Kids perfectly save in the school house - The Birds (1963) Discussion

[–] costumrs 10 years ago

As has been pointed out in other threads, they were not safe. The birds had shown they could break through glass. The school house had massive glass windows. Melanie knew this. Cathy's mother knew this. That's why Melanie went to the school; to get Cathy. When the birds started massing she knew she had to get the children out of the school.

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[–] David1958 8 years ago

The birds starting massing outside the school because of that damn song the kids were singing~~~

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[–] daughterofolaf 10 years ago

They weren't safe inside the building. Did you not see the "eyes" scene?

Dick, I am VERY disappointed.

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[–] novastar_6 10 years ago

There really wasn't ANY safe place to be, but if you're going to be NOT safe, you're still better off being at home with your families.

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[–] raceface 10 years ago

So you think sending a bunch of kids outside where there is NO shelter is safer?? The birds would not have dive bombed the school for no apparent reason. The noise of the screaming idiot kids set them off in the fist place. Have a cop come by take a shot at the birds, no more birds, pick up the kids right in front of the school.Problem solved!

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[–] rj-27 9 years ago

I'm with you. It made no sense to tell Annie "We have to get the children out of here." Out of here to...where? Where the birds are all waiting to Stuka dive bomb them, of course.

It especially made no sense if the objective was to get them to another building, i.e., their homes or the hotel.

This scene was as illogical as the upper bedroom scene in Mitch's house.

Democracy is the pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. H.L. Mencken

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[–] InherentlyYours 8 years ago

The real problem was giving the "signal" and having the kids run. There was no problem until that happened.

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[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] InherentlyYours 8 years ago

I think its up for debate. The scene shows them gathered on the playground equipment with the kids ready to go out to recess. So they would be attacked. Try to make a break for it seems like a logical choice.

I suppose my point is that the birds did no make logical choices. The birds did not follow a pattern; they didn't attack when the cast was walking out to the car at the finale ether. I don't know if this a screenplay/poetic license thing, or the birds not being consistent with their attacks. The birds were not attacking the children until the noise of the "signal". It seems that noise or movement sets them off.

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[–] Wednesday06 10 years ago

I questioned the decision to leave the schoolhouse, too. Obviously, we already know that the birds don't hesitate to crash through windows and even doors, but it seems the closets or stairwell (it was a two-story building) or even the bathrooms would've been a safer place for the kids to hide until the ensuing attack passed. Sending them outside was certain destruction. And a teacher, of all people, should know that frightened kids can't walk calmly and quietly half-a-mile down the hill to another building.

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[–] InherentlyYours 9 years ago

Melanie was outside next to the birds on that thing they were on, and she wasn't being attacked. I don't think it's supposed to make logic.

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[–] dbrockskk1 9 years ago

It's spelled "safe".

suzycreamcheese RIP Heath Ledger 1979-2008

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[–] PrometheusTree64 8 years ago

Didn't the school have a basement?

--
LBJ's mistress on JFK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcXeutDmuRA

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[–] PenTheater 8 years ago

If they went in to the basement they would have found out their real teacher was dead and stuffed and been replaced with a man dressed as Annie.

Ephemeron.

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[–] rj-27 8 years ago

If they went in to the basement they would have found out their real teacher was dead and stuffed and been replaced with a man dressed as Annie.

...with a necktie wrapped around her throat and a tie pin clenched in the mummified Annie's hand.

Lol

Democracy is the pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. H.L. Mencken

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[–] libby2130 8 years ago

we don;t have basements in california

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[–] TheUltimateHippo (2250) 7 years ago

It was established earlier that the birds could break down windows

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[–] marecek (122) 7 years ago

I think evacuating the school was the right course of action, but I have never understood (and I have seen this film at least 20 times over the years) why they began running halfway down the hill. If they had all walked quietly, they would have never set the birds off and could have gotten home safely without being attacked. Of course, then Hitchcock wouldn't have had that great scene.

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[–] Costumer (1829) 6 years ago

I think a scene was cut; from the point where the children exit the school to where they start running. I don't think they started to run until the birds took flight. That caused the children to panic and they ran. And at that point the only thing they could do was run. Walking calmly once the birds took flight would only lead to death.

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[–] TheUltimateHippo (2250) 6 years ago

It was established earlier that the birds could break through windows, they weren't safe in the school.

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