This Place is For
THE BIRDS
Hollywood's Scariest Schoolhouse, Church
Hollywood's Scariest School, Church
COLIN SIMPSON
STOP off at the seaside town where Alfred Hitchcock’s horror classic The Birds is set and you could be forgiven for thinking that the most terrifying schoolhouse and church in Hollywood history have been flattened.
In this, the latest post in our Movie Fans’ California series, we visit the locations used for one of the director’s most heart-stopping films – and track down that schoolhouse and church.
In one memorably shocking scene, terrified children run from their school as black crows dive-bomb and peck at them. Ahead, at the far end of a sloping road, are the silvery waters of the bay. At one moment a white church with a distinctive tall, thin spire is glimpsed in the background through flapping wings.
The school and the church are the buildings most associated with The Birds – yet if you stand in that road now, you won’t see them. They aren’t in Bodega Bay, nor are they on the coast. In fact, they stand 10 kilometres inland in another town, Bodega. Filming was split between the two communities, and slick editing created the illusion that the buildings were just up the hill from the shore.
As for St Teresa of Avila Church, though many people would immediately think of The Birds when seeing a picture of it – did you? – it appears in the film for only a few seconds. Apart from that fleeting glimpse, it is seen, again in the background, when Tippi Hedren’s character pulls up outside the school in her silver Aston Martin sports car.
Perhaps the horrifying, eye-pecking nature of the running scene is the reason the image of the church is so strongly embedded in movie-goers’ memories. Certainly, we recognised it immediately when we stopped off at Bodega. It seemed to have a slightly creepy, sinister air, presumably through association with the film.
The building had been immaculately maintained, and looked so pristine that it resembled part of a film set rather than a real, century-and-a-half-old church.
The running sequence starts with the birds seeming to erupt over the school before swooping down on the screaming children. The building, known as the Potter Schoolhouse, was built in 1873 and is now a private home. The church can be seen in the background of the top photo. The second photo shows a less familiar view.
The Birds, which was released 56 years ago, has certainly had a lasting impact. As I wrote this piece it was referenced in a radio programme I was listening to about an installation involving pigeons by conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan.
Other films that feature Bodega Bay include The Goonies, I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Fog and Finian’s Rainbow.
Across the road stands another Bodega landmark, the clapboard Wooden Duck antique shop. In 2018, it was announced that the shop would open for a final few days before being converted, like the school, into a private home.
MORE IN THIS SERIES
MORE INFO
OFFICIAL BODEGA BAY site’s page about The Birds has information on locations, videos and some great photos, including one of Hitchcock walking two small dogs. READ MORE
RELATED
GLORIOUS GOLDEN GATE: You can’t take your eyes off it, and in real life it’s more beautiful than any photograph you can take. The Golden Gate Bridge really does prove that, now and then, mankind can rise above itself… READ MORE
CALIFORNIA’S AMAZING WILDLIFE – GALLERY: Whales, elephant seals, elk, sea lions… California has all these and much, much more. But did you know that you can also find zebras grazing on the roadside in one part of the Golden State? READ MORE
RECOMMENDED
WELCOME TO OUR WORLD! Afaranwide’s home page – this is where you can find out about our latest posts and other highlights. READ MORE
TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS: Many of the world’s most popular tourists sites are closed because of the coronavirus crisis, but you can still visit them virtually while you’re self-isolating. READ MORE
SHIMLA, QUEEN OF THE HILLS: Government officials once retreated to Shimla in the foothills of the Himalayas to escape India’s blazing hot summers. Now tourists make the same journey. READ MORE
TEN THINGS WE LEARNED: Our detailed guide to creating a website, one step at a time. The costs, the mistakes – it’s what we wish we’d known when we started blogging. READ MORE
TROUBLED TIMES FOR EXPATS: Moving abroad can seem an idyllic prospect, but what happens when sudden upheavals or the inescapable realities of life intrude? READ MORE
LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH!
This Place is for
THE BIRDS
Hollywood's Scariest School, Church
COLIN SIMPSON
STOP off at the seaside town where Alfred Hitchcock’s horror classic The Birds is set and you could be forgiven for thinking that the most terrifying schoolhouse and church in Hollywood history have been flattened.
