TVSquad

In 1974, in between creating The Godfather and The Godfather, Part 2, Oscar-winning writer-director Francis Ford Coppola made a film that was just as seminal as the Mafia dramas: The Conversation.

It was in many ways a small picture, starring Gene Hackman (in a brilliant performance), and including some people on the brink of stardom, Cindy Williams (pre-Laverne & Shirley), Teri Garr (pre-Young Frankenstein) and Harrison Ford (pre-Star Wars and Raiders). The Conversation won the top prize as the Cannes Film Festival.

Now, AMC has given Tony Krantz (24), the go ahead to produce a pilot based on the film. It'll be set in the early 1970s and remain true to the film's premise: the story of Harry Caul, a professional sound man, a guy who can plant bugs and catch conversations using tape recorder and surveillance equipment, but is isolated and uncomfortable with human contact. In the film, Harry hears a conversation between a young couple and is unsure whether the information he's heard -- or thinks he's heard -- should be handed over to his client.

Today, April 1st, is General Hospital's anniversary -- 45 years on the air. The ABC soap has been very successful through most of that time, although it hasn't really followed the path that many daytime dramas take. In the late 1980's, GH changed from a romance-based, hospital drama to more of a crime/spy/action-oriented soap. It's continued that style, and I can tell you six things that keep me tuning in daily to General Hospital (or checking it out on SoapNet).