History Trivia / FamilyPlot

* TroubledProduction: Hitchcock began development for the film in 1973. After ''Film/{{Frenzy}}'' screenwriter Anthony Shaffer turned down Hitch's offer to script the film, ''Film/NorthByNorthwest'' writer Ernest Lehman took over. But Hitchcock's health took a turn for the worse; he suffered a heart attack, had a pacemaker installed, then suffered some injuries from falls, which made it seem doubtful that it would ever get made. By 1975 he'd recovered enough to start filming, though his health was still a concern throughout. As mentioned in TheOtherMarty, filming had to restart when the role of Arthur Adamson was recast.

** Creator/FayeDunaway was offered the role of Fran.

* TheOtherMarty: Creator/AlfredHitchcock offered the role of Arthur Adamson to William Devane, but Devane had to turn it down due to other commitments, so filming began with Roy Thinnes as Adamson. Then about a week into the shoot, Devane told Hitchcock he was available. Hitchcock, who had doubts about Thinnes all along, fired him and refilmed his finished scenes with Devane (mainly the drugging/kidnapping of the priest at the cathedral. Some long shots of Thinnes from that sequence still made it into the final cut). Thinnes was with the film long enough to [[https://the.hitchcock.zone/wiki/Hitchcock%20Gallery:%20image%202189 appear in a promo shoot]] with Hitchcock, Black, Dern and Harris.

** Creator/BurtReynolds was considered for the part of Arthur Adamson. Hitchcock watched ''Film/TheLongestYard'' to see if he was right for the role. Hitchcock was instead impressed with Ed Lauter and cast him in the role of Maloney.

* WorkingTitle: Began production as ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Alfred Hitchcock's 53rd Film]]''[[note]]It was actually his 54th film. Since ''Mary'' was the simultaneously-filmed German version of ''Film/{{Murder}}'', Hitchcock apparently didn't count it as a separate film[[/note]], then later got the more formal titles ''Missing Heir'' and ''Deceit'', with ''Family Plot'' chosen midway through filming.

** Creator/GoldieHawn and Creator/LizaMinnelli were considered for Blanche.

* WorkingTitle: Began production as ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Alfred Hitchcock's 53rd Film]]''[[note]]Since ''Mary'' was the simultaneously-filmed German version of ''Film/{{Murder}}'', Hitchcock apparently didn't count it as a separate film[[/note]], then later got the more formal titles ''Missing Heir'' and ''Deceit'', with ''Family Plot'' chosen midway through filming.

* BillingDisplacement: Karen Black gets top billing even though she has the least screen time of the four leads.

** Creator/GoldieHawn was considered for Blanche.

** Creator/AlfredHitchock originally wanted Creator/JackNicholson for George Lumley, but he was busy with ''Film/OneFlewOverTheCuckoosNest''. Creator/AlPacino was offered the role, but his asking price was too high. Creator/RobertDeNiro and Creator/PaulNewman were also considered.

* ThrowItIn: The actors were told that they could ad lib parts of their dialogue. Barbara Harris, an alum of Creator/TheSecondCity, obviously would've been comfortable with this.

** Creator/RobertDeNiro, Creator/AlPacino, Creator/PaulNewman and Creator/JackNicholson were considered for Lumley.

** Roy Scheider and Creator/BurtReynolds were considered for Arthur Adamson aka Edward Shoebridge.
* WorkingTitle: Began production as ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Alfred Hitchcock's 53rd Film]]''[[note]]Since ''Mary'' was the simultaneously-filmed German version of ''Film/{{Murder}}'', Hitchcock apparently didn't count it as a separate film[[/note]], then later got the more formal titles ''Missing Heir'' and ''Deceit'', with ''Family Plot'' chosen midway through filming.

* WorkingTitle: Began production as ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Alfred Hitchcock's 53rd Film]]''[[note]]Since ''Mary'' was the simultaneously-filmed German version of ''Film/{{Murder}}'', Hitchcock apparently didn't count it as a separate film[[/note]]then later got the more formal titles ''Missing Heir'' and ''Deceit'', with ''Family Plot'' chosen midway through filming.

* WorkingTitle: Began production as ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Alfred Hitchcock's 53rd Film]]''[[note]]Since ''Mary'' was the simultaneously-filmed German version of ''Film/{{Murder}}'', Hitchcock apparently didn't count it as a separate film[[/note]] then later got the more formal titles ''Missing Heir'' and ''Deceit'', with ''Family Plot'' chosen midway through filming.

* WorkingTitle: Began production as ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Alfred Hitchcock's 53rd Film]]'' then later got the more formal titles ''Missing Heir'' and ''Deceit'', with ''Family Plot'' chosen midway through filming.

* TheOtherMarty: Creator/AlfredHitchcock offered the role of Arthur Adamson to William Devane, but Devane had to turn it down due to other commitments, so filming began with Roy Thinnes as Adamson. Then about a week into the shoot, Devane told Hitchcock he was available, so Hitchcock fired Thinnes and refilmed his finished scenes with Devane (mainly the drugging/kidnapping of the priest at the cathedral. Some long shots of Thinnes from that sequence still made it into the final cut). Thinnes was with the film long enough to [[https://the.hitchcock.zone/wiki/Hitchcock%20Gallery:%20image%202189 appear in a promo photo]] with Hitchcock, Black, Dern and Harris.

* WorkingTitle: Began production as ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Alfred Hitchcock's 53rd Film]]'' then later got the more formal titles ''Missing Heir'' and ''Deceit'', with ''Family Plot'' being a last-minute decision before its release.

* TheOtherMarty: Creator/AlfredHitchcock offered the role of Arthur Adamson to William Devane, but Devane had to turn it down due to other commitments, so filming began with Roy Thinnes as Adamson. Then about a week into the shoot, Devane told Hitchcock he was available, so Hitchcock fired Thinnes and refilmed his finished scenes with Devane (mainly the drugging/kidnapping of the priest at the cathedral. Some long shots of Thinnes from that sequence still made it into the final cut).

* TheOtherMarty: Creator/AlfredHitchcock offered the role of Arthur Adamson to William Devane, but Devane had to turn it down due to other commitments, so filming began with Roy Thinnes as Adamson. Then about a week into the shoot, Devane told Hitchcock he was available, so Hitchcock dismissed Thinnes and refilmed his scenes with Devane (mainly the drugging/kidnapping of the priest at the cathedral. Some long shots of Thinnes from that sequence still made it into the final cut).
* ThrowItIn: The actors were told that they could ad lib parts of their dialogue.

* WorkingTitle: ''Missing Heir'' and ''Deceit''.

** Originally Creator/AlfredHitchcock himself was supposed to walk down the stairs and wink at the audience instead of Barbara Harris. Ultimately he decided against it.

** Creator/RobertDeNiro, Creator/AlPacino and Creator/JackNicholson were considered for Lumley.

** Creator/AlPacino and Creator/JackNicholson were considered for the role of Lumley.

** Faye Dunaway was offered the role of Fran.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: AlPacino and JackNicholson were considered for the role of Lumley.
** Originally Alfred Hitchcock himself was supposed to walk down the stairs and wink at the audience instead of Barbara Harris. Ultimately he decided against it.