I think Canadians will know what they are, but I don't know about Americans.

Rob

 

I'm American and I'm familiar with the movie (although I haven't seen it in years).

 

All I remember about triffids is that they once had their day.

 

Great movie. Triffids are man-eating plants from outer space, if memory serves.

 

Tribbles.  I had no idea but triifids but they sound neat.

 

American here--I read the book some time last year and really enjoyed it, but I'm not sure it's a reference that would be too widely understood. There was another similar theme by an American author, Caretaker of Lorne Field (there was no blindness but it was plant-based)--not sure if that helps at all. You could also mention Little Shop of Horrors. Again not exactly the same, and I'm still not sure it's relevant, but you know...

 

Only because I read Simon Clark.

 

I'm German, longtime SF reader and know what triffids are.

 

Day of the Triffids was one of the books I read for a high school English class in NYC.

 

Aussie here, and I know.

 

Texan here, and I thought it was candy until I read down thread.

 

All I remember about triffids is that they once had their day.

Exactly the thought I had when I read the thread title.

 

I remember that movie being one of the first ones to really scare me as a child. So yes, this American definitely knows what triffids are.

 

I do--for whatever it's worth.

 

the book was good, the movie sucked.
Well in my opinion at least.

 

I'm American and I've heard of triffids - saw the movie a long time ago (enjoyed it) and think I also read the book. I think they start out as harmless plants but after some astrological event (I think it's a meteor shower or something similar), they morph into giant, poisonous man-eating plants that also happen to be ambulatory.  Also, the astrological event left anyone who actually observed it blind, so the majority of people have lost their sight.

 

I remember "Born, Sandy, Devotional."

 

American triffid cultivator here.

 

No clue.  Never heard of a triffid.

 

Thanks for the feedback! I think it might be better just to take that reference out. Seems mostly only 50s/60s horror buffs would know that movie/book, and even the British/Australians (or maybe Canadians) may not know it either

Someone should do a remake. It was cool. A shower of meteorites blinded most people on earth (because everyone knows meteorites can do that, right?) and then yes, the triffids had their day. Or year. Or years. Apparently Wyndham drew inspiration from War of the Worlds.

WordSaladTong, will look up Caretaker of Lorne Field - thanks 'Little Shop of Horrors' was a musical comedy/horror if I remember (haven't seen) but way too different to what I'm writing to make a reference to it.

Dennis, lol at "Any sci-fi reader from ex-USSR knows about triffids, of course."

 

I'm American and I've heard of triffids - saw the movie a long time ago (enjoyed it) and think I also read the book. I think they start out as harmless plants but after some astrological event (I think it's a meteor shower or something similar), they morph into giant, poisonous man-eating plants that also happen to be ambulatory. Also, the astrological event left anyone who actually observed it blind, so the majority of people have lost their sight.

Yep, that's it.

 

I most certainly know what triffids are, but the first thing that comes to my head is:

...and I really got hot when I saw Jeanette Scott fight a triffid that spits poison and kills...

I'll be stuck singing that song for the rest of the day.

 

I worked at Pinewood Studios where the film was made and saw several triffids in the props deparment. If I remember ccorrectly, they had three legs and a very long neck with a proboscis sticking out. They were kind of sad looking, leaning against the wall.

 

it was remade in 1981 http://www.amazon.com/Day-Triffids-John-Duttine/dp/B000TSTEO6

and again in 2011 http://www.amazon.com/The-Day-Of-Triffids/dp/B004VT39K4

and here's the original from 1963 http://www.amazon.com/Day-Triffids-Nicole-Maurey/dp/B000AYELJ2

Eelkat, I think those are TV mini-series. I was meaning a big-budget, big-screen movie such as the War of the Worlds remake with Tom Cruise

 

I worked at Pinewood Studios where the film was made and saw several triffids in the props deparment. If I remember ccorrectly, they had three legs and a very long neck with a proboscis sticking out. They were kind of sad looking, leaning against the wall.

Which of the movies, Maggie?