News

“The Birds” Star Tippi Hedren Claims Alfred Hitchcock Abused and Sexually Assaulted Her During Filming

Published

8 years ago

November 2, 2016

Written by Patti Pauley

Alfred Hitchcock is undoubtedly a pioneer when it came to horror and macabre. However, according to one of his most stunning leading ladies Tippi Hedren (The Birds, Marnie) who opened up in an exclusive interview with The Daily Mail, revealed how the master of suspense who green-lit her career to super-stardom with 1963’s The Birds, had her living a real-life horror movie filled with brutal abuse and an ongoing victim of sexual assault.

Photo by REX/Shutterstock

Hedren now 86, talks about her horrific experiences with the horror directer regarding his obsessive and possessive nature over her, which would lead to unwanted advances towards the young actress. Hedren touches on this subject ever so delicately in her new memoir entitled Tippi, claiming Hitchcock would corner her in her dressing room and then threaten to ruin her career as she was under contract with the director.

From Tippi: A Memoir–

“I’ve never gone into detail on this, and I never will. I’ll simply say that he suddenly grabbed me and put his hands on me. It was sexual, it was perverse, and it was ugly, and I couldn’t have been more shocked and repulsed. The harder I fought him, the more aggressive he became. Then he started adding threats, as if he could do anything to me that was worse than what he was trying to do at that moment.”

According to the interview, after a day of filming, Hitchcock and Hedren shared a limousine back to the hotel where they were staying. As the limo reached the destination, the director then suddenly threw himself on top of her, trying to force a kiss. Repulsed by his actions, Hedren threw Hitchcock off of her and immediately exited the vehicle escaping to her hotel room.

Hedren then went on to say how her rejection towards Hitchcock turned ugly for her on set the following day while filming the infamous phone booth bird attack scene when one of the mechanical birds shattered the supposedly shatterproof glass resulting in Hedren’s face on the receiving end of glass shards.

In the climatic attic scene of The Birds where Hendren’s character of Melanie is brutally attacked by a murderous flock, Hitchcock had reassured the actress that mechanical birds were to be used in the now infamous scene. However on the day of the shoot, assistant director James H. Brown told the actress that “the mechanical birds aren’t working, so we’re going to have to use live ones.”

Hedren states “It was brutal and relentless,” as she endured five full days of ravens, pigeons, and doves being hurled at her by the bird handlers. On the final day of shooting the scene, live birds were loosely tied to Hedren’s costume while she laid on the floor. The actress says when “Action!” was called, the birds that were tied to her started pecking her while again, the wranglers threw more birds at her. Even in the midst of this abuse, the actress kept her head straight up until the closing of the day when a live bird that was tied to her shoulder, almost pecked the actresses’ eye out. That is when Hedren threw up her arms and had enough for the day.

The harshness of the environment and grueling scenes took their toll on Hedren and a doctor ordered a week of rest and a break from filming. After the smash hit of The Birds, Hedren says she was held hostage under Hitchcock’s contract for two years. On the pair’s next film Marnie, a film about a man who traps a woman into marriage and rapes her, is believed to be derived from Hitchcock’s own fantasy about Hedren. Tippi’s lavish dressing room was built adjacent to the director’s office giving him the opportunity to come and go as he pleased and when he caught her alone, Tippi reveals in her memoir how he would proclaim his love for the actress.

Once she became free of her contract, studios were hesitant to hire her in fear of antagonizing Hitchcock who repeatedly bashed her acting ability among the studio lots; all in which case pointing back to the resistance of the director’s advances to the actress.

“I’ve made it my mission ever since to see to it that while Hitchcock may have ruined my career, I never gave him the power to ruin my life.”

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Movies

’47 Meters Down’ Getting Third Movie Called ‘The Wreck’

Published

9 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Deadline is reporting that a new 47 Meters Down installment is heading into production, making the shark series a trilogy.

“Series creator Johannes Roberts, and screenwriter Ernest Riera, who wrote the first two films, have co-written the third installment: 47 Meters Down: The Wreck.” Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine) will direct.

The first two films were a moderate success, released in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The second film is titled 47 Meters Down: Uncaged.

