This movie was made (1963)  long before computers were involved in movie making.  How did Hitchcock get the birds to do what they did in the movie?

The movie was nominated for one Oscar; Special Effects

 

Quote

The final shot of the film, with the characters driving away from Bodega Bay as they're watched by a restive flock of birds, was one of the film's typically tricky scenes, combining live birds, animated birds, and puppet birds, along with the moving car heading toward a detailed matte painting as a backdrop. Hitchcock recalled that the shot was a composite that blended 32 separate exposures, calling it "the most difficult single shot I've ever done."

https://www.moviefone.com/2013/03/25/the-birds-alfred-hitchcock-25-things-you-didnt-know/

This link has a bit more info.

https://kimmikong.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/the-making-of-alfred-hitchcocks-the-birds/

Sounds like cast and crew were living the movie they were making.

Edited August 21, 20178 yr by Endy0816

10 hours ago, zapatos said:

The movie was nominated for one Oscar; Special Effects

I suspect the average cinema goer is unaware of the extent to which special effects are used for what might seem to most of us like mundane shots.

One of Hitchcock's best film, if not the best.  Could you imagine how he could have done this film with today's special FX?