gavin6942 Lighthearted suspense film about a phony psychic/con artist and her taxi driver/private investigator boyfriend who encounter a pair of serial kidnappers while trailing a missing heir in California.When you think of Hitchcock's best films, you think "Vertigo", "Psycho" and "Rear Window", to name a few. You very rarely hear "Family Plot" mentioned, but I would argue it is among his best and a fine way to retire.The humor is nice, especially with the wonderful Bruce Dern. But really, this is just pure mystery and suspense. Is the missing child alive? If yes, who is he? And who is chasing who? This is such a great mystery film it deserves a second or third viewing.

calvinnme This last Hitchcock film may seem out of step with all of the others, but then it has to be. The sexual/cultural revolution is over. The cynical 70s are in full swing. You can't just insinuate "the act" anymore and cut to the seashore.Into this environment comes "Family Plot". It is basically two sets of crimes, one minor and one major, hitting an intersection with one group of criminals having no idea what the other group is up to.Blanche Tyler (Barbara Harris) is a fake psychic. She has her cabbie boyfriend get information for her based on the hints she gets from the séances. In this case a wealthy woman, Julia Rainbird, claims her sister's spirit and her own conscience torment her because in 1933 she made her sister put her illegitimate child up for adoption because of the scandal that would have occurred given the conventions of the times. Nobody knows what happened to him since the adoption was closed. Now Julia Rainbird, in her old age, wants to accept her nephew into the family and leave the entire estate to him. There is 10K in it for Blanche if she can find him.What Blanche and cabbie lover George (Bruce Dern) don't know is that the long lost heir is basically Lex Luther with hair - William Devane as Arthur Adamson, a true sociopath who loves thumbing his nose at conventions and loves crime. Together he and his girlfriend, Fran (Karen Black) kidnap wealthy people in exchange for jewels. Adamson has a legitimate business as a jeweler as a front.The misunderstandings come in when Adamson discovers that somebody is digging into his past, specifically his faked death which was a cover for the murder of his adoptive parents back in 1950. Blanche and George can't figure out why they would be getting attempts on their life. Adamson has no idea of his true identity and has no idea why these two amateurs are trying to find him, figuring it has either to do with his current kidnappings or the past murder of his parents.It all comes together in a suspenseful and comical way. I'll let you watch and find out how.Blanche and George are a hilarious couple just perfect for 1975. In one scene, at the end of the day, she is basically ordering him to come inside the house and sexually service her. George replies she is wearing him out and he has to work tomorrow. She asks "what are you saving it for?". This is a long way from the stolen glances, passionate kisses, and hand holding in "Dial M For Murder", but this is a different time and they are just right for it.Even at the end Hitchcock did know how to change with the times. I'd recommend it.

SnoopyStyle Fake psychic Madam Blanche Tyler (Barbara Harris) and her taxi driving boyfriend George Lumley (Bruce Dern) track down the long lost nephew of wealthy elderly heiress Julia Rainbird. She promises them a large sum believing Madam Tyler to be legitimate.Meanwhile, jeweler collector Arthur Adamson (William Devane) and girlfriend Fran (Karen Black) kidnap wealthy people to ransom for diamonds.This is Alfred Hitchcock's final film. He was quite ill and in his 70s. His skills are somewhat dated like the driving scenes. The pacing is quite slow early on. Once the two couples' paths intersect, the story gets much more compelling. The tension picks right up. Hitchcock injects some slapstick with the flaky Barbara Harris. I didn't laugh but it's cute to see Hitchcock try. This is not his best work, but it's still a fascinating watch.

CinemaClown From the director of Rebecca, Shadow of a Doubt, Notorious, Rope, Strangers on a Train, Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, Vertigo, North by Northwest, Psycho & The Birds comes the final feature film of his great & glorious career. And although it may be no match to any of the above mentioned films, it nonetheless works as what it is in the first place; a dark comedy.Alfred Hitchcock's Family Plot tells the story of two couples; one consists of a fake psychic & a cab driver who together make up as petty con artists while the other couple kidnap rich people for ransoms. The plot concerns the search of a missing heir that brings the petty criminals in conflict with the smooth professionals leading to some unexpected consequences.Finely directed by Hitchcock, the film suffers when compared to previous classics in the director's impressive filmography but it is clever & strong enough to stand on its own. It is a crime thriller but a very light-hearted one that benefits from fine dose of performances from its cast as well as crew. And throughout its runtime, it manages to keep a very playful atmosphere even when the events become suspenseful.On an overall scale, carrying the same elements of suspense in its plot that has virtually defined almost all Hitchcock films, Family Plot embraces his usual storytelling technique with enough measure of thriller & mystery in its bag but this time it's also blended with smart flair of light- hearted & well-executed humour. Not a memorable movie by any means but destined to be remembered as the last one from 'The Master of Suspense'.