There are many aspects of a movie that relate the feeling and emotion to the viewer. Music, or lack there of, is one of the more prominent. In the film The Birds, different bird sounds and silence are used to illustrate the action, suspense, and anxiety of the scenes. This rare technique allows the viewer to be drawn into the intensity of the birds and their attacks. The Birds, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, uses a sequence of silence and bird clamor to create an extravagant feeling of uncertainty and suspense.
In The Birds, the order in which the degree of discord and silence are arranged evokes specific emotions that relate to the scene. During periods of tranquil scenes the viewer hears soft peaceful chirping of birds, mimicking soft background music. In sequence, next there would be a dura
tion of silence, building up the tension and anticipation of an attack. At the time of an attack, the battering of wings and loud squawks sound. On account of the lack of music, and the only audible sounds, besides the characters' dialogue, are of the birds, the viewer is not distracted and becomes completely immersed in the birds and their persistent occurrence.
A major scene in which the absence of a musical score is extremely affective, is when Melanie is waiting outside the school for Cathy. As Melanie sits on the bench outside, the children sing from inside the school and soft, infrequent bird chirping can be heard. At this time, the birds are gathering in a large flock behind Melanie, and once the singing stops there is a startling silence. This lack of sound leaves the viewer confused
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