The CONVERSATION (1974)
The Movie
Director Francis Ford Coppola conceived and wrote The Conversation after being inspired by Antonioni's 1966 classic 'Blowup'. He had difficulty funding it and put it aside when he was picked to direct the first Godfather movie. Thanks to its huge success he was able to return to The Conversation and made it before he did the second Godfather. Filming commenced in late 1972 and the movie was released in Los Angeles on April 7, 1974. Its hauntingly contemplative solo piano compositions by David Shire can be heard here and here.
The Story
Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is a surveillance expert hired by a business tycoon to snoop on his young wife (Cindy Williams) and her lover. Not surprisingly perhaps, Caul is paranoid about privacy and keeps everything so close to the vest that it drives away both his assistant (John Cazale) and girlfriend (Terri Garr). Listening over and over to the surreptitious recordings he becomes convinced that the young couple are going to be murdered, in part because of the information he has provided. Deeply troubled but unable to get involved he then discovers that those behind the plot are spying on him. The tables are turned; he has a hard time dealing with it and his world rapidly spirals out of control ...
The Locations
Snooping In Union Square Union Square
Harry Caul's Apartment 700 Laguna Street, #206/207, Hayes Valley
Harry Caul's Workshop 1616 16th Street, Suite 360, Potrero Hill
Caul Makes A Call Sutter Street at Polk, Polk Gulch
Too Many Questions Casa Madrona, 110 - 116 Frederick Street, The Haight
Take The Money or Run? One Embarcadero Center, 301 Clay Street, Financial District
A Breakthrough 1616 16th Street, Suite 360, Potrero Hill —- St. Patrick’s Church, 756 Mission Street, Soma
At The Convention St. Francis Hotel, 335 Powell Street, Union Square
10-28 St. Francis Hotel garage, Union Square --- Lombard Street between Webster and Divisadero, Cow Hollow
Prophetic Dream Alta Plaza Park, Pacific Height
Payday At The Director's Office Suite 4150, One Embarcadero Center, 355 Clay Street --- One Maritime Plaza, 300 Clay Street, Financial District
"Room 773, Jack Tar Hotel" Jack Tar Hotel, 1101 Van Ness Avenue at Geary, Western Addition
A Shocker 21-Hayes bus stop, Grove at Laguna --- One Embarcadero Center, 301 Clay Street, Financial District
Media Frenzy Sutter Street at Polk, Polk Gulch --- One Embarcadero Center, 301 Clay Street, Financial District
Meltdown 700 Laguna Street, #206/207, Hayes Valley