I am a big Alfred Hitchcock fan, have been since childhood. I think I started with the ‘…Presents’ TV show and then got into the movies but it may have been the other way around. I was so wee that I can’t actually remember. ‘Vertigo’ is my favourite movie after ‘Jaws’. I also love ‘Shadow of a Doubt’ and ‘Rear Window’. When I first visited Northern California, back in 2000, I made sure I visited several filming locations of Hitchcock movies. These included Bodega Bay where I ran around like a nitwit pretending I was being attacked by birds, as I am sure when visitors do. ‘The Birds’ is one of those movies I enjoy precisely because it defies resolution in the same way that I enjoy ‘The Shining‘. I won’t discuss it more so as to not risk spoiling it for any reader who has not seen it but I like that it is ambiguous and mysterious. I think it contributes to its unsettling atmosphere. My mother, on the other hand, absolutely hates ‘The Birds’ for the same reason. All of which preamble is to explain why I chose to draw an iconic scene from ‘The Birds’ – based on the movie poster indeed – as the next illustration in my Inktober sketchbook. You will note that I still pretty much suck at drawing birds. These are definitely cousins to my Raven.
A Pict in PA 
Ah, I remember that movie well and found it to be quite unsettling. For the record, I really like your birds. As was the case with your recent autumn wreath, realism is overrated.
Thanks, Mike. Yeah, I don’t remotely aspire to realism but still I think I could stand to improve my drawings of birds.
I think your birds are just right for the scene – and now I need to go re-watch the movie because it’s been a long time
Thanks, Ellie. I hope you enjoy rewatching the movie.
This is just great. The facial expression! Perfect. I don’t know if you have ever read the short story by Daphne du Maurier that the movie is based on, but it’s worth it (and different from the movie).
Yes, I have. I have a whole collection of du Maurier short stories.
I love her work. And she was an interesting lady, as well.
It’s so hard to draw tongues without making them look weird. Good job.
Yes. They are challenging. They often end up looking like slugs or something.
I am a North by Northwest fan here. (It’s the James Mason factor. He just does evil so well.).
But you make the attack of the birds look far more credible than anything that happened in the movie.
Thanks!