Sound Analysis: Francis Ford Coppola’s "The Conversation" Olivia Finn Vega College

In Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 film, The Conversation, the element of sound functions as a fundamental aspect of each scene. The addition of sound or absence thereof works to underscore the main character, Harry Caul’s, fraught emotions and increasingly paranoid actions while he is unraveling the mystery behind a conversation from a surveillance operation. In the sequence, Harry transitions between a corporate office space, an elevator, and a warehouse. Each of these locations have a distinguishing sound quality that contribute to the rising suspense. Furthermore, Harry’s occupation places him in a unique position as an arbiter of specified sounds which heightens the audience’s attention to sounds that might typically go unnoticed. The use of ambient sound, a subtle piano-based score, and the inclusion of a muted dialogue recording serve to emphasize the unsettling sense of impending danger present in the sequence.

The sequence begins with a series of diegetic, ambient noises that work to highlight Harry’s everyday reality and mental state. The first of these diegetic sounds comes in the form of his footsteps. The alternating sound of his slightly squeaky shoes become increasingly louder as he walks down the hall. It is...