The 1970s was the Golden Age of the paranoid thriller, and Francis Coppola’s The Conversation was the most paranoid and most thrilling of them all. Sometimes referred to as “the movie Coppola made between the two Godfather films”—which is true, and mind-blowing—it is also an absolute masterpiece that more than stands on its own. We’re delighted to be screening this 50th-anniversary 4K restoration. Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is a surveillance guy, the best in the biz. But when a job goes wrong, suddenly Harry finds himself on the other side of that equation, which is not a good place to be. Beautifully written and directed by Coppola, The Conversation oozes both menace and style, building a tension that is almost nerve-shattering by film’s end. Featuring one of Gene Hackman’s finest performances, with stellar support from a loaded cast that includes John Cazale, Teri Garr, Frederic Forrest, Harrison Ford, and Robert Duvall, The Conversation is a towering achievement from one of America’s finest filmmakers. ~SM