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Followers proceed to go to two coastal California cities, the place director Alfred Hitchcock filmed the 1963 horror traditional: The Birds.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Within the 1963 horror movie “The Birds,” waves of seagulls, crows and sparrows assault the locals on the Northern California coast.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “THE BIRDS”)
ROD TAYLOR: (As Mitch Brenner) I do not know the way this began or why, however I do know it is right here, and we would be loopy to disregard it.
ETHEL GRIFFIES: (As Mrs. Bundy) To disregard what? The chicken warfare?
TAYLOR: (As Mitch Brenner) Sure, the chicken warfare. The chicken assault, plague. Name it what you want. They’re massing on the market someplace, they usually’ll be again. You may rely on it.
GRIFFIES: (As Mrs. Bundy) Ridiculous.
INSKEEP: Six a long time later, followers of the film nonetheless flock to Bodega Bay and the smaller city of Bodega to seek out the areas within the Alfred Hitchcock traditional. NPR’s Chad Campbell studies.
CHAD CAMPBELL, BYLINE: Contained in the Sonoma Coast Customer’s Middle, there is a nook dedicated to “The Birds.”
MITCHEL MAHDAVI: How are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Good, thanks.
CAMPBELL: And on the again patio overlooking the harbor, 5 plastic crows perch on a railing.
MAHDAVI: And I feel we’d like extra of them. Folks love them. They arrive out right here, they usually take photos with them.
CAMPBELL: Mitchel Mahdavi calls himself a concierge for Bodega Bay, recommending eating places, climbing trails or filming areas to the vacationers who cease by for info.
MAHDAVI: I might say it is half and half – right here to loosen up, and a few individuals do not even know concerning the film. Fifty are right here for the film.
CAMPBELL: To check these numbers, I launched myself to some guests taking a look at brochures.
Do you guys know something concerning the film? Did you come right here for the film?
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: No.
CAMPBELL: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: We do not know.
CAMPBELL: All proper.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: No.
CAMPBELL: Truthful sufficient.
However the second couple?
GARY GRANATA: I by no means thought I might be right here. And immediately, it is like, wait a minute. We’re solely, like, 50 miles? Let’s go do it.
CAMPBELL: Gary Granata and his spouse, Linda, are visiting from Tampa, Fla. And they’re large followers of “The Birds.”
G GRANATA: That film has such an influence on the time. It lingers. I imply, particularly individuals our age.
CAMPBELL: The Granatas are retired and zipping via their bucket record throughout a protracted cross-country drive. Linda Granata says being the place the movie was shot makes their reminiscences much more particular.
LINDA GRANATA: It simply brings again that chill…
G GRANATA: Yeah.
L GRANATA: …, of watching it however truly reliving it.
CATHIE BRUTON: Persons are so enthralled by it nonetheless.
CAMPBELL: Cathie Bruton lives within the close by city of Bodega. She moved right here from New Jersey about 40 years in the past.
BRUTON: I did not know that the buildings up there have been associated till I lived right here.
CAMPBELL: The buildings up there are the gleaming white church and the restored two-story schoolhouse from the movie. Each are nonetheless very well-preserved points of interest right here in Bodega. The 2 cities are separated by a 10-minute drive. However native historian Robin Rudderow says Hollywood magic made them seem like a single location.
ROBIN RUDDEROW: And that causes all type of confusion for vacationers as a result of they’re driving round Bodega Bay on the lookout for the schoolhouse.
CAMPBELL: She says the constructing dates again to the 1870s, when courses have been held within the two large rooms on the primary ground.
RUDDEROW: It has been quite a lot of issues through the years. I do know that it was a restaurant and a bed-and-breakfast.
CAMPBELL: Now the Potter Schoolhouse is a non-public residence the place the homeowners tolerate curious followers taking photos. It is also the place this memorable scene was filmed.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “THE BIRDS”)
SUZANNE PLESHETTE: (As Annie Hayworth) I would like you to go as quietly as attainable. Don’t make a sound till I inform you to run.
CAMPBELL: Dozens of crows sit on the varsity’s playground gear because the trainer prepares her college students to flee for his or her lives.
(SOUNDBITE OF BIRDS FLUTTERING)
CAMPBELL: Many guests lately ultimately run – or stroll – throughout Bodega Freeway to browse the collectibles at Seagull Presents. Each morning, proprietor Rick Madsen drags two mannequins out entrance. One is wearing a duplicate of the outfit worn by the star of the film, Tippi Hedren. Melanie wears a inexperienced skirt and jacket and is taking shelter in an outdated cellphone sales space.
RICK MADSEN: Yeah, she’s in there. And the birds are attacking and smashing the glass.
CAMPBELL: Madsen’s different model wears an Alfred Hitchcock masks, a shawl and…
MADSEN: I am engaged on a brand new jacket for the man, OK? I obtained him new pants, however they’re skinny pants. They do not look too good. Nevertheless it’s higher than nothing.
CAMPBELL: The shop sells knickknacks like Hummel collectible figurines, outdated magazines and ashtrays.
(SOUNDBITE OF CASH REGISTER RINGING)
CAMPBELL: Behind the money register, a TV display screen exhibits the film on a steady loop. Madsen estimates he is seen “The Birds” greater than 13,000 instances.
MADSEN: It is, like, thrice a day for the final 20 years, 5 days per week. An entire bunch of instances. (Laughter).
CAMPBELL: He swivels round, turns up the quantity and describes what’s taking place on the display screen.
MADSEN: So that is the place all of it begins. She’s nearly on the dock. A seagull comes down and clips her within the brow. Look forward to it. Wait.
(SOUNDBITE OF SEAGULL SQUAWKING)
MADSEN: Oh. That was the start of the tip. (Laughter).
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “THE BIRDS”)
TAYLOR: (As Mitch Brenner) That is the damnedest factor I ever noticed. I do not know. It appeared to swoop down at you intentionally. Oh, you are bleeding, too. Let’s handle that.
MADSEN: It is type of a corny film, man, to inform you the reality.
CAMPBELL: Traditional movie or corny film? It does not actually matter right here, the place “The Birds” has drawn numerous guests to this a part of the California coast. Chad Campbell, NPR Information, Bodega Bay, Calif.
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