The Conversation (1974)

I remember this movie from when I was a 10 year-old kid.  It was 1974 and all we heard about in school and on the news (I don't remember wanting to watch the news, but with only three TV channels back then...) and all the talk was about Watergate and surveillance tapes and all that stuff.  It was exciting, and scary, for a dumb little kid.  I also remember seeing this movie and suddenly having the paranoid reaction that someone might be listening in on dumb 10 year old conversations! Watching it now - probably could prompt even more paranoia if one were of that bent!  

  

REVIEWS:  Roger Ebert gave this a good, well thought-out review back in 2001, and Vincent Canby wrote an interesting review in the New York Times on April 21, 1974.  Canby's review illustrates the cynicism in America at the time of the film's premier, a cynicism echoed in today's America.  As a matter of fact, Canby starts his review thus, "Have you considered the possibility that everything that's ever been said in this world might still be echoing somewhere...".  

FAVORITE QUOTE:  Martin Stett: [Final Line] We'll be listening to you. 

RATED: Very Enjoyable
WATCH IT AGAIN: I would.
DO I WANT TO OWN IT?: Nah.