I Saw Family Plot With Alfred Hitchcock
Hey, fellow Hitchcock fans. Here I admit that I’m older and that though I didn’t get to meet Hitchcock, I was in the same room with him to see “Family Plot.” The room was a movie theater. The occasion was the world premiere of the film, a few weeks before its release.
“Family Plot” was set for release in mid-late April of 1976, for Easter Break. But I saw it earlier in April, maybe even March. I can’t remember. It was at the World Premiere.
I was living in Los Angeles at the time. Back then, they had an annual Los Angeles International Film Exposition, which was called FILMEX for short. The two-week film festival specialized in foreign films and early independent films, but they tried to open and close it with a major Hollywood studio film, with a few premieres in between, too. “Family Plot” was selected to open FILMEX 1976.
“Regular people” could buy a limited number of tickets to the World Premiere of “Family Plot,” though we couldn’t get into the dinner honoring Hitchcock afterwards. As I recall, the movie ticket was somewhat pricey, but I saved up for it. Went with some friends.
The premiere was held at the Century City movie theaters, near UCLA. I stood up on a level of the outside area looking down at the red carpet below me. Near me for the entire time, at a distance of only ten feet or so, were MCA-Universal chief Lew Wasserman and Pat Hitchcock, Hitchcock’s daughter. No bodyguards. Why they were up with me and not down near the carpet, I don’t know. I remember them talking politely about how nice it was that Pat’s father Alfred had this big premiere to attend, but I can’t remember another thing they said to each other.
Various stars walked the red carpet. I recall Bruce Dern and Karen Black from “Family Plot,” but can’t remember if Harris or Devane showed. Jimmy Stewart showed.
And then a limosine pulled up and Alfred Hitchcock emerged, right below me. I remember being struck at how short he was; that was a surprise. He needed help being pulled out of the limosine, but he insisted on walking on his own. I remember thinking: this wobbly little old man created all those great movies over all those decades, and I'm looking at him. I caught a glimpse of his immortality.
Hitchcock walked up to a waiting Hollywood spokesman, Army Archerd of the Hollywood Reporter. Archerd put two trade papers up to Hitchcock’s face and cheerily said “Hitch! Two rave reviews in the Hollywood Reporter and Variety. Looks like you’ve got a hit on your hands!” Hitchcock thanked Archerd and walked into the movie theater.
We followed.
I think we all know that “Family Plot” has flaws. It is the work of a sick, older man. It is slow at times, especially at the beginning. It has bad process work.
But “Family Plot” also has some good things: good plot structure, good lines, good acting, good scenes.
At the world premiere, with Hitchcock in the theater with us, we loyal fans tried to “help” him watch his movie, tried to show our appreciation. We laughed at all the jokes, and applauded numerous scenes.
These are the moments at which I recall big applause:
Opening credit: “Alfred Hitchcock’s Family Plot.”
Opening credit: “Screenplay by Ernest Lehman.”
Hitchcock’s cameo behind the door in shadow.
The conclusion of the runaway car scene, when the car tipped on its side and the movie went quiet.
The high angle single-take of Bruce Dern criss-crossing Mrs. Maloney through the cemetery.
The doorbell ringing just as Devane and Black give the bishop his shot (this got a gasp – Blanche is here! – then a laugh, then applause, and CHEERS. A great Hitchcock moment and we wanted him to know.)
Barbara Harris’ final wink and end credits.
“Family Plot” was soon released. Not the hit that Army Archerd predicted, but it made a little money and got some good reviews (and some awful, mean, ungrateful reviews by Young Turk critics.)
In any event, I saw “Family Plot” with Alfred Hitchcock. A memorable night.
P.S. Also at FILMEX, I saw the premiere of “Bad News Bears” with Walter Matthau present, and a collection of William Castle horror trailers, with Castle himself there to talk to us. Castle died soon after that appearance.