Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 965 views

    The Birds (1963) - Alfred Hitchcock - Film Review

    Uploaded by

    Jake Bryant
    The film review summarizes Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 thriller "The Birds". It depicts unexpected bird attacks in Bodega Bay. Though the opening resembles a romantic comedy, it builds tension and horror. Hitchcock was drawn to the challenge of the special effects. The cinematography is praised for its editing, uses of color and sound, and landscape shots. While the plot is thin, the suspense and frightening ending leave audiences unsettled. The techniques make "The Birds" uniquely Hitchcock's masterpiece.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    The Birds (1963) - Alfred Hitchcock - Film Review

    Uploaded by

    Jake Bryant
    965 views5 pages
    The film review summarizes Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 thriller "The Birds". It depicts unexpected bird attacks in Bodega Bay. Though the opening resembles a romantic comedy, it builds tension and horror. Hitchcock was drawn to the challenge of the special effects. The cinematography is praised for its editing, uses of color and sound, and landscape shots. While the plot is thin, the suspense and frightening ending leave audiences unsettled. The techniques make "The Birds" uniquely Hitchcock's masterpiece.

    Original Description:

    The Birds (1963) - Alfred Hitchcock - Film Review

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The film review summarizes Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 thriller "The Birds". It depicts unexpected bird attacks in Bodega Bay. Though the opening resembles a romantic comedy, it builds tension and horror. Hitchcock was drawn to the challenge of the special effects. The cinematography is praised for its editing, uses of color and sound, and landscape shots. While the plot is thin, the suspense and frightening ending leave audiences unsettled. The techniques make "The Birds" uniquely Hitchcock's masterpiece.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    965 views5 pages

    The Birds (1963) - Alfred Hitchcock - Film Review

    Uploaded by

    Jake Bryant
    The film review summarizes Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 thriller "The Birds". It depicts unexpected bird attacks in Bodega Bay. Though the opening resembles a romantic comedy, it builds tension and horror. Hitchcock was drawn to the challenge of the special effects. The cinematography is praised for its editing, uses of color and sound, and landscape shots. While the plot is thin, the suspense and frightening ending leave audiences unsettled. The techniques make "The Birds" uniquely Hitchcock's masterpiece.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 5

    The Birds

    Dir. Alfred Hitchcock,


    (1963)

    Film Review

    Storytelling & Commission

    The Birds
    Director: Alfred Hitchcock

    Figure 1

    Figure 2

    Figure 2

    The Birds is another of Hitchcocks suspense filled wonders. Directed in 1963, The Birds depicts the story of a series of sudden, unexplained bird attacks within the small town of Bodega Bay. The film is introduced in a way which may almost cause confusion amongst audiences, having an opening which almost immediately feels as if it belongs to the romantic-comedy genre; something which is completely off radar in regards to Hitchcocks renowned filmmaking techniques. However, it isnt until later that The Birds reveals its true tension filled nature, releasing the suspense and horror in which Hitchcock develops so effectively. The Birds was an ambitious film for its time due to its demand for the high volume of special effects; however the prodigious effort is arguably what had drawn Hitchcock to its production. Film critic Hanke argues that The Birds; Feels like it was made by a brilliant filmmaker who simply felt challenged by the enormity of the task. (Hanke, 2007) In agreement with Hanke, Hitchcocks production feels centred around the success of the huge accomplishment he had achieved while developing this film, with the exciting special effects and his inventive, revolutionary filmmaking techniques. The foundations that the original story Daphne du Maurier had written presented Hitchcock with a loose base to build around, developing his own tension-filled thrill ride outside the boundaries of the novel elaborating on the original plot as well creating new and expanding upon old characters. However, even though The Birds is extremely successful in gripping attention and continually building on an audiences expectations, it could be argued that the a shallow plot-line makes the narrative hard to follow and fully understand. Perhaps this is a flaw, but even without having a greatly understandable storyline, the overall production truly works wrenching the guts of audiences and continuously tightening the bolts of suspense throughout, until the final release at the end where viewers are still left with a frightening, eerie

    closing shot (Figure 3) that leaves events unexplained, topping off another of Hitchcocks dramatic and enticing masterpieces.

    Figure 3 As a whole The Birds left audiences with a great experience, allowing even modern viewers to feel the same emotions to an extent with only the clock-work special effects having aged. The suspense and terror portrayed throughout still remain due to the precise editing which provides audiences with the slow-and-steady camera shots to draw out the tension before releasing a frenzy of faced paced terror. The overall draw to the film is due to its success of its overall cinematography. Film Reviewer Wake considers the film as; a textbook of brilliantly edited set pieces with ingenious uses of colour, sound, and landscape. (Wake, 2000) Wake picks up on an interesting argument stating The Birds is textbook when it comes to its filming conventions. The film has been considered by many to be Hitchcocks last unflawed production, arguably due to the success of the overall cinematography which notably makes The Birds unique. The contrasts of colour schemes and the limited use of sound are two of the most successful conventions which are consistent during the films running, both providing different effects. For example, the decision to exclude forms of non-diegetic sounds such as soundtracks construct emphasis on character conversation, and more importantly, draws attention to the bird sounds which help to provide that uncomfortable atmosphere that Hitchcock is renowned for. The colour schemes also present various interpretations that could also be perceived to the link with the arguable symbolisms of the birds themselves. One interpretation that is valid suggests that the birds could possibly represent the female fight for attention from Mitch, the stereotypical attractive male. In more than one instant, the birds could act a sign of a jealous frenzy which also juxtapose with the envious green that Melanie bares throughout. She is also almost always the central focus of each shot which is also suggestive that attention is always on her. This is also another of Hitchcocks filming conventions having the beautiful blonde being the central attraction as well as being the victim of his horrors. With both conventions in mind, it could be said that without these aspects, the effect that the film has on viewers could be substantially changed.

    Inarguably, the way in which The Birds raises pulses makes the over experience a suspenseful adventure provokes questions about the true meanings of the film. Nevertheless the distinguished filming techniques that are evident within allow Hitchcocks work to be unquestionably unique to his name. The Birds is Unmistakably, one of the master's best. (Baumgarten, 2000)

    Review Bibliography

    References Hanke, K (2007) available at; www.mountainx.com; www.mountainx.com/movies/review/birds#.UQ67aaWEx8E [accessed online on 2 February 2013]. Wake, B (2000) available at; www.culturevulture.net; http://www.culturevulture.net/Movies/Birds.htm [accessed online on 2 February 2013]. Baumgarten, M (2000) available at; www.rottentomatoes.com; www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/film/1999-08-19/the-birds/ [accessed online on 3 February 2013].

    Illustrations Figure 1: http://posterwire.com/wp-content/uploads/the_birds.jpg Figure 2: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c97wTvqBTY/TDH8T8Xd_dI/AAAAAAAAAGk/T00tpiK5A4w/s1600/the+birds.jpg Figure 3: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/eb9wVQZyeNI/TVl_GAw8qcI/AAAAAAAAAxY/AYl6UsBlJEs/s1600/birds_ending.jpg

    You might also like