Hitchcock Chronology: Family Plot (1976)
Entries in the Hitchcock Chronology relating to Family Plot (1976)...
1973
September
- Hitchcock begins working with Ernest Lehman on Deceit (later to be retitled Family Plot).[1]
October
- Family Plot is announced to the press.[2]
1974
April
- Writer Ernest Lehman completes an initial draft of Deceit (later retitled Family Plot).[3]
August
- Ernest Lehman submits a revised treatment for Deceit, followed by by a revised script a few weeks later.[4]
October
- Ill health continues to dog Hitchcock — fever, colitis, kidney stones, arthritis and the first of several falls. Work on Deceit is put on hold whilst the director recovers.[5]
1975
January
- Having recovered from his bout of ill health in 1974, Hitchcock begins gathering the crew and selecting the cast for Family Plot (at that point still titled Alfred Hitchcock's Deceit).[6]
February
- Hitchcock meets with actress Karen Black and casts her as the wife of the villain in Family Plot.[7]
April
- After months of discussion and occasional disagreements with Hitchcock, Ernest Lehman finalises his screenplay for Deceit.[8]
May
- 12th - Hitchcock begins filming his 53rd film, Alfred Hitchcock's Deceit — which is retitled Family Plot in July.[9][10]
- 29th - Visiting journalists and film critics attend luncheon at a specially constructed graveyard set on the Universal back lot to promote Deceit. The studio's prop department has set up tombstones with the names of the attendees on them.[11]
June
- One month into shooting Deceit, Hitchcock decides to replace actor Roy Thinnes with William Devane.[12][13]
July
- 9th - Variety lists Hitchcock's latest production as being titled Family Plot.
- 16th - Variety confirms that Deceit has been retitled Family Plot.[14]
December
- With Family Plot nearly complete, the Hitchcocks make their final trip to Europe and spend Christmas at the Palace Hotel in St. Moritz.[15]
1976
January
- 12th-14th - Composer John Williams spends 3 days recording his score for Family Plot. Hitchcock, apparently unwell after returning from St. Moritz, briefly attends one of the sessions.[16]
March
- 21st - Hitchcock's 53rd film Family Plot is premiered at Filmex, the Los Angeles International Film Festival.[17]
- 23rd - Hitchcock takes part in a large press conference to promote his 53rd film, Family Plot.[18]
1980
June
- 29th - In an article published in the Boston Globe, composer John Williams spoke about working with Hitchcock on Family Plot (1976), "I wasn't excited about that particular picture, but I wanted to work with Hitchcock, and it turned out to be his last film. He didn't want any thick, heavy scoring. 'Just remember this,' he said to me, 'murder can be fun.'"[19]
1981
October
- 24th - Costume designer Edith Head, who worked with Hitchcock on Notorious, Rear Window, The Trouble with Harry, To Catch a Thief, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo, The Birds, Marnie, Torn Curtain, Topaz and Family Plot, dies aged 83.
2005
July
- 2nd - Screenwriter Ernest Lehman, who wrote the screenplays for North by Northwest and Family Plot, and worked for a while on the unfilmed The Short Night, dies aged 89.
2006
May
- 24th - Art director and production designer Henry Bumstead, who worked on The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo, Topaz and Family Plot, dies aged 91.
2013
August
- 8th - Actress Karen Black, who starred in Family Plot, dies from ampullary cancer, aged 74.
References
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 717
- ↑ The Encyclopedia of Alfred Hitchcock (2002) by Thomas M. Leitch, page 99
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, pages 720-21
- ↑ The Encyclopedia of Alfred Hitchcock (2002) by Thomas M. Leitch, page 100
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 722
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 722
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 723
- ↑ The Encyclopedia of Alfred Hitchcock (2002) by Thomas M. Leitch, page 100
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 725
- ↑ The Encyclopedia of Alfred Hitchcock (2002) by Thomas M. Leitch, page 100
- ↑ Variety (1975) - Pictures: Graveyard Stunting
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, pages 725-26
- ↑ Variety (1975) - Pictures: Found and Lost Actor
- ↑ Variety (1975) - Pictures: Alfred Hitchcock's 53rd film
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 729
- ↑ Sleeve notes from Family Plot (VCL 1110 1115, 2010)
- ↑ The Encyclopedia of Alfred Hitchcock (2002) by Thomas M. Leitch, page 100
- ↑ Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light (2003) by Patrick McGilligan, page 729
- ↑ Boston Globe - "Where is John Williams Coming From?" (29/Jun/1980)
