The story begins as an innocuous romantic triangle involving wealthy, spoiled
Tippi Hedren, handsome
Rod Taylor, and schoolteacher
Suzanne Pleshette. The human story begins in a San Francisco pet shop and culminates at the home of Taylor's mother (
Jessica Tandy) at Bodega Bay, where the characters' sense of security is slowly eroded by the curious behavior of the birds in the area. At first, it's no more than a sea gull swooping down and pecking at Tippi's head. Things take a truly ugly turn when hundreds of birds converge on a children's party. There is never an explanation as to why the birds have run amok, but once the onslaught begins, there's virtually no letup. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide