I now own several Hitchcock movies, though there are still more I want to get eventually.  The last addition to my collection was Family Plot, the movie that ended up being Hitchcock's final movie.

Blanche Tyler makes a living as a psychic, conning people into believing that she is actually able to communicate with the dead.  Her boyfriend, George Lumley, is a taxi driver who helps her with the jobs by learning information about Blanche's clients.  Her newest client, Julia Rainbird is an older woman with guilt because she forced her sister to give up a baby boy years before.  Julia decides that she wants to find the child and make him her heir.  She wants to keep the matter private so she asks Blanche to help find her nephew for $10,000.  Blanche jumps at the chance to get that kind of money, and George starts some investigating.

While that is going on, Arthur Adamson and Fran have just pulled off another successful kidnaping in which they demand a gemstone for the ransom.  Arthur is a successful jeweler.  It turns out that Arthur is actually Julia's nephew who has another secret in his past in addition to being a kidnaper.  Arthur finds out that George and Blanche seem to be looking for him, making him believe that they have connected him to the crimes.

Family Plot is based on the book The Rainbird Pattern by Victor Canning.  I've never read the book, so I don't know for sure what has been changed.  According to the documentary on the DVD about the movie, the book is darker.  I also read that Hitchcock wanted the script to be lighter than the source material.  Hitchcock was dealing with health problems while making this movie, and it ultimately ended up being the last movie he would make even though he did start planning another one.

Family Plot is focused on two different couples in different situations.  Because of that, there are really two different stories being told that intersect.  Having two different stories being told does make the plot slightly more complicated.  The movie does jump between the two couples, though it is easy to keep track of what is going on with each of them.  When Arthur and Fran are first shown, they are in the middle of collecting a ransom, so it is clear to the audience right away that they are criminals.  It is also clear fairly quick what Blanche and George are up to.  

There is a little bit of mystery to what is going on in Family Plot, though it isn't as strong as the mystery in some other Hitchcock movies.  Most of the mystery is tied to if Blanche and George will be able to figure out who Julia's missing nephew is.  Even though the mystery isn't as strong, it is still interesting and entertaining.  A few things that happen are more predictable, but I do think there are a few surprises as well.  While there is some suspense in the movie, it isn't as suspenseful as many other Hitchcock movies.  I do think that one sequence late in the movie is very suspenseful.  

Family Plot is a bit more light hearted than other Hitchcock movies, so that might disappoint some viewers.  I've seen this movie described as a comedy.  I do agree that is lighter and there are definitely some funny moments, but I don't really think of it as a comedy overall.  It isn't really serious or a thriller overall either.  It blends those elements together in a way that some people may not enjoy.  A few things that happen, usually when Blanche is doing her work as a psychic, are downright silly.  One sequence adds humor to what should be a more suspenseful scene involving an out of control car.  Adding the humor does make that part a bit more unique.  I think the blending of humor and suspense works.

Even though there are no sex scenes in Family Plot, it is made clear that both couples have a sexual relationship.  Unless I missed something, Arthur and Fran aren't married, though they may be living together.  She clearly is spending the night at one point and she knows her way around the house.  Blanche and George are sort of affectionate with each other a few times.  They especially say several sexually suggestive things.  Those things aren't that explicit and all of them may not be noticed, but there are in the movie.  A few characters do swear, though it is rather mild compared to what ends up in most movies now.

Blanche claims to be a psychic as her profession.  When she is with clients, she puts on a convincing performance.  Blanche does seem to be a bit of a ditz at times.  While she has issues, she still manages to be likable.  Barbara Harris does a good job with the part, making Blanche an interesting and entertaining character.  George is Blanche's boyfriend and he helps her by tracking down information about her clients.  He does have a legitimate job as a cab driver.  Bruce Dern does a good job with the part.  He does act slightly wild a few times, but that ends up working for the character.  While it is clear that Blanche and George are mainly after the money, they are trying to find the actual heir instead of finding someone just to play the part.

Arthur Adamson is a successful jeweler who has a secret life as a kidnaper.  He seems to do most of the planning for the jobs.  He clearly likes to be in control and he isn't happy when things do go as he planned.  It does seem like Arthur prefers to have other people carry out the more dangerous aspects of his plans.  He isn't as menacing as some other Hitchcock villains, but he does make a good villain.  William Devane is really good in the part.  Fran is the one who goes to collect the ransoms.  It does look like she takes more risks since she is the one seen, though she is disguised.  Karen Black does well with the part.  Several other characters turn up briefly without adding as much to what is going on.  Maloney, a man who is mixed up in what is going on, ends up doing a little more.

Main Cast

Karen Black - Fran
Bruce Dern - George Lumley
William Devane - Arthur Adamson
Barbara Harris - Blanche Tyler

Alfred Hitchcock - Director

DVD Information

I think there have been a few DVD releases of Family Plot, though I might be wrong about that.  My DVD has the anamorphic widescreen version of the movie.  The picture quality is decent, though it doesn't look as good in a few spots.  I'm not sure if any restoration has been done on the movie. In a few sequences, it is painfully obvious that footage was filmed in front a blue screen.  I could see a faint green outline around the actors in those scenes.

Plotting Family Plot is an interesting documentary on the making of the movie.  There are interviews with some of the cast and crew, as well as Hitchcock's daughter Pat talking about the movie.  Hitchcock's health is brought up a few times, along with how this ended up being his last movie.  The filming of a few sequences is discussed.  In addition to showing pictures from the filming of the movie, there is actual film footage as well, showing Hitchcock on set.  As far as I can remember, this is the first time I've seen actual footage of Hitchcock on the set in one of these documentaries.  

Family Plot is a bit different from Hitchcock's more popular movies, but it is still interesting and entertaining.  It is worth watching, especially for fans of Hitchcock's movies.

Hitchcock Movie Reviews
The Birds ~ Dial M for Murder ~ Lifeboat ~ The Lodger ~ The Man Who Knew Too Much ~ North by Northwest ~ Notorious ~ The Paradine Case ~ Psycho ~ Rear Window ~ Rebecca ~ Rope ~ Sabotage ~ Strangers on a Train ~ Suspicion ~ To Catch a Thief ~ Vertigo ~

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD