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IMDbPro

Family Plot

  • 19761976
  • PGPG
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
23K
YOUR RATING
Alfred Hitchcock, Karen Black, Bruce Dern, and Barbara Harris in Family Plot (1976)
Theatrical Trailer from Universal Pictures
Play trailer2:03
1 Video
56 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Crime
  • Drama
A phony psychic/con artist and her taxi driver/actor boyfriend encounter a pair of serial kidnappers while trailing a missing heir in California.A phony psychic/con artist and her taxi driver/actor boyfriend encounter a pair of serial kidnappers while trailing a missing heir in California.A phony psychic/con artist and her taxi driver/actor boyfriend encounter a pair of serial kidnappers while trailing a missing heir in California.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
23K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Alfred Hitchcock
  • Writers
    • Ernest Lehman(screenplay)
    • Victor Canning(novel "The Rainbird Pattern")
  • Stars
    • Karen Black
    • Bruce Dern
    • Barbara Harris
Top credits
  • Director
    • Alfred Hitchcock
  • Writers
    • Ernest Lehman(screenplay)
    • Victor Canning(novel "The Rainbird Pattern")
  • Stars
    • Karen Black
    • Bruce Dern
    • Barbara Harris
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 138User reviews
    • 84Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 6 nominations

    Videos1

    Family Plot
    Trailer 2:03
    Family Plot

    Photos56

    Alfred Hitchcock, Karen Black, Bruce Dern, William Devane, and Barbara Harris in Family Plot (1976)
    Bruce Dern in Family Plot (1976)
    Bruce Dern and Barbara Harris in Family Plot (1976)
    "Family Plot," Karen Black. 1976 Universal
    "Family Plot," Bruce Dern. 1976 Universal Pictures
    "Family Plot," B. Harris, B. Dern, R. Thinnes, K. Black, and Director Alfred Hitchcock, 1976.
    "Family Plot," Director Alfred Hitchcock on the set.
    "Family Plot," Barbara Harris and Director Alfred Hitchcock. 1976 Universal
    "Family Plot," Director Alfred Hitchcock with costume designer Edith Head on set. 1976 Universal
    "Family Plot," Director Alfred Hitchcock on the set. 1976 Universal
    "Family Plot," Director Alfred Hitchcock on the set. 1976 Universal Pictures
    "Family Plot," Director Alfred Hitchcock and Bruce Dern on location. 1976 Universal

    Top cast

    Edit
    Karen Black
    Karen Black
    • Franas Fran
    Bruce Dern
    Bruce Dern
    • George Lumleyas George Lumley
    Barbara Harris
    Barbara Harris
    • Blanche Tyleras Blanche Tyler
    William Devane
    William Devane
    • Arthur Adamsonas Arthur Adamson
    Ed Lauter
    Ed Lauter
    • Maloneyas Maloney
    Cathleen Nesbitt
    Cathleen Nesbitt
    • Julia Rainbirdas Julia Rainbird
    Katherine Helmond
    Katherine Helmond
    • Mrs. Maloneyas Mrs. Maloney
    Warren J. Kemmerling
    Warren J. Kemmerling
    • Grandisonas Grandison
    Edith Atwater
    Edith Atwater
    • Mrs. Clayas Mrs. Clay
    William Prince
    William Prince
    • Bishopas Bishop
    Nicholas Colasanto
    Nicholas Colasanto
    • Constantineas Constantine
    Marge Redmond
    Marge Redmond
    • Vera Hannaganas Vera Hannagan
    John Lehne
    • Andy Bushas Andy Bush
    Charles Tyner
    Charles Tyner
    • Wheeleras Wheeler
    Alexander Lockwood
    • Parsonas Parson
    Martin West
    Martin West
    • Sangeras Sanger
    Elisabeth Brooks
    Elisabeth Brooks
    • Woman in Cafe with Priestas Woman in Cafe with Priest
    • (uncredited)
    Carl Byrd
    • Lieutenant Petersonas Lieutenant Peterson
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Alfred Hitchcock
    • Writers
      • Ernest Lehman(screenplay)
      • Victor Canning(novel "The Rainbird Pattern")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At one point during filming, Bruce Dern questioned Alfred Hitchcock about why he was cast. Hitchcock replied, "Because Mr. Packinow wanted a million dollars, and Hitch doesn't pay a million dollars." It took Dern a while to realize that "Mr. Packinow" was Al Pacino.
    • Goofs
      When Blanche is riding in the back of George's taxi, it's rather obvious the background is a "green screen." Because of this, the street lights ahead of the taxi can be seen moving back and forth right through George's hat and head.
    • Quotes

      George: Smells fishy to me.

      Blanche: Well even fish smells good when you're starving to death.

    • Crazy credits
      The Universal logo does not appear anywhere on this film.
    • Connections
      Featured in Marlene (1984)
    • Soundtracks
      Rejoice, the Lord Is King
      (1744) (uncredited)

      Music by John Darwall

      Lyrics by Charles Wesley

    User reviews138

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    No, not great Hitchcock, but entertaining nonetheless
    Family Plot differs from all the other Hitchcock films. It lacks suspense, for the most part, and it is not as funny as many of his films. Instead, it is just an amusing little yarn. I like the way the film starts with two separate plot lines which gradually merge. Even if it is not the most original thing in the world (especially since two of Family Plot's stars were main players in Robert Altman's Nashville), it still makes the film interesting. If anyone else had made this film, it probably would be more fondly received by the public, although I doubt anyone would still be watching it today.

    The two characters with whom we begin the film, whom we would consider the heroes, are the best, and are played lovingly by Barbara Harris and Bruce Dern. She's a hack psychic milking old ladies out of pensions, and he's a cabbie who cannot find enough time both to drive his cab and participate in Harris' schemes. Although the characters aren't as well developed as those in numerous other Hitchcock ventures, they're entertaining.

    The other couple, Karen Black and William Devane, fare less well. They're more crafty in their crimes, perpetrating large-scale kidnappings for enormous ransoms. Karen Black's character is very underdeveloped, hardly showing any depth. What character she does have is not entirely believable, since Karen Black seems too nice to play a hardcore criminal. William Devane is decent as the sinister mastermind, but the history provided to his character is far more brutal than is believable (he locked his adopted parents in their bedroom and set fire to their house).

    I liked the idea of the small time crooks clashing with the professionals, and I liked the outcome of the film. All in all, it is decent and worth watching. It does not feel anything like a Hitchcock film, so I wouldn't expect anything like Vertigo or Rear Window when approaching this, his swan song. 7/10
    helpful•58
    13
    • zetes
    • Mar 17, 2001

    FAQ11

    • Is Blanche Tyler a real psychic?
    • Is "Family Plot" based on a book?
    • How closely does the movie follow the book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 9, 1976 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Alfred Hitchcock's 53rd Film
    • Filming locations
      • Angeles Crest Highway, Angeles National Forest, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,490,375 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Alfred Hitchcock, Karen Black, Bruce Dern, and Barbara Harris in Family Plot (1976)
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