Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds is an unforgettable masterpiece that is considered one of the most terrifying films from the Master of Suspense. When beautiful blonde Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) travels to Bodega Bay in pursuit of eligible bachelor Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor), she is inexplicably attacked by a seagull. Suddenly, thousands of birds begin to flock into town, preying on schoolchildren and residents in a terrifying series of attacks. Mitch and Melanie must fight for their lives against a deadly force that cannot be explained or stopped in this film that makes you want to “hold onto something and watch!” (Leonard Maltin’s Classic Movie Guide)
Topic: "Bird Brains"
Presenter: F. Keith Barker, PhD.
Have you ever wondered what a bird is thinking? It might be a whole lot more than you'd expect. Join our ornithologist expert in a discussion on new discoveries that suggest our feathered friends are far more intelligent than we ever thought before.
F. Keith Barker received his Ph.D. in evolutionary biology in 1999 from the University of Chicago. Subsequently he was a Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and then a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Minnesota, where he is now an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, and Curator of Genetic Resources at the Bell Museum of Natural History. His research is focused on the phylogeny and diversification of passerine birds.
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Experts reveal the science behind cinematic standouts and cult classics in paired screenings and lectures. The series is made possible through a grant by the Coolidge Corner Theatre, with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
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