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IMDbPro

The Conversation

  • 19741974
  • PGPG
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
114K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,293
127
Gene Hackman in The Conversation (1974)
Trailer 1
Play trailer1:56
4 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaMysteryThriller
A paranoid, secretive surveillance expert has a crisis of conscience when he suspects that the couple he is spying on will be murdered.A paranoid, secretive surveillance expert has a crisis of conscience when he suspects that the couple he is spying on will be murdered.A paranoid, secretive surveillance expert has a crisis of conscience when he suspects that the couple he is spying on will be murdered.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
114K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,293
127
    • Francis Ford Coppola
    • Francis Ford Coppola
  • Stars
    • Gene Hackman
    • John Cazale
    • Allen Garfield
    • Francis Ford Coppola
    • Francis Ford Coppola
  • Stars
    • Gene Hackman
    • John Cazale
    • Allen Garfield
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 446User reviews
    • 173Critic reviews
    • 87Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars

    Videos4

    The Conversation
    Trailer 1:56
    Watch The Conversation
    The Conversation - Restoration Trailer
    Trailer 1:56
    Watch The Conversation - Restoration Trailer
    'The Conversation' | 45th Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:36
    Watch 'The Conversation' | 45th Anniversary Mashup
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 10
    Video 28:39
    Watch Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 10

    Photos155

    Gene Hackman in The Conversation (1974)
    Gene Hackman in The Conversation (1974)
    Gene Hackman in The Conversation (1974)
    Gene Hackman in The Conversation (1974)
    Gene Hackman in The Conversation (1974)
    Robert Duvall in The Conversation (1974)
    Gene Hackman in The Conversation (1974)
    Gene Hackman and Mark Wheeler in The Conversation (1974)
    Gene Hackman in The Conversation (1974)
    Gene Hackman in The Conversation (1974)
    Gene Hackman in The Conversation (1974)
    Gene Hackman in The Conversation (1974)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gene Hackman
    Gene Hackman
    • Harry Caul
    John Cazale
    John Cazale
    • Stan
    Allen Garfield
    Allen Garfield
    • Bernie Moran
    Frederic Forrest
    Frederic Forrest
    • Mark
    Cindy Williams
    Cindy Williams
    • Ann
    Michael Higgins
    Michael Higgins
    • Paul
    Elizabeth MacRae
    Elizabeth MacRae
    • Meredith
    • (as Elizabeth Mac Rae)
    Teri Garr
    Teri Garr
    • Amy
    Harrison Ford
    Harrison Ford
    • Martin Stett
    Mark Wheeler
    Mark Wheeler
    • Receptionist
    Robert Shields
    Robert Shields
    • The Mime
    Phoebe Alexander
    • Lurleen
    Ramon Bieri
    Ramon Bieri
    • Man at Party
    • (uncredited)
    Gian-Carlo Coppola
    Gian-Carlo Coppola
    • Boy in Church
    • (uncredited)
    George Dusheck
    • TV Anchor
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Duvall
    Robert Duvall
    • The Director
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Hackman
    • Confessional Priest
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    George Meyer
    • Salesman
    • (uncredited)
      • Francis Ford Coppola
      • Francis Ford Coppola
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    The Conversation

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Francis Ford Coppola's personal favorite of his movies.
    • Goofs
      When Caul is in Stett's office alone, he walks over to the desk and picks up one of Stett's wife's cookies. He smells it and puts it back in the dish and then looks through the telescope. When Stett returns, he hands Caul the money and takes the tapes. When the film cuts to a shot of Caul thinking about the arrangement, the cookie reappears. Caul puts this cookie back in the dish, too.
    • Quotes

      [repeated line from the recording]

      Mark: He'd kill us if he got the chance.

    • Connections
      Edited into The Green Fog (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      Sophisticated Lady
      (1932)

      Music by Duke Ellington

    User reviews446

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    You Have To See This More Than Once
    This is one of those films I'm glad I gave a second chance because it got much better, and has continued getting better with each viewing (I've now seen it four times).

    I know a few other people who watch this and ask, "What's the big deal?" Well, do what I did and give it another chance. Here's a tip: put on the English subtitles. It helps understand what is going on, as the taped conversations are often difficult to discern. Then, you might discover what I did: a fascinating character study, one that did not bore me as it had on the first viewing.

    It's the study of a paranoid loner who is suffering a guilty conscience over the work he has done over the years, and what tragic consequences could happen with the latest project he's involved with. Without giving anything away, the loner's fears are realized in a shocking ending, but not in the way he imagined.

    Gene Hackman, as always, does a super job of acting. He dominates the film as the main character, "Harry Caul." The topic matter - high-tech surveillance - was intriguing, too. After watching this film, I wondered what kind of surveillance tools are available now, 30 years after this film was made.
    helpful•153
    37
    • ccthemovieman-1
    • Nov 2, 2005

    FAQ2

    • Is "The Conversation" based on a novel?
    • Is it true that Francis Ford Coppola was a wire-tapper himself?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 12, 1974 (Canada)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • American Roofing Co. Building - 297 Kansas Street, Potrero Hill, San Francisco, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • The Directors Company
      • The Coppola Company
      • American Zoetrope
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 53 minutes
      • Mono

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