hysterical women

The lady in the lighthouse was a really loud screamer. Whenever she had to caught the attention of her husband, she just screamed. And it makes sense, instead of saying: "hey, there are man-eating plants on the loose in the building", it's much easier to just go arrrrrrrr.

I agree, ajmal, that these days women in action movies are likely to be more macho than the women -- really hilarious. When in those real-life reality cop shows you see the big burly male cops taking on streetfighters, and the petite lady cop stands there taking notes or calling for backup. It's called logical division of labour, humorous as it is in some contexts.

Sartre said "l'enfer c'est les autres," but I think true hell would be being stuck in a lighthouse with Screamy Girl and Dr. McCrankypants. They must be two of the least sympathetic characters ever. No explanation is provided for why Dr. McC is such a surly boor all the time, and Screamy is utterly useless. At one point, as the triffids are invading the lighthouse, she actually stands in the stairwell facing into a corner. Not fighting them, not helping her husband, not even screaming (which is merciful, I suppose). Just standing and whimpering into the corner, like those characters at the end of Blair Witch Project.

Overall, I thought Day of the Triffids was OK, but the scenes on that damned lighthouse island brought the movie to a literally screeching halt every time they appeared

I think these were the best screams I've ever heard. I've never seen Janette Scott before.

usually this is reminded by the swift administration of a few slaps

I noticed the overly-dainty, useless screaming females too. I realize it's a sign of when the film was made but, c'mon, there's no way women were this pathetically weak back then. I suspect they were hardier than females today (or just as hardy) and could kick some serious axx with a skillet if need be.