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Years ago, we covered Alfred Hitchcock’s first surviving feature film, THE PLEASURE GARDEN (1925). The final movie he made before his death, 1976’s FAMILY PLOT, is on the other side of one of the most storied careers in all of film. It’s also… fine.

Eager to cash in on the bounty, a pair of small-time hustlers (Bruce Dern, Barbara Harris) go hunting for the new heir of an old fortune — unaware that their quarry is one half of a lucrative crime duo (Karen Black, William Devane) who’ll eliminate anything between them and their next score.

Less thrilling than madcap, the ensuing hijinks are evidence of either a master who lost his touch for suspense or the GOAT kicking back and having some fun with someone else’s story. Both perspectives are represented on this episode! Then, we’re into some introspective Trylove trivia with a thrilling conclusion that would make the Master of Suspense proud.

Give to these causes in need during ICE’s occupation of Minnesota:

• Support Minnesotans defending their communities from ICE: https://www.standwithminnesota.com/
• @sanctuarysupplydepot: Mutual aid group in Mpls getting basic necessities to our houseless neighbors https://linktr.ee/sanctuarysupplydepot
• @mplsmutualaid: Clearinghouse of mutual aid for our neighbors: https://linktr.ee/mplsmutualaid
• ISAIAH, an interfaith group fighting for racial and economic justice in MN: https://secure.everyaction.com/G8TCnxFlE0qd9zlUEYjjeg2
• Show love to North Minneapolis families in crisis: https://www.gofundme.com/f/show-love-to-north-minneapolis-families-in-crisis

References:

• “Hijinks in Hitchcockland: Family Plot” by Penny Folger for Perisphere, the Trylon blog
• “Who’s Buried in the Plot?” by Patrick Clifford for Perisphere, the Trylon blog
• Check the calendar, preview upcoming series, and buy tickets
• Contribute to Perisphere, the Trylon blog

#The2026HitchcockFilmFestival #35mm

Follow us on Twitter at @trylovepodcast, Bluesky at @trylovepodca.st, and email us at trylovepodcast@gmail.com to get in touch!

Show art by Emily Csuy. Theme: "Raindrops" by Huma-Huma/"No Smoking" PSA by John Waters. Outro: “Family Plot Theme” by John Williams from the FAMILY PLOT soundtrack.

Timestamps

0:00 - Episode 381: FAMILY PLOT (1976)

3:49 - Whadja Watch this Week?

15:42 - The Patented Aaron Grossman Summary

19:36 - The plates this movie’s spinning

25:55 - All the Hitchcockiness it’s got going on

28:59 - Grandparent cinema

32:40 - A defense!

38:32 - Leaning into both simultaneously

47:03 - What about this era of Hitchcock?

53:45 - What the loss of cinematographer Robert Burks (d. 1968) did to Hitchcock’s late career

1:00:16 - The Junk Drawer

1:04:42 - To All the Loves We’ve Tried Before: 1976

1:09:24 - Trylove Plot (we guess Trylove movies based on plot synopses)