• The Conversation

12/15/24 (Sat)

In Coppola’s 1974 film, free-lance wiretapper Harry Caul (Gene Hackman), a gruff loner considered the best in his field, is charged with tapping the conversations of a normal-looking couple. His intricate work involves several mikes and cameras placed in various spots, and his golden rule is to know as little as possible and never get personally involved in any information he acquires. The couple, aware that they could be under surveillance, wander around San Francisco’s Union Square speaking quietly to each other, but their words are all picked up by Harry. The problem comes when he hears remarks suggesting that they may be in danger, particularly the line, “He’d kill us if he got the chance” – or is it “He’d kill us if he got the chance,” implying something very different?

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