Hitchcock’s THE BIRDS To Descend Upon Filmgoers At The Academy

©AMPAS

Fan of the Master of Suspense? You’re about to get your full of the iconic English director Alfred Hitchcock, one of the greatest creative minds in the history of cinema, in the upcoming weeks. On Saturday evening (October 20) HBO unveiled it’s latest film, THE GIRL. Known for his psychological thrillers, Hitchcock focused on characters in peril, on the run, or under suspicion. His leading men were handsome but compromised; his leading ladies were cool, beautiful and preferably blonde. One such actress was Tippi Hedren, an unknown fashion model given her big break when Hitchcock’s wife saw her on a TV commercial. Brought to Universal Studios by Hitchcock and offered a seven-year contract, Hedren was shocked when the gifted director, at the peak of his successful career, quickly singled her out and cast her to star in the ambitious and terrifying film THE BIRDS. Little did she know that the most daunting aspect of the film would come from behind the camera. The movie stars Toby Jones at Hitchcock and Sienna Miller as Hedren.

For fans of PSYCHO, Fox Searchlight’s film HITCHCOCK, starring Academy Award winners Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren, will be in theaters on November 23rd. Set in classic Hollywood in the 1950s, HITCHCOCK is the behind-the-scenes story of the famous director’s personal life and his love affair with his wife and partner, Alma Reville. Told against the backdrop of the making of the director’s seminal masterpiece, PSYCHO, Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren play Hitchcock and his wife, and Scarlett Johansson plays Janet Leigh. The film is directed by Sacha Gervasi (ANVIL: THE STORY OF ANVIL) and also stars Jessica Biel, Toni Collette, Danny Huston, Michael Stuhlbarg and James D’Arcy. Together Hitch and Alma challenged the studio and risked everything to make the film, gambling their home and their reputations. What begins merely as an ambitious film project eventually tests the limits of their marriage, yet with groundbreaking new editing, sound and advertising, the two overcome the odds and create one of cinema’s enduring masterpieces. Director Sacha Gervasi’s film will have it world premiere at the 2012 AFI Film Fest on November 1.

In two days time, those living in the Southern California area can watch THE BIRDS at The Academy. Those film geeks are hosting an October-long celebration of classic horror films in honor of “Universal’s Legacy of Horror”- part of the studio’s year-long 100th anniversary celebration. Below is the remaining schedule leading up to Halloween.

In conjunction with the screening series, the Academy will present “Universal’s Legacy of Horror: A Centennial Exhibition,” which includes rare posters, stills and other artifacts celebrating Universal’s distinctive contributions to the classic horror genre and the studio’s founding 100 years ago.  The exhibition will run in the Academy Grand Lobby throughout October.  Admission is free.

Series passes for “Universal’s Legacy of Horror” (excluding the Saturday double features) are $20 for the general public and $15 for Academy members and students with valid ID.  Tickets for individual screenings are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID, and may be purchased online at www.oscars.org, in person at the Academy box office, or by mail.  Ticketed seating is unreserved.  For more information call (310) 247-3600 or visit www.oscars.org.