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Family Plot, a review by Jon

Family Plot (1976)
4 out of 5



When a wealthy woman unwittingly hires a con man and a phony psychic to find her missing heir, the results are diabolically funny in Alfred Hitchcock's tongue-in-cheek mystery thriller. Bruce Dern and Barbara Harris star as a conniving couple plotting to bilk an old lady out of her fortune by pretending to find her long-lost nephew (William Devane). Meanwhile, Devane, a larcenous jeweler, and his beautiful girlfriend (Karen Black) have kidnapped a rich Greek shipping magnate for ransom. Together they're on a nonstop merry-go round of mystery, murder and mayhem that combines suspense and comedy for unforgettable entertainment.

And so we come to the final Alfred Hitchcock film. It would be easy to make excuses for it, coming at the end of such an illustrious career that encompassed some of the greatest and most important films ever made, but the truth is, we don't have to. It's a great little film that is unmistakeably Hitchcock throughout and shows he never rested on his laurels.

The key thing about a typical Hitchcock plot is the simple, delicious premise and a claustrophobic situation, entrapping the central character. Family PlotFreaky FridayMarnie and Torn Curtain had the stars, but they were awkward, detached, incapable or all three! Topaz had the characters, but not the stars to pull them off. As if realising a change of gear was needed, in Frenzy he worked with a lesser-known, but a more capable and balanced cast and the story was tailored to suit them. Family Plot is the same and works very well for it, although at some cost to the epic visual style his best work is known for. Still, he rarely handled comedy well for that very reason, so this is a treat. There is one set-piece that acts as a nod to North By NorthwestForeign CorrespondentFrenzy had given him a new direction. Tone down the visual and concentrate on a dependable, solid cast and a likeable premise. As such this is a fine swansong that while lacking the pure cinematic power of, say, Vertigo

(From Alfred Hitchcock Marathon on May 25th, 2010)

Adam Had Four Sons, a review by Hal

Title: Adam Had Four Sons
Year: 1941
Director: Gregory Ratoff
Rating: G
Length: 80 Min.
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Ingrid Bergman
Warner Baxter
Susan Hayward
Fay Wray
Richard Denning

Plot:
A beautiful young governess keeps a family from destroying itself in this sensitive, affectionate drama, Emilie Gallatin, a gentle and affectionate foreign girl, comes into an American home to serve as the governess for Adam's four sons. Her devotion and innate strength see the family through the death of Adam's wife and the financial failure of his business. The family is nearly torn apart when one of the boys marries Hester. Emilie learns of the hatred and jealousy the new bride is causing through her infidelity, and attempts to enlighten the rest of the family - an effort that nearly results in Emilie's discharge. Adam, however, finally realizes how right Emilie has been, and together they discover the love that has grown between them over the years

Extras:
Scene Access




(From Adam Had Four Sons on July 1st, 2010)

The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Desperate Housewives



What's the show about?
The show is about the woman of Wisteria Lane and how they live, thrive and survive. In the first season it's also about the death of Mary Alice Young.

"Pilot"
On the day our story begins Mary Alice Young decides to put a bullet through her head. In that week a plumber moved in the street that isn't what he seems to be, Bree Van De Kamp's husband wants divorce and Gabrielle Solis cheats her husband with the gardener.

My Opinion
The first season is build around the mystery of why Marie Alice shot herself and what Mike's (the "plumber") true intentions are. It's a funny show but I still haven't got aroudn to watch the second season.

(From The One Where It All Began: The Pilot Marathon on January 4th, 2008)