The Conversation12A

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola | USA | 1974 | 1h 54m | Starring Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Frederic Forrest, Cindy Williams, Harrison Ford

A surveillance expert is hired by a mysterious client to follow a young couple and record their conversations. As he pieces together their cryptic exchanges from various tape reels, he becomes obsessed with determining whether their lives are in danger. Produced between The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, Francis Ford Coppola’s seminal neo-noir thriller explores the uneasy line between technology and privacy—a topic that is more relevant than ever today. Winner of the 1974 Palme d’Or, the film has been restored in 4K to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Classic Season: 1974 Classic Season: Surveillance

Reviews

‘Set against a claustrophobic backdrop of post-Watergate paranoia, Coppola’s favourite of his films hinges on the intonation of a single word.’
★★★★★
Ed Potton, The Times

‘The Conversation is an intricate and unsettlingly subtle character study, with a very strong performance from Hackman.’
★★★★★
Nick Hilditch, BBC

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed The Conversation between July 27, 2024 and July 31, 2024.

Join our mailing list and we'll make sure you always know what's on and when.

What else is on?

Today (Thursday 11th June)
Find out more

20:30

The Christophers 15
1h 40m
A reclusive London artist (Ian McKellen) becomes the target of a scheme by his estranged children, who recruit a young painter (Michaela Coel) to infiltrate his home and uncover hidden works. Steven Soderbergh’s darkly comic chamber piece explores deception, legacy and artistic value.

Book here


Tomorrow (Friday 12th June)
Find out more

15:15

The Christophers 15
1h 40m
A reclusive London artist (Ian McKellen) becomes the target of a scheme by his estranged children, who recruit a young painter (Michaela Coel) to infiltrate his home and uncover hidden works. Steven Soderbergh’s darkly comic chamber piece explores deception, legacy and artistic value.

Book here

Find out more

17:45

Backrooms 15
1h 45m
When a patient vanishes through a strange basement doorway of a furniture showroom, his therapist follows him into a disorienting dimension. Expanding Kane Parsons’ cult online series, this feature-length adaptation stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve and bringing “liminal horror” to the big screen.

Book here

Find out more

20:15

Fairyland 15
1h 56m
Set in San Francisco from the 1970s to 1980s, this drama follows a father and daughter navigating bohemian life and social change as their bond is tested by the AIDS crisis. Adapted from Alysia Abbott’s memoir, it’s a tender coming-of-age story of love and resilience.

Book here

Find out more

23:00

Army of Darkness 15
1h 21m
To celebrate 10 amazing and chaotic years of Oxford’s underground, gonzo movie night, Cinema Under the Stairs, the gang bring Sam Raimi’s Army of Darkness to the UPP for a special evening of midnight movie mania. Book now to avoid disappointment. GROOVY!

Book here


See all upcoming films

Plan your visit

Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road.We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We only show a few adverts – less than most cinemas – and we only play a couple of trailers, so please don’t be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!

Find out more