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      Family Plot

      PG Released Apr 9, 1976 2 hr. 0 min. Mystery & Thriller List
      93% 40 Reviews Tomatometer 62% 5,000+ Ratings Audience Score Blanche (Barbara Harris), a less than reputable psychic, and her equally shady boyfriend, George (Bruce Dern), are hired by an elderly lady to find her nephew Arthur (William Devane), who had been given up for adoption as a boy. With little information to go on, the pair track down the now-adult man in San Francisco. Arthur has had a colorful past, including murder and thievery with girlfriend Fran (Karen Black). So when he discovers he is being trailed, he assumes it's for other reasons. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Feb 20 Buy Now

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      Critics Consensus

      The Master of Suspense's swan song finds him aiming for pulpy thrills and hitting the target, delivering a twisty crime story with pleasurable bite.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member Loved it. A fun caper. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/17/24 Full Review Manon P I'm a fan of Hitchcock's Rear Window and his tv series so I was keen to see this lesser known film. But I just thought there was too much going on plotwise to care what happened to such unlikeable characters. I did enjoy Torn Curtain with Paul Newman and the Man who knew too Much with James Stewart and Doris Day. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/02/24 Full Review Tony S A more light-hearted Hitchcock film that has a very intriguing pace. Essentially, it's a tug of war between two couples who have no idea what the other's true agenda is (or that either even exists), resulting in drastic measures being taken and the entire story collapsing on itself. The actors do a tremendous job, even if the comedic dialogue and scenes take away from many of the scenes. It is one thing that Blanche and George basically communicate through sexual innuendos. It becomes endearing as the film progresses, juxtaposing the couple's lack of awareness of the mess they've dragged themselves into. But when the same slapstick is present during what is supposed to be a tense descent in a car without breaks, it really doesn't help. I understand that this is exactly what he was going for. However, it feels forced and genuinely unfunny, especially when contrasted with the macabre fact that the key point of the story is a kid burning his parents alive. At the very least, it distinguishes the couple, as Fran and Arthur have CIA-level skills and equipment. They should be stealing government secrets, not diamonds with their abilities. It is also evident that trying to shoot in the studio really left a giant scar on the movie. The chroma key just doesn't stand the test of time, sometimes in the scenes where it was really unnecessary, like Arthur's jewelry store. The soundtrack is great and the ending is so cheeky, but with hindsight, it could've been so much more. Apparently, Hitchcock considered showing up himself on the stairs and winking at the audience, but because he didn't think it was his last movie, he turned the idea down. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/25/22 Full Review Audience Member Fun Hitchcock. Bruce Dern is the glue that holds this thing together. A set piece or two away from being something really solid. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Family Plot is a fairly lackluster conclusion to Hitchcock's career, even if it does have all the signs of his classic films. The expected murder, sex, humor, and surprises are marginal at best, often so convoluted and slow, I often found myself fighting off sleep. However, the last shot nearly makes up for the whole thing, a perfect period at the end of Alfred's career sentence. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member While obviously not comparable to some of Hitchcock's classics and much lighter in tone, the plot of his last film is still well crafted and kept me interested for the entire runtime. I always appreciate Bruce Dern and enjoyed William Devane here as well. John Williams provides the score which at times heightens the level of quirkiness this film reaches, despite the serious stakes for the main characters. I thought the ending was also a little corny and predictable, but in no way ruins the movie either. 6.5/10 Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Nigel Andrews Financial Times If this is Hitchcock's last film, he couldn't have left us on a more confident and mischievously inventive note. May 12, 2020 Full Review TIME Staff TIME Magazine Out of respect for Hitchcock's stature, and his years, Family Plot should be considered as fleetingly as possible. May 12, 2020 Full Review David Parkinson Empire Magazine Hitchcock's final picture is not one of the classics but has many of the elements that made him great. Rated: 3/5 May 12, 2020 Full Review Madeleine Harmsworth Sunday Mirror (UK) The journey is often amusing and sometimes nerve-wracking. Either way, it is not to be missed. Oct 6, 2023 Full Review Russell Davies Observer (UK) Family Plot is a confection: a sugared almond, from the heart whose kernel the tiny capsule of traditional poison is unaccountably missing. Billed as diabolical, the film is in fact benign to the point of all-out merriment. Oct 6, 2023 Full Review Steve Warren The Barb (Atlanta) It shows the Master of Suspense back in top form, and he keeps us laughing all the way to the unexpected ending. May 9, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Blanche (Barbara Harris), a less than reputable psychic, and her equally shady boyfriend, George (Bruce Dern), are hired by an elderly lady to find her nephew Arthur (William Devane), who had been given up for adoption as a boy. With little information to go on, the pair track down the now-adult man in San Francisco. Arthur has had a colorful past, including murder and thievery with girlfriend Fran (Karen Black). So when he discovers he is being trailed, he assumes it's for other reasons.
      Director
      Alfred Hitchcock
      Screenwriter
      Victor Canning, Ernest Lehman
      Distributor
      Universal Pictures, MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
      Production Co
      Universal Pictures
      Rating
      PG
      Genre
      Mystery & Thriller
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Apr 9, 1976, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Apr 19, 2016
      Sound Mix
      Mono
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