Peter Latham wonders about the training of the birds for Hitchcock's eponymous film. The birds themselves were trained by animal trainer Ray Berwick and combined with animation and matting effects. Acting was an element as well. Consider the following, which is Hitch's reply to Truffaut's question about the gull attack on the garage attendant: "That was a live gull thrown from a very high platform off screen. It was trained to go from one place to another by plying just above the man's head. He's an expert on movements and he overplayed his reactions to give the impression that he'd been hit by the gull." Hope that is helpful. Don Larsson, Mankato State U (MN) ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]