60 years ago, Alfred Hitchcock scared the world with feathers, beak and claws by unleashing his Scary Birds on Hollywood. Inspired by a short story by Daphne du Maurier, but also by an amazing story that happened in real life, this legendary horror film tells the story of the violent and mysterious attacks of birds on the residents of San Francisco.
On the anniversary of this landmark film, actress Veronica Cartwright, who played Cathy, Tippi Hedren’s little sister, spoke about her memories in Patrick Loubattiere’s book, which is dedicated to 110 actors in Hitchcock’s career.
In the preface to the book, which he signed himself, Cartwright confides his meeting with the master of suspense and his exchanges with the latter, especially about the tricks used on the set to give the famous birds an impression of mass and danger.
The famous actor, who is now 74 years old (and who we could later see in Aliens or L’Etoffe des Héros), thus returned to one of the most emblematic sequences of the film: the one in which we can see Tippi Hedren sitting in the audience. A bench behind a children’s climbing frame in the school yard.
While the voices of schoolchildren echo in the distance and a young woman smokes a cigarette, the first crow inadvertently lands on a metal structure, soon joined by a second, then a third bird. When the ink turns around, a few seconds later the structure is completely covered in birds, creating a real sense of surprise and anxiety in the protagonist and the viewer.
However, as Veronica Cartwright reveals in the foreword to the work signed by Patrick Loubatiere, Hitchcock used a very simple trick to develop this plan, relying on the magic of cinema to deceive his audience:
“(…) The birds in the school chicken coop weren’t real at all.’recalls the actor.
“Part of them were cut out of cardboard. That’s why I asked : ‘But people won’t notice?’ He replied: “When the eyes follow the movement, they imagine that everything is alive.” Well, to this day, when I look at that scene and think I’ve spotted a fake bird, it suddenly starts moving.”
When you see the famous scene again, know that some fake birds are hiding among the real crows. Discover the works of Patrick Loubatiere in full To learn more about Hitchcock’s career and his cast.
(Re)discover Alfred Hitchcock’s Faux Raccord…
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
