Aug 22, 2008
The Conversation
A hovering perspective, hypnotic in its descent. Union Square bustles. Through the first transition programmable servo lens, engineered for this very shot, we hone in on a thousand little theaters settling on a disquieting mime. Long reaching shadows breed paranoia as the wondrous sound design is at once jazzy and dissonant, much like Harry Caul himself.
USA | 1974 | Color | 1.85:1 | English
Extras
Commentary excerpt with editor and sound mixer Walter Murch.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
(From The Conversation DVD)
Credits
Title Design: Francis Ford Coppola and Walter Murch
My favorite Coppola film. And thank the Lord for Walter Murch! Even though we are instantly (from frame one!) complicit in the world of surveillance, the length of the shot also acts as a nice slope of experience taking us into Caul’s world. And, beautifully, we are observing HIM, not one of his jobs, thus drawing attention to our own act of watching. Considering the film’s themes, how could you do any better than that? Brilliant!
So true. One of best films made. It’s a great opening.
The idea as described by Murch — If I recall — was to make use of the ultra-long lens that would be the sort of visual equivalent of the long-range microphone; also, it is made possible by the use of a motorized zoom control, something relatively new at the time of the film I believe. Nice use of new technology
My favourite movie!
Has ever an opening sequence set you up so well for the rest of the film?
does anyone know what font that is? thanks!
We believe that it is Gill Sans.