired the 'pecked-out eyeballs' scene... Black Hole DVD Reviews
PJAceto	Re: THE BIRDS	#38	[-]
Sep 20 07 8:30 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* the climbing frame is no longer there... We used to call these the monkey bars. That song has been going thru my head all morning. Curse you!
Mark Hodgson	Re: THE BIRDS	#39	[-]
Sep 20 07 9:48 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I walked past an electricity pylon this morning, a tower over hundred feet tall, with a lot of starlings perched on it. I recalled the climbing frame scene, but in my mind I added a pan across to a pylon covered in thousands of birds... Black Hole DVD Reviews
yendor1152	Re: THE BIRDS	#40	[-]
Sep 20 07 11:43 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	QUOTE: "I was very disappointed that while the 'schoolhouse' and the Church building can still be found in the actual Bodega Bay, the climbing frame is no longer there..." Yes, we used to call them "monkey bars," as well. And isn't the schoolhouse now a privately owned home? Rod

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