"The Birds" -- What to Watch For
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Published on Tuesday, 20 October 2009 22:57
The Birds was not a typical film from Alfred Hitchcock. Released in 1963, it had elements of horror that had not been a major part of the legendary director's films until Psycho, which was released three years earlier.
Although The Birds is not generally regarded as one of Hitchcock's greatest films, AMU literature professor Blanford Parker finds its exploration of different themes particularly interesting.
"This is one of the first films where the normal order of nature is disturbed and becomes mortally dangerous," Dr. Parker said. "The birds are in revolt against man's dominion. We see the pet 'lovebirds' fighting to escape their captivity and this is the first sign of unnatural discontent.
Dr. Blanford said that another key theme is "the relation between the romantic plot and the horror plot."
"The triangle formed between the curious, sophisticated woman, the whimsical man and the angry jealous mother is at the heart of the film."
Everyone is welcome to attend the screening of The Birds at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, in the university lecture hall, and then to attend the discussion led by Dr. Parker at The Queen Mary Pub and Grille. There is no admission charge.
Dr. Parker is a Professor of Literature at AMU. He holds Ph.D and masters degrees in English from Harvard University and earned a B.A. in Greek and Latin at Cornell.
For an overview on the Ave Maria Film Series, click here for a previous Ave Herald story.