In this, the latest post in our Movie Fans’ California series, we visit the locations used for one of the director’s most heart-stopping films – and track down that schoolhouse and church.
In one memorably shocking scene, terrified children run from their school as black crows dive-bomb and peck at them. Ahead, at the far end of a sloping road, are the silvery waters of the bay. At one moment a white church with a distinctive tall, thin spire is glimpsed in the background through flapping wings.
The school and the church are the buildings most associated with The Birds – yet if you stand in that road now, you won’t see them. They aren’t in Bodega Bay, nor are they on the coast. In fact, they stand 10 kilometres inland in another town, Bodega. Filming was split between the two communities, and slick editing created the illusion that the buildings were just up the hill from the shore.
As for St Teresa of Avila Church, though many people would immediately think of The Birds when seeing a picture of it – did you? – it appears in the film for only a few seconds. Apart from that fleeting glimpse, it is seen, again in the background, when Tippi Hedren’s character pulls up outside the school in her silver Aston Martin sports car.
Perhaps the horrifying, eye-pecking nature of the running scene is the reason the image of the church is so strongly embedded in movie-goers’ memories. Certainly, we recognised it immediately when we stopped off at Bodega. It seemed to have a slightly creepy, sinister air, presumably through association with the film.
The building had been immaculately maintained, and looked so pristine that it resembled part of a film set rather than a real, century-and-a-half-old church.
The running sequence starts with the birds seeming to erupt over the school before swooping down on the screaming children. The building, known as the Potter Schoolhouse, was built in 1873 and is now a private home. The church can be seen in the background of the top photo. The second photo shows a less familiar view.
The Birds, which was released 56 years ago, has certainly had a lasting impact. As I wrote this piece it was referenced in a radio programme I was listening to about an installation involving pigeons by conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan.
Other films that feature Bodega Bay include The Goonies, I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Fog and Finian’s Rainbow.
Across the road stands another Bodega landmark, the clapboard Wooden Duck antique shop. In 2018, it was announced that the shop would open for a final few days before being converted, like the school, into a private home.
This is a ruggedly attractive part of Sonoma Country, with mile after mile of imposing rocky coastline. It’s popular with hikers and camping enthusiasts – just be careful if you see a flock of large black birds…
September 2019
MORE IN THIS SERIES
Escape to Alcatraz for a Day
Death Valley, Where the Star Wars Saga Began
Lone Pine, Home of the Western
Greeted by Yoda, We Were
MORE INFO
OFFICIAL BODEGA BAY site’s page about The Birds has information on locations, videos and some great photos, including one of Hitchcock walking two small dogs. READ MORE
RELATED
GLORIOUS GOLDEN GATE: You can’t take your eyes off it, and in real life it’s more beautiful than any photograph you can take. The Golden Gate Bridge really does prove that, now and then, mankind can rise above itself… READ MORE
CALIFORNIA’S AMAZING WILDLIFE – GALLERY: Whales, elephant seals, elk, sea lions… California has all these and much, much more. But did you know that you can also find zebras grazing on the roadside in one part of the Golden State? READ MORE
RECOMMENDED
WELCOME TO OUR WORLD! Afaranwide’s home page – this is where you can find out about our latest posts and other highlights. READ MORE
TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS: Many of the world’s most popular tourists sites are closed because of the coronavirus crisis, but you can still visit them virtually while you’re self-isolating. READ MORE
SHIMLA, QUEEN OF THE HILLS: Government officials once retreated to Shimla in the foothills of the Himalayas to escape India’s blazing hot summers. Now tourists make the same journey. READ MORE
TEN THINGS WE LEARNED: Our detailed guide to creating a website, one step at a time. The costs, the mistakes – it’s what we wish we’d known when we started blogging. READ MORE
TROUBLED TIMES FOR EXPATS: Moving abroad can seem an idyllic prospect, but what happens when sudden upheavals or the inescapable realities of life intrude? READ MORE