How Bruce Dern Landed Hitchcock’s Last Leading Role

Bruce Dern, a veteran of the silver screen born in 1936, remains one of the few living links to the classic era of Hollywood. Approaching his 90th year, Dern continues to deliver compelling performances, but his career is also marked by unique moments from cinema’s past. Among these is his involvement in two Alfred Hitchcock films: a fleeting appearance in 1964’s Marnie and a much more prominent role in the director’s swansong, Family Plot. In the latter, Dern portrayed George Lumley, a cab driver who, alongside his psychic partner Blanche (Barbara Harris), becomes entangled in a web of abduction and intrigue.

Behind the Casting: Pacino’s Price Tag

In a candid conversation with Cowboys & Indians magazine, Dern recounted his initial uncertainty about why Hitchcock had chosen him for such a significant part. He recalled a memorable exchange with the director, who explained his reasoning in typically enigmatic fashion.

“First of all, Bruce, Mr Packino wanted too much money,”

Hitchcock remarked, adding,

“He wanted a million dollars.”

Dern continued,

“Hitch doesn’t pay a million dollars. Even Miss [Julie] Andrews and Mr [Paul] Newman didn’t get a million dollars from Hitch [for Torn Curtain]. I said, ‘I see, but that still doesn’t explain it. I don’t quite get what you’re telling me.’ He said, ‘Well, first of all, all [Italians] should have their names spelled phonetically.’ Suddenly, I realised, Mr Packino was Al Pacino.”

Pacino’s Star Power and Hitchcock’s Decline

At the time, Pacino was riding high, having starred in Serpico, The Godfather Part II, and Dog Day Afternoon. He was a natural contender for the role of George. Yet, despite Hitchcock’s towering reputation, the director’s recent lack of box office success and declining health made the project less attractive. Pacino’s substantial fee ultimately put him out of reach, leaving the door open for Dern.

Hitchcock, never one to mince words, offered Dern a backhanded compliment, telling him he was more “entertaining” than Pacino might have been. The director reportedly said,

“I have 1,242 [photos of actors] on the bulletin board, but none of them are interesting,”

before describing Dern as the most unpredictable actor he had ever worked with—a remark intended as the highest praise.

Legacy of a Final Collaboration

Family Plot would become Hitchcock’s last directorial effort, as his health deteriorated and he passed away four years after its release. For Dern, being cast in the final film of such a legendary figure is a distinction in itself, regardless of the circumstances that led to it. While he may have been the more affordable option, the role remains a significant chapter in his long and varied career.