In the post-production phase of Alfred Hitchcock’s final film, Family Plot, the director sent a memo to his sound editor to dub over one of the scenes a long monologue that Hitchcock had assembled from three different passages in the Book of Mormon. Hitchcock never indicated the origin of the monologue nor why he wanted it, leaving many Hitchcock experts to speculate (incorrectly) on its origins. How are we to explain this and several other subtle echoes of Mormonism in Hitchcock’s final movie? Based on research at the Hitchcock archives, as well as interviews with the film’s assistant director, sound editor, and Patricia Hitchcock (Alfred’s daughter), this presentation argues that the passages are an important element in interpreting Hitchcock’s final movie, and that Family Plot offers an implicit commentary on Mormonism as well.

R. John Williams