Rating: 
Summary: One million dollars in exactly one hour...or else!
Review: Though it may seem dated by its lack of special effects explosions and testosterone, what the 1974 thriller THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE-TWO-THREE has in abundance is more than sufficient to make it one of the most well-thought-out thrillers on record.The film involves the takeover of a New York City subway train by four very heavily armed men, led by a very ruthless Robert Shaw. Beyond their actions throwing the Big Apple's transit system into a frenzy, they are also holding seventeen passengers and the train's conductor as hostages. At 2:13 PM, the demands are made: $1 million is to be delivered to them in EXACTLY one hour, or they kill one hostage for every minute the money is late. And if any outsiders interfere in any way, the hostages get killed immediately, regardless! It is thus up to a very cagey NYC transit cop (the late, great Walter Matthau) to try and buy some time to not only get the money to the hijackers through the Big Apple gridlock, but to also get a bead on them. He winds up finding two of Shaw's associates (Hector Elizondo, Earl Hindman) already dead; and when he finds Shaw, the mastermind of the hijacking electrocutes himself! One man, however, has escaped detection--the motorman (Martin Balsam). And in order to wrap this caper up, both Matthau and an associate (Jerry Stiller) must find that elusive motorman and, if possible, the money. Full of snappy and rather salty dialogue, plenty of suspense, and black comedy, THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE-TWO-THREE offers up a solid contrast between Matthau and Shaw, which keeps the film moving through the slow spots, what few there are. Joseph Sargent, who directed the underrated 1970 sci-fi drama COLOSSUS: THE FORBIN PROJECT, really lays the tension on, buoyed by an excellent score by David Shire. This is an absolute must-see for those fans of action and suspense films who believe that you don't need testosterone and explosions to be on the edge of your seat.
Rating:
Summary: One of my all-time favorites
Review: P>It's the oldest videotape I have in my collection. . The film has been released on DVD, and I am absolutely overjoyed, as it is one of my all-time favorites. Theatrically released in 1974, The Taking Of Pelham 123 is about a group of four armed men (three of them played by the great actors-the late Robert Shaw, the late Martin Balsman and Hector Elizondo) whom hijack a New York City subway train on an otherwise uneventful afternoon, and hold 18 of its passengers hostage. The ransom: One Meeeeeeeellion dollars. Ooops...that's another movie. The ransom IS indeed one million dollars (Hey, it was shot in 1974) to be paid by the City Of New York. There are two catches. Catch #1: The city has only one hour to pay up. For very minute that the city is late, the hijackers will execute one hostage. It is up to Lieutenant Zachary Garber (the late, legendary Walter Matthau) to stop, or at least outsmart them before they kill one. High drama, considering it takes the city FOREVER to do ANYTHING. I know...I live in New York. Catch #2: The hijackers are underground. IF they get their money...how do they plan on getting away? Great performances all around from a great mix of big name actors, and fine character actors. People such as Jerry Stiller, Kenneth McMillan, Dick O'Neill, Julius Harris and Tony Roberts, who plays the Deputy Mayor. But the film belongs to Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw. Matthau, in a departure from his usual comedic roles, displays a tough, yet somewhat humorous demeanor as he "matches wits" with Robert Shaw (whom one year later would play his most celebrated role as Quint in "Jaws"). Shaw's performance is properly understated...which serves his character well, as he is supposed to be cold and calculating. It's a simple story, and simple to follow...yet The Taking Of Pelham 123 is a totally engrossing thriller. And unlike "Money Train" (Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes), Pelham is fairly accurate with details about the subway and how it works (including the dead man's feature-absolutely accurate). Money Train had me scratching my head in amazement with all the inaccuracies presented in the technical details about a subway train and how it works. Don't even get me started with that movie-but I digress. Pelham crackles with excitement and humor. And the ending is %$*&@ great! The musical score by David Shire will only enhance the drama on the screen. The main title theme alone is an overlooked crime drama classic. Urgent, yet kind of funky. Yes, this film is outdated...but don't let that stop you. This would definetly be one of my "desert island" movies. In a review here on Amazon.com, I read where someone said that this film "plays like an old friend". I concur wholeheartedly. By the way. There was an updated TV version of this movie starring Edward James Olmos and Lorraine Bracco. STAY AWAY FROM AT ALL COSTS!!!
Rating:
Summary: GRITTY, REALISTIC THRILLER WITH LAUGHS!!
Review: This is a little gem of a movie. Walter Matthau gives an excellent performance as the Head of the New York City Transit Police trying to stop some criminals who have hijacked a subway train. Wisecracking all the way (especially the bit with the Japanese Subway people) I crease up every time I watch it! All the characters are superb - the criminals are nasty, the hijacked people are scared (well sort of , this is New York you know) and the workers on the subway trains are suitably annoyed/put out by all the disruption to their schedules. Couple all that with seventies hairstyles, clothes, music and jargon and you've got yourself a highly enjoyable way to spend 2 hours. Also without giving it away the ending is absolutely brilliant too. Incidentally, the use of Mr Brown/Mr Blue/Mr Green, etc was done in this movie well before "Pulp Fiction"!!!
Rating:
Summary: The Gritty New York Thriller
Review: I was in love with this movie since childhood. I was so delighted that it finally made it to video. The material came straight out of the headlines I went through in my younger years and really shows how far we have come in the years since. The characters are believable, while the plot is not entirely far fetched, the excelent troup of actors make up for it. Walter Matheau shows his dramatic side as the head of the NYC Transit Police and also gives us an idea of how things work in that system. Most of the story is told in a grity, spell binding realism that kept me on the edge of my seat when I first saw this on television. To see it uneditied is a delight. Television takes out so much and this shows it in all its violent, hard-nosed, swear-word-ridden, completness that I wished I had seen earlier.
Rating:
Summary: An end I guarantee you won't see coming
Review: Grew up not far outside the Big Apple, so I was familiar with the scenes and the people, but what gets me are all the little touches this movie has that make it feel so authentic. The cranky workers, the snappy lines all just fit in perfectly to the era. The Widwscreen DVD gives some of the city shots a nice panorama too. I had big hopes for the TV movie remake a few years ago, but it was dreadful compared to this classic. And to paraphrase... "What do you expect for your $20?"
Rating: 
Summary: Not much of a thriller, still a cute film
Review: Perhaps it's because I was born the year this film came out, but I found this movie outdated & tiring to watch. The storyline just doesn't add up. Others may not mind the obvious elements of a 70's New York City: a culturally inept beauracracy, overly incompetent politicians, and a city notorious for being on the brink. I cannot remember those days. Nowadays with crime at record lows the whole plot seems even less plausible, though that may be what many people like about this film. Details such as the villains' motives (we never really find out), the naive subway riders, and the rather small ransom are unconvincing to me. Walter Mathau is the obvious star, but he seems too intelligent to play any character caught in the world portrayed in this movie. There is a cute 70's music theme song but the rest of the movie didn't muster that much applause from me. Outdated so much that I found it hard to watch, let alone understand, how events could happen as they do in this movie, I can only recommend you rent it. An alternative film that's even more of a thriller and even more of a contrast to the NYC of today is The Incident with Martin Sheen, Beau Bridges, Ed McMahon, & Donna Mills. I highly recommend The Incident over The Taking of the Pelham 1-2-3 if you want a NYC subway thriller from the 60's. Unfortunately, The Incident is not on DVD yet.
Rating:
Summary: Impossible Not To Enjoy
Review: This is one of just a handful of films in which even those with the smallest rolls play it right to the hilt. The result is a movie chock full of great characters, tremendous dialogue, and tense action. Robert Shaw plays a half genius half lunatic experienced soldier for hire who between wars comes up with a high risk, hugh payoff, crime caper. The highjacking of a subway train. Martin Balsam is the member of the crime crew with the inside knowledge to make it work. Walter Matthau is the NYC Transit Detective who starts his day in the office giving a tour to some dignitaries from the Tokyo subway system (whom he assumes don't speak English) and ends it with trying to figure how, who and why someone would attempt such a crazy crime. The movie drips atmosphere and is a better 70's time capsule than many of the other film favorites of the era. Despite its age it holds up with any of the similar genre being made today and boasts more laughs and loads of real life flavor sadly lacking in many modern counterparts. Includes a thumping soundtrack. A guarantee of a good time with this one.
Rating:
Summary: Robert Shaw is the man.
Review: While most people talk of the late, (and great), Walter Mattauh as being the star in this movie, Robert Shaw is my pick for the best in this action packed film. His cold, callous and yet noble performance was one of the best acting jobs I've seen. As a subway buff, I can tell you this is the best subway movie ever made. Scary, exciting and sometimes funny, this movie has everything. Thanks, Walter. We'll always remember you. RIP, friend.
