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The Conversation

PG Released Apr 7, 1974 1h 53m Mystery & Thriller List
93% Tomatometer 134 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Surveillance expert Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is hired by a mysterious client's brusque aide (Harrison Ford) to tail a young couple, Mark (Frederic Forrest) and Ann (Cindy Williams). Tracking the pair through San Francisco's Union Square, Caul and his associate Stan (John Cazale) manage to record a cryptic conversation between them. Tormented by memories of a previous case that ended badly, Caul becomes obsessed with the resulting tape, trying to determine if the couple are in danger.
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The Conversation

The Conversation

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Critics Consensus

This tense, paranoid thriller presents Francis Ford Coppola at his finest -- and makes some remarkably advanced arguments about technology's role in society that still resonate today.

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Critics Reviews

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Rex Reed New York Daily News It is a superior movie, a dynamic social document, and an exemplary public service. In every way, a Kilimanjaro among motion pictures. Sep 24, 2024 Full Review Pauline Kael New Yorker The Conversation is driven by an inner logic. It's a little thin, because the logic is the working out of one character's obsession, but it's a buggy movie that can get to you so that when it's over you really feel you're being bugged. Sep 24, 2024 Full Review Andrew Sarris Village Voice Coppola never lets us in on any of the tactical details. Obviously, he opts for surprise over suspense, but even his surprises are muffled by his solemn gaze. Sep 24, 2024 Full Review Giles M. Fowler Kansas City Star To call The Conversation a thriller alone is about as accurate as calling Hamlet a revenge melodrama. Ideas ripple the surface of the film like tremors in disturbed water. Sep 24, 2024 Full Review Arthur Steele Birmingham Mail Hackman is quietly magnificent -- so real in emotions you feel that if you touched the screen you would feel the flesh of his face. Sep 24, 2024 Full Review Norman Dresser Toledo Blade Coppola has delivered in one neatly tied package a near cinematic masterpiece, a work which could not be transformed, without great loss of effectiveness, to the stage, the printed word, or any other art form.  Sep 24, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Wes Maybe I would have appreciated it more if I was an adult back in the 70s. Boring. It’s interesting getting a look at 70s urban blight. Union Square became a big skate spot 20 years later. Movies like this are why Star Wars was such a hit and came at the right time. What a contrast! Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/26/24 Full Review Alexander Super boring. Francis made this after The Godfather and even explains in the mini interview that he did not screen it with anyone except for a few babysitters. Maybe he knew subconsciously that this is a terrible movie and couldnt stand any honest feedback. Waste of my time and money. I walked out less than halfway into it. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/18/24 Full Review Hao Ian L Francis Ford Coppola delivers a nuanced perspective into the morally gray areas of surveillance and privacy, and the retributions that come with it, with the ethics and arguments surrounding <i>The Conversation</i> that makes it still highly relevant today. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/06/24 Full Review David F This is a tense, dense, thoughtful thriller about eavesdropping that is much more philosophical than most thrillers. It is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/18/24 Full Review Terry J I love Gene Hackman. Seriously, love Gene Hackman. I wanted to love this movie. But, alas, it fell short. I still love Gene Hackman, but the movie never really got its motor started. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/30/24 Full Review Rebecca T A classic 1970’s understated crime movie. One of my all time favorites. I love everything about this movie & the acting is superb. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/18/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

The Conversation

The Conversation: Official Clip - I'm Not Afraid of Death The Conversation: Official Clip - I'm Not Afraid of Death 2:51 The Conversation: Official Clip - What Will You Do to Her? The Conversation: Official Clip - What Will You Do to Her? 2:15 The Conversation: Official Clip - He'd Kill Us If He Got the Chance The Conversation: Official Clip - He'd Kill Us If He Got the Chance 2:04 The Conversation: Official Clip - Phone Tap The Conversation: Official Clip - Phone Tap 1:59 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Surveillance expert Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is hired by a mysterious client's brusque aide (Harrison Ford) to tail a young couple, Mark (Frederic Forrest) and Ann (Cindy Williams). Tracking the pair through San Francisco's Union Square, Caul and his associate Stan (John Cazale) manage to record a cryptic conversation between them. Tormented by memories of a previous case that ended badly, Caul becomes obsessed with the resulting tape, trying to determine if the couple are in danger.
Director
Francis Ford Coppola
Producer
Francis Ford Coppola
Screenwriter
Francis Ford Coppola
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
American Zoetrope, The Directors Company
Rating
PG
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 7, 1974, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Aug 9, 2024
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$143.4K
Runtime
1h 53m
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