The Conversation (1974)

Director:

Francis Ford Coppola

Writer:

Francis Ford Coppola (written by)

Release Date:

1974 (Japan)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Harry Caul is an invader of privacy. The best in the business. He can record any conversation between two people anywhere. So far, three people are dead because of him.

Plot:

A paranoid and personally-secretive surveillance expert has a crisis of conscience when he suspects that a couple he is spying on will be murdered. |

Plot Keywords:

Surveillance | Paranoia | Tragedy | Birthday | Tape

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Gene Hackman	...	Harry Caul
John Cazale	...	Stan
Allen Garfield	...	William P. 'Bernie' Moran
Frederic Forrest	...	Mark
Cindy Williams	...	Ann
Michael Higgins	...	Paul
Elizabeth MacRae	...	Meredith
Teri Garr	...	Amy Fredericks
Harrison Ford	...	Martin Stett
Mark Wheeler	...	Receptionist
Robert Shields	...	The Mime
Phoebe Alexander	...	Lurleen

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Dolby Digital (restored version)

Certification:

Spain:18 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Brazil:14 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:15 | Norway:16 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:12 (re-rating) (2002) | UK:15 (video rating) (1988) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Alamo Square, Hayes Valley, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

American Zoetrope

Trivia:

Francis Ford Coppola cited his conversation with fellow director Irvin Kershner about surveillance as the basis and theme of the film.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Harry is offered a cookie by Martin Stett, Harry declines. He does pick one up from Stett's desk but drops it back in the bowl again. After Stett picks up the tapes we see Harry walk back to the desk holding a cookie from nowhere and drops the cookie in the bowl before taking back the tapes.

Quotes:

Mark: Does it bother you?
Ann: What?
Mark: Walking around in circles.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Shhh (2008)

Soundtrack:

When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along

A Subtle Horror

To me The Conversation is one of most underrated movies ever. The movie carries on so quietly throughout that the suspense of the movie keeps on building up to one of the best endings in movie history.

The directing of this film was among one of the best I have ever seen. Coppola is able to craft his way through another one of his classics. The movie is just perfectly edited together and is so gripping throughout. His directing really takes the audiene to another world that most to almost all of us do not know about. That world is the world of security surveillance and spies. This though is not an ordinary spy movie, it is a very realistic psychological portrayal and the affects of knowing the real truth. Instead of this movie becoming a complete flop it becomes better and better as it carries on. Along with the cinematography and music he makes the audience feel how remote and controlled our society is. Coppola did not just show it he gave you the actual feeling of it. Coppola deserves much of the credit for this.

The writing was very good too. Once again Coppola uses his writing to keep the audience very much engaged into the movie. The writing in this movie ranks up their with his other screenplays such as The Godfather series, Apocalypse Now and Patton.

The acting was a bit of surprise to me. It was better than I expected. This film convinced me that Gene Hackman is prime talent. He is not just a man who plays the man always involved in a shouting match but in fact he is a versatile actor who has really limited himself rather than his abilities limiting him. He was perfect for this movie. The supporting cast was great as well. Robert Duvall who always gives the best cameos was good in here too. Harrison Ford who I wish actually had some more screen time was very convincing as a manipulative high ranking executive.

The ending in this movie to me is one of the best ever. It shows how or fears can consume us and alter our live. It displays how if our fears consume us we lose the feeling of life itself. That is at least my take of it. This is Coppola's hidden masterpiece that should be seen by all. It will definitely make you think.