Photographs Copyright Francesca Scalpi
Hitchcock picked the towns of Bodega and Bodega Bay to serve as the setting for his thriller featuring TippiHedren, Jessica Tandy, Rod Taylor, Suzanne Pleshette and, of course, the birds. At the time, the special effects utilized were enough to thrill and frighten young and old, and the film continues to affect modern day viewers. Mechanical and live-trained birds were used in the film, along with optically altered film overlay of flying birds. The film took almost three years to complete before it was released in 1963.
Saint Teresa of Avila Church. Shipbuilders built this church in 1859 on land donated by a wealthy patron. St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, which is briefly visible in the film, was made famous when it was photographed by Ansel Adams.The church was built in 1862.
The 141-year-old schoolhouse was established in 1873 for grades 1 through 8. The schoolhouse features a pivotal scene in which Tippi Hedren's character runs to the local schoolhouse to warn the teacher and students.
The schoolhouse of Annie Hayworth (Suzanne Pleshette), at 17110 Bodega Lane, which, in the film, appears to be just up the hill from the bay. The house was originally a schoolhouse, a local community centre and for a while a guest house. It’s now a private residence.
Links:
Visit Sonoma Coast https://www.visitsonomacoast.com/
Wikipedia The Birds https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birds_(film)
IMDB The Birds https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056869/
Crows Attack the Students - The Birds (6/11) Movie CLIP (1963) HD
Crows on the Playground - The Birds (5/11) Movie CLIP (1963) HD
Several of the diner scenes were filmed at a Bodega Bay eatery called the Tides Restaurant. Bodega Bay Inn at the Tides: The Birds article
Schoolhouse scenes
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