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After a few weeks of filming The Birds with Rod Taylor, director Alfred Hitchcock told Associated Press reporter Bob Thomas, "Tippi Hedren is really remarkable. She's already reaching the lows and highs of terror". The former New York fashion model was making her debut as an actress in a starring role in The Birds, and such high praise from the enigmatic master of cinema shock and suspense was rare indeed. "Like a dormant volcano we know one day is going to erupt," Hitchcock described her. "Get a look at that girl, she's going to be good. I gave her the leading part in The Birds. It is a big part. I think Svengali Hitch rides again."
In a cover article about The Birds in LOOK magazine (Dec. 4, 1962), Hitchcock continued to rave, "Tippi has a faster tempo, city glibness, more humor [than Grace Kelly]. She displayed jaunty assuredness, pertness, an attractive throw of the head. And she memorized and read lines extraordinarily well and is sharper in expression."
Although
the critics were perplexed by the "end-less ending" of The
Birds, the movie, which premiered at The Cannes Film Festival, was a
sensation earning over $11,000,000 in the first few months, and is now a classic.
Saturday Review's Arthur Knight wrote, "Hitchcock's newest 'find', Tippi
Hedren is a decidedly lovely blonde." Her performance in the film
earned her a Golden Globe award.
Hitchcock "discovered" the cover girl while viewing a commercial on NBC's "Today Show" and summoned her to Hollywood under personal contract. After the release of The Birds, he starred her in Marnie, with Sean Connery. Judith Crist wrote, "Alfred Hitchcock had given us one Grace Kelly in our generation and seems intent on giving us another in the person of Tippi Hedren, a classically beautiful, regally poised blonde". Marnie has achieved cult status as an offbeat psychological thriller, years ahead of its time.
Camille Paglia, Professor of Humanities at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and author of several acclaimed books about women in film, and The Birds (BFI Publishing, 1998), a critical analysis of the film, wrote, "It's so unfair that Tippi Hedren has never had the credit she deserves for the two films she did with Hitchcock. I think the reason critics did not take her seriously is because she is too fashionable and therefore not 'serious'. The interplay between Hedren and [Suzanne] Pleshette in The Birds tells me more about women than any number of articles on feminist theory. Hitchcock captures the subtleties of females warring with each other; all those nuances of knives and guns conducted in looks and body language. He sculpts the human body in space. And I love the way Hedren handles cigarettes and a martini glass with such remarkable sophistication. It is gesturalism raised to the level of choreography."
The Countess From Hong Kong with Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren, directed by Chaplin, in what was to be the "Little Tramp's" final film.
The three films, back to back, were an auspicious start for the Minnesota girl of Scandinavian parentage. Between over twenty films and numerous television appearances, she's been involved in a wide variety of humanitarian and environmental causes, almost overshadowing her screen work.
As volunteer International Relief Coordinator for "FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY", she traveled worldwide to set up relief programs following earthquakes, hurricanes, famine and war. She aided "boat people" in the South China Sea from a "FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY" rescue ship. Lobbying efforts on behalf of Asian refugees have taken her before Congress and have earned her numerous awards including the "Humanitarian Award" presented to her by the B'hai Faith. She has been honored by the USO for entertaining troops in Vietnam and by the CELEBRITY OUTREACH FOUNDATION for her charitable work.
She began her long love affair with wild animals in 1969 while doing a film, Satan's Harvest, in Africa. She "met" a mellow lion, and much of her life since then has been devoted to the big cats.
Deeply involved with international conservation groups to save wildlife, and an outspoken voice against cruelty to animals, both wild and domestic, she's a board member of "The Wildlife Safari", founded by her friend, Frank Hart, in Winston, Oregon. She also served on the board of "The Elsa Wild Animal Appeal" founded by her friend, the late Joy Adamson. And currently, she is on the Board of Directors of Earth Communications Office (ECO), and President of the newly-formed "American Sanctuary Association." Her other charity work includes serving on The Board of Directors of The Women's Council of KCET (Channel 28), The Minnesota Film Council, The American Heart Association, The March of Dimes, Multiple Sclerosis, International Orphans, Inc., and several AIDS causes. She has been honored with "The Helen Woodward Animal Center's Annual Humane Award" (1995), the prestigious Founder's Award from the American Society or the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (1996) and the "Lion and Lamb Award" from Wildhaven (1997) for her work on behalf of animal rights and conservation.
Perhaps
Tippi Hedren's most unique endeavor is being "den mother" and close
friend to sixty-odd big cats - lion, tiger, leopard, cougar, serval and an
African elephant at The Roar Foundation's Shambala Preserve near Acton,
California.
The high desert game preserve is home to the felines and pachyderms and was first established as an African-type set for the motion picture, Roar, which Tippi co-produced and starred in with her daughter, film actress Melanie Griffith. After the five year filming was completed, it became the current, non-profit center for big cat care and research.
In keeping with her outlook on the environment and conservation, many of Shambala's residents are cast-offs from private owners, zoos and circuses. "They're living out their lives in safety and comfort." The Preserve is open to the public on a reservation basis. Tippi is founder and President of The Roar Foundation and resides at Shambala in a cottage surrounded by big cat compounds. "I awaken to their roars." The story of Tippi's life and the animals "dearest to her heart" was told in Simon & Schuster's The Cats of Shambala (1985). The updated and revised edition (2003) will soon be available in paperback.
Several documentaries have been produced about the Shambala Preserve including, Lions: Kings of the Serengeti by the Richard Diercks Co, Inc. which won the Telly Award in 1995 for outstanding video documentary; and Life With Big Cats (1998), produced for Animal Planet, which won the Genesis Award for best documentary in 1999.
Tippi continues to work frequently in motion pictures, theatre, episodic and cable television, and her contributions to world cinema have been honored with Life Achievement awards in France at The Beauvais Film Festival Cinemalia 1994, and in Spain by The Fundacion Municipal De Cine in 1995. In 1999, Tippi was honored as "Woman of Vision" by Women of Film and Video in Washington, D.C., and received the Presidential Medal for her work in film from Hofstra University. And in 2000, Tippi was honored as "Best Actress in a Comedy Short" in the film "Mulligans!" at the Method Fest, Independent Film Festival, and in 2002, Tippi won "best Actress" for the short film "Tea With Grandma" from the New York International Independent Film Festival.
| TITLE | RELEASE | DIRECTOR | INFORMATION | ||
| I Love Huckabees | 2004 | David O. Russell | Fox Searchlight | ||
| Silent Madness | 2003 | Alex Kanawati | |||
| Small Souled Men | 2003 | David Gaz and Annelie Wilder | |||
| Dark Wolf | 2003 | Richard Friedman | |||
| Julie and Jack | 2003 | James Nguyen | |||
| Searching for Haizman | 2003 | Scott Gordon | |||
| Bathroom Boy | 2003 | Bess Wiley | |||
| Rose's Garden | 2003 | Short Film | |||
| Ice Cream Sundae | 2001 | Desiree Nausbaum | Short Film | ||
| Tea With Grandma | 2001 | Jonathon Fahn | Short Film | ||
| The Storytellers | 2001 | James Hickox | |||
| I Woke Up Early the Day I Died | 1999 | Aris Iliopolus | Released by Cinequanon Pictures | ||
| Footsteps | 1998 | Daphna Edwards | |||
| The Break Up | 1998 | Paul Marcus | Released by Millennium Films, Inc. | ||
| Madan & The Miracle Leaves | 1997 | Animated Short Film | |||
| Mulligans! | 1997 | Miles Hood Swarthout | Short Film | ||
| Twelve Monkeys (Reuse clip The Birds) |
1996 | Released by Universal Pictures | |||
| Citizen Ruth/The Devil Inside | 1996 | Alexander Payne | Released by Miramax | ||
| Mind Lies | 1995 | Mark Michaels | |||
| Theresa's Tattoo | 1994 | Julie Cypher | |||
| Inevitable Grace | 1994 | Alex Kanawati | |||
| In The Cold Of The Night | 1991 | Nico Mastorakis | Released by Inhaus Pictures, Inc. | ||
| Pacific Heights | 1990 | John Schlesinger | Released by 20th Century Fox | ||
| Sixth Sense | 1990 | Short Film | |||
| Deadly Spygames | 1989 | Jack M. Sell | |||
| Hitchcock: il brividio del genio / (Hitchcock: The Thrill of Genius) | 1985 |
Francesco Bortolino and Claudio Masenza |
|||
| Twist | 1984 | Manny Coto | Short Film | ||
| Foxfire Light | 1983 | Alan Baron | |||
| Roar | 1981 | Noel Marshall | |||
| Adonde Muere el Viento / (Where The Wind Dies) |
1975 |
Fernando Siro |
|||
| The Harrad Experiment | 1973 | Ted Post | Released by Cinerama | ||
| Mr. Kingstreet's War/ Heroes Die Hard |
1973 | Percival Reubens | |||
| Satan's Harvest | 1970 | George Montgomery | Released by Twentieth Century Fox | ||
| Tiger By The Tail | 1970 | R. G. Springsteen | Released by Commonwealth United | ||
| The Man And The Albatross | 1969 | Jean-Pierre Decourt | |||
| The Countess From Hong Kong | 1967 | Charles Chaplin | Released by Universal | ||
| Marnie | 1964 | Alfred Hitchcock | Released by Universal | ||
| The Birds | 1963 | Alfred Hitchcock | Released by Universal | ||
| The Petty Girl | 1950 | Henry Levin | Released by Columbia |
| Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Movie of the Week, "The Man From the South", NBC, 5/5/85 |
| Arli$$ | Episode "Power of Attorney," HBO, 5/8/98 |
| Baby Boom | Episode "Christmas '88," NBC, 12/21/88 |
| Birds II: Land's End, The | Showtime Cable Movie, 3/19/94) |
| Bionic Woman, The | (Episode "Claws," ABC, 2/25/76) |
| Bold And The Beautiful, The | (Series, recurring role, CBS, 1991) |
| Book of Virtues, The | (TV Cartoon Character Voice) |
| Bull | (Episode "A Beautiful Lie," TNT, 5/01) |
| Capitol News | (Unsold TV Pilot) |
| Chicago Hope | (Episode "Psychodrama," CBS, 1/21/98) |
| Courtship Of Eddie's Father, The | (Episode, ABC, 1970) |
| The Darklings | (Feature Film, Fox Family Channel, 3/14/99) |
| Dream On | (Series, recurring role, HBO, 1994 "Second Time Aground", "I Never Promised You Charoses, Martin", "She Won't Do It, but Her Sister Will", "The Way We War", "Finale With A Vengeance" ) |
| Evening At The Improv, An | (TV Guest Host, 1991) |
| Freakazoid! | (TV Cartoon Character Voice) |
| Guardian, The | (Unsold TV Pilot, 1997) |
| Hart To Hart | (Episode "Haunted Harts," ABC, 1/4/83) |
| Hollywood Off-Ramp | (Episode "Simple Simon", E!Entertainment Television, 2000) |
| Hotel | (Episode "Double Take," ABC, 1/2/88) |
| In The Heat Of The Night | (Episode "Liar's Poker," CBS, 10/29/91) |
| Inside "The Birds" | (Special) |
| Invasion America | (TV Cartoon Character Voice) |
| Kraft Suspense Theater: The Trains Of Silence |
(Movie of the Week, NBC, 6/10/65) |
| Love and Madness | (Unsold TV Pilot, HBO, 1997) |
| Murder She Wrote | (Episode "Bloodlines," CBS, 11/7/93) |
| New Batman/Superman Adventures, The | (TV Cartoon Character voice, "Mean Seasons", 1997) |
| Nightmare Room, The | (Episode "No Survivors," 2001) |
| Our Time | (Episode) |
| Perry Mason: The Case Of The Skin Deep Scandal |
(Movie of the Week, NBC, 2/19/93) |
| Providence | (Epsiode arc, NBC, 11/17/00 and 11/24/00) |
| Replacing Dad | (Movie of the Week, CBS, 3/14/99) |
| Return to Green Acres | (Movie of the Week, CBS, 5/18/90) |
| Run For Your Life | (Episode "Someone Who Makes Me Feel Beautiful," NBC, 9/27/65) |
| Shadow Of A Doubt | (Movie of the Week, CBS, 4/28/91) |
| Tales From The Darkside | (Episode "Mookie and Pookie," 11/3/84) |
| Through The Eyes Of A Killer / Master Builder |
(Movie of the Week, USA, 12/15/92) |
| Treacherous Beauties | (Movie of the Week, CBS, 9/25/94) |
| Black Comedy |
| A Hatful of Rain |
| Love Letters |
| The Cats Of Shambala | Simon & Schuster |
[email protected]
© copyright 2004 The Roar Foundation
PO Box 189, Acton, CA 93510
(661) 268-0380
Photos © Copyright 2004 Bill
Dow.
The Roar Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.
Shambala is a member of the American
Sanctuary Association.
|
Courtesy of : |
Media Arts Group |
| 6404 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 950 | |
| Los Angeles, CA 90024 | |
| (323) 658-5050 Fax: (323) 658-7871 |