The Conversation (1974)

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8	Rating (639 ratings)
7.7	IMDB rating

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Directed by

Francis Ford Coppola

Starring (View all)

Gene Hackman
Harry Caul

John Cazale
Stan

Allen Garfield
Bernie Moran

Frederic Forrest
Mark

Cindy Williams
Ann

Michael Higgins
Paul

Elizabeth MacRae
Meredith

Teri Garr
Amy

Written by

Francis Ford Coppola
(written by)

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The Conversation (1974) movie trailer

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The Conversation (3/11) Movie CLIP - Someone May Get Hurt (1974) HD

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The Conversation (10/11) Movie CLIP - Scene of the Crime (1974) HD

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Reviews

Review

13 years, 6 months ago at May 29 1:01

khan amir

A paranoid detective journey into the world of sound and conversations. Possibly the most chilling films ever made in the 70s 'conspiracy theory' genre. The Conversation frightens with its grim, gripping view of the surveillance world.

The Director of a large anonymous corporation hires surveillance expert Harry Caul to record a young couple's private conversation. The film opens w... read more

A classic

8 years, 2 months ago at Oct 6 12:43

johanlefourbe

To be honest, it has been a while since I have seen this movie and I should definitely re-watch it at some point. It is apparently Francis Ford Coppola's personal favorite of his movies. Eventually, the only reason this movie didn’t get the love it deserved was probably the fact that Coppola was really on fire in the 70’s and all his movies turned out to be some huge masterpieces (‘The Godfa... read more

Review

7 years ago at Nov 11 12:09

tomahawk

It is a classic movie. That means everybody recommends it and nobody watches it. Hehe, ... sorry.

But it is true, the movie is hard to get into. It is slow, but only if you judge it by modern Marvel-like movies. It is more about creating a portrait of the man- Mr.Caul rather than some great event. I was about to drop it halfway, but then I read Coppola loved this film and pursued ... read more

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Description: Francis Ford Coppola (You're a Big Boy Now, The Rain People, The Godfather) is a proficient film-maker with a keen cinematic sense and a deep moral sensibility. He finished the first draft of the screenplay for The Conversation in 1969. Like The Rain People, it is essentially a story about responsibility. Hooked into the happenings of Watergate, this moral parable has immense wallop. But the movie suffers from a severe case of arrested development and an unbelievable finale. Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is the "best bugger on the West Coast." He's made a name for himself as a private surveillance and security technicia Francis Ford Coppola (You're a Big Boy Now, The Rain People, The Godfather) is a proficient film-maker with a keen cinematic sense and a deep moral sensibility. He finished the first draft of the screenplay for The Conversation in 1969. Like The Rain People, it is essentially a story about responsibility. Hooked into the happenings of Watergate, this moral parable has immense wallop. But the movie suffers from a severe case of arrested development and an unbelievable finale.

Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is the "best bugger on the West Coast." He's made a name for himself as a private surveillance and security technician. His contracts have included work for the government and industrial espionage jobs. When we meet Harry he's involved in a $15,000 piece of spying on a young couple in San Francisco. He brings all his skills into play while taping a lunchtime open air conversation against between the couple in a mall. Using cameras, directional parabolic microphones, and two shadowing devices, Harry manages to put together their conversation against all odds.

But in the process he realizes for the first time in his life that morality cannot be separated from the professional use of technology. Put another way, everything is not permitted when life is put into the balance. And, even more important, Harry has the tables turned on him in a series of incidents wherein his own privacy is assaulted. A landlady somehow breaks through the three locks and alarm system on his apartment door to place a birthday present inside. The girlfriend he keeps in another apartment insists on knowing more about him and threatens to break off their relationship when he refuses to open himself up to her by telling her where he works, what he does, and how he feels. And finally, another professional snooper plants a bug on Harry and tapes a private conversation between him and a hooker.

Harry begins to see that he has a responsibility to the couple he has taped; their lives may be in danger. In a dream, it comes to him that he's not so much afraid of his own death as he is frightened of the possibility of others being murdered. ... (more)

UPC: 097360230741

Tags: Thriller (24), Mystery (21), 1970s (18), Drama (16), Spy (13), 1974 (12), Murder (11), Surveillance (11), Conspiracy (9), Voyeur (8), Usa (7), Enigma (7), Loner (7), Neo Noir (7), Sound (7), Wiretap (7), Recording (6), Technology (5), Paranoia (5), Twist (5)

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" First Viewing Viewing Date: May 21st Via: Blu-ray Plot: A paranoid, secretive surveillance expert has a crisis of conscience when he suspects that the couple he is spying on will be murdered. Rating: 7.8/10 Why Did I Watch It? This has been a huge cinematic blind spot for years."

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" "We know that you know, Mr. Caul. For your own sake, don't get involved any further. We'll be listening to you." Written by Francis Ford Coppola Music by David Shire Cinematography by Bill Butler Editing by Richard Chew"

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My Favorite Films of 1974 (10 movies items)

" "We know that you know, Mr. Caul. For your own sake, don't get involved any further. We'll be listening to you." Directed by Francis Ford Coppola Written by Francis Ford Coppola Music by David Shire Cinematography by Bill Butler Editing by Richard Chew"

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