Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

"Strap-Hangin' Good"

This is one of the most tense and exciting movies ever made as a NYC subway train is hijacked and commandeered by a group of criminals. You will go all "white knuckley" hanging on to the arms of your theater seat.
Robert Shaw and Walter Matthau are absolutely fabulous. If you never saw this gem, I highly recommend it. Be prepared to get a bit amused at the retro costuming--so stylish for the era. September 20, 2008

Love this movie....

It was always a favorite of mine when growing up. Used to watch the repreats on TV in NY. I had a copy that I recorded from TV, but wanted better quality. September 11, 2008

Hijacked a what?

Absolutely one of the most definitive 70's gritty NYC films. I've read how other reviewers have called it "dated". But what does that mean? It captured the time so well? It captured the way people spoke in Manhattan on subway trains? The lead character (Walter Matthau as Zach Garber) isn't PC enough? (Yes, he makes fun of a group of visiting Japanese men as he gives a tour of the subway operations, but he gets it back in the end.) It's not dated at all. It's spot-on.

Taking of Pelham, One, Two, Three is the kind of film, if made today, would be called an independent. It lacks every formulaic moment that goes into a studio picture. It has no big action sequences (with the lone exception of a police car racing through the traffic of New York), it has no forced love interest, and there is no "big twist" ending.

This is currently being remade by Tony Scott and starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta. What does this mean? It means the look of the film will have a mustard-dirt filter that Scott puts into every movie and the editing will be fast cutting, like he does in every movie. Denzel Washington will be smooth-talking, Yale-smart, unlike Matthau who had the weathered look of a beat cop with street smarts. John Travolta will play the maniacal laugh and smile he does all the time when he's the villain, a la 'Broken Arrow' and 'Face-Off', unlike Robert Shaw who played it cool and collected.

In other words, please see the original. It allowed the story and characters to be the entertainment instead of over-the-top fast cutting "stylized" nonsense that distracts rather than entertains. This is a classic! August 9, 2008

New York, New York!

A great capper movie with a New York attitude! Indeed, what do these riders expect for their lousy 35 cents? The acting and writing are fantastic. The wit-laden stress and frustration expressed by Lt. Garber, mixed with the cool, calculated brutalness of Mr. Blue makes this movie pure fun and completely entertaining. The bizarrness of the two character's figuring the other out and playing off one another has been unmatched since. March 10, 2008

Like New York, like that movie!

Not just for transit buffs, and those loving good, solid classic movies! It should not miss in any New York City lovers DVD libairy. Classic New York language presented by great actors.
The story is thrilling an even so, you saw the movie a couple of times, it is enjoyable over and over again!
March 1, 2008

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