^{47 Meters Down}

The plot for The Wreck is detailed by Deadline. They write that it involves a father and daughter trying to repair their relationship by spending time together scuba diving into a sunken ship, “But soon after their descent, their master diver has an accident leaving them alone and unprotected inside the labyrinth of the wreck. As tensions rise and oxygen dwindles, the pair must use their newfound bond to escape the wreck and the relentless barrage of bloodthirsty great white sharks.”

The filmmakers are hoping to present the pitch to the Cannes market with production starting in the fall.

“47 Meters Down: The Wreck is the perfect continuation of our shark-filled franchise,” said Byron Allen, founder/chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. “This film will once again have moviegoers terrified and on the edge of their seats.”

Johannes Roberts adds, “We can’t wait for audiences to be trapped underwater with us again. 47 Meters Down: The Wreck is going to be the biggest, most-intense film of this franchise.”

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News

‘Wednesday’ Season Two Drops New Teaser Video That Reveals Full Cast

Published

12 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Cameron McFarland

Netflix announced this morning that Wednesday season 2 is finally entering production. Fans have been waiting a long time for more of the creepy icon. Season one of Wednesday premiered in November of 2022.

In our new world of streaming entertainment, it isn’t uncommon for shows to take years to release a new season. If they release another one at all. Even though we will likely have to wait quite a while to see the show, any news is good news.

The new season of Wednesday looks to have an amazing cast. Jenna Ortega (Scream) will be reprising her iconic role as Wednesday. She will be joined by Billie Piper (Scoop), Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Evie Templeton (Return to Silent Hill), Owen Painter (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Noah Taylor (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

We will also get to see some of the amazing cast from season one making a return. Wednesday season 2 will feature Catherine-Zeta Jones (Side Effects), Luis Guzman (Genie), Issac Ordonez (A Wrinkle in Time), and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (Devs).

If all of that star power wasn’t enough, the legendary Tim Burton (The Nightmare Before Christmas) will be directing the series. As a cheeky nod from Netflix, this season of Wednesday will be titled Here We Woe Again.

Jenna Ortega Wednesday — Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams

We don’t know much about much about what Wednesday season two will entail. However, Ortega has stated that this season will be more horror focused. “We’re definitely leaning into a little bit more horror. It’s really, really exciting because, all throughout the show, while Wednesday does need a little bit of an arc, she never really changes and that’s the wonderful thing about her.”

That’s all the information that we have. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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Movies

A24 Reportedly “Pulls Plug” On Peacock’s ‘Crystal Lake’ Series

Published

14 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Film studio A24 might not be going forward with its planned Peacock Friday the 13th spinoff called Crystal Lake according to Fridaythe13thfranchise.com. The website quotes entertainment blogger Jeff Sneider who made a statement on his webpage through a subscription paywall.

“I’m hearing that A24 has pulled the plug on Crystal Lake, its planned Peacock series based on the Friday the 13th franchise featuring masked killer Jason Voorhees. Bryan Fuller was due to executive produce the horror series.

It’s unclear whether this is a permanent decision or a temporary one, as A24 had no comment. Perhaps Peacock will help the trades shed more light on this project, which was announced back in 2022.”

Back in January 2023, we reported that some big names were behind this streaming project including Bryan Fuller, Kevin Williamson, and Friday the 13th Part 2 final girl Adrienne King.

“‘Crystal Lake info from Bryan Fuller! They officially start writing in 2 weeks (writers are here in the audience).” tweeted social media writer Eric Goldman who tweeted the info while attending a Friday the 13th 3D screening event in January 2023. “It will have two scores to choose from – a modern one and a classic Harry Manfredini one. Kevin Williamson is writing an episode. Adrienne King will have a recurring role. Yay! Fuller has pitched four seasons for Crystal Lake. Only one officially ordered so far though he notes Peacock would have to pay a pretty hefty penalty if they didn’t order a Season 2. Asked if he can confirm Pamela’s role in the Crystal Lake series, Fuller replied ‘We’re honestly going to be covering it all. The series is covering the life and times of these two characters’ (presumably he’s referring to Pamela and Jason there!)'”

Whether or not Peacock is moving forward with the project is unclear and since this news is secondhand information, it still has to be verified which will require Peacock and/or A24 to make an official statement which they have yet to do.

But keep checking back to iHorror for the latest updates to this developing story.

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