The Birds (1963)

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Today we will be reviewing 'The Birds', directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The premise is about a would-be couple that find themselves in unusual circumstances involving vicious rabid crows and seagulls attacking from the skies. The post apocalyptic situation conducts itself in a way that would be considered to be for a more mature audience, going into depth for each character introduced on screen. 'Cinema, it maintains, is but the medium between reality and the spectator.' (Lapsley and Westlake, 2006 pages. 157 ) A result of which is the viewers own perception of the situation being what really matters. It isn't too explosive, instead preferring to encourage the viewer to think for themselves or speculate the situation presented.

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In much of the course of unfolding plot, scenes are somewhat muted in comparison to the more powerful ones, which is something most films nowadays don't really follow. 'Most films start by establishing the lines of conflict which will determine or motivate the events and actions of the story.' The cause for this is fairly obvious when likened to the current domesticity and film production of the time, impact has been measured toward the audience whose minds do not tune to fantasy but rather to personal situations, and the ways that it could go wrong. Direction has a more experimental and measured approach that is more down to earth than it would be today. The characters in relation to this can be also very personable and have more relatability when reckoned towards this viewpoint.

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While the situation in realistic terms may be questionable or in line with a fantasy, by the natural urge to question we are led to ponder the metaphorical significance of events acted out. While not immediately apparent, at the time there would've been unique situations that would've effected that audience on a subconscious level. '...how a plague of birds almost ruins a peaceful community to be symbolic of how the world might Le destroyed (or perilously menaced) by a sudden disorder of future's machinery is not apparent in the picture. Nor is it made readily clear whether he meant the birds to represent the classical Furies that were supposed to pursue the wicked on this earth.' (Crowther, 1963) In a certain way movies can be effective without being direct with their content that is often referred to according to the semiotics of the films. Thematically, The Birds deals with deeper issues beyond its post apocalyptic scenario.

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Thematically the content of said film directly relates backward to the ideas of metaphor and symbolism in specific forms. Whilst they are the available trained birds, seagulls and crows happen to also bear the more vicious and tenacious behaviour toward humans during everyday life. This point is reinforced by how the lovebirds never seem effected by the rabid mindset of these other avian species. Their resemblance to the two main characters may be indicative of the true nature of this scenario, where distrust grows exponentially in an unfamiliar landscape, particularly upon the 'exotic' or out of place female arrival in the town. 

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Presence of implanted objects indefinitely increases the landscape of the film in deeper examination, something which is applicable on second viewings, an aspect better films would be known for in broad terms, when a film requires a second viewing to be understood in more depth, in theory, would count towards a longer period of enjoyment or interest in the plot. That's one of the biggest reasons 'The Birds' counts toward being a good film, because of the interest in underlying plots, and the ideas of conspiracy worked into it. 

Bibliography

Crowther, B . (1963). Screen: 'The Birds':Hitchcock's Feathered Fiends Are Chilling. New York Times, [online]  Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D05E7D9143CEF3BBC4953DFB2668388679EDE [17/02/2017]

Lapsley, Robert and Michael Westlake. Film Theory: An Introduction. 2nd ed. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2006. Print. [19/02/2017]

Turner, Graeme. Film As Social Practise. 3rd ed. London: Routledge, 1988. Print. [19/02/2017]

Figures

fig 1. Hitchcock, A. (1963). The Birds. [poster]

fig 2. Hitchcock, A. (1963). The Birds. [film still]

fig 3. Hitchcock, A. (1963). The Birds. [film still]

fig 4. Hitchcock, A. (1963). The Birds. [film still]

fig 5. Halsman, Philippe (1963). The Birds. [publicity photo]