 With The Birds a box @-@ office success , Hitchcock and Hedren begin work on Marnie . However , Hedren finds the film 's content ( including a marital @-@ rape scene ) and Hitchcock 's obsession with her mentally and emotionally exhausting . The director is frustrated by what he sees as Hedren 's coldness towards him . During a conversation with writer Evan Hunter , Hitchcock admits that he has erectile dysfunction and his only sexual partner is his wife ( screenwriter Alma Reville ) . He later declares his love for Hedren ; she walks away , leaving him to imagine her reciprocating his feelings . 
