1963 horror thriller “The Birds” features the screen debut of Tippi Hedren. Hitchcock told a reporter, after a few weeks of filming, that she was remarkable, and said:
“She’s already reaching the lows and highs of terror”.
The film is loosely based on the 1952 story by Daphne du Maurier. It is set primarily in Bodega Bay, California which is, suddenly and for unexplained reasons, the subject of a series of widespread and violent bird attacks over the course of a few days.
The film was written by author and screenwriter Evan Hunter. Hitchcock told him to develop new characters and a more elaborate plot, keeping du Maurier’s title and concept of unexplained bird attacks.
Alfred Hitchcock and Tippi Hedren filming The Birds. Photograph: Ronald Grant Archive via
Tippi Hedren with Hitchcock filming The Birds via
Tippi Hedren talks to director Alfred Hitchcock while sitting on his chair on the set of The Birds via
FROM THE BYGONE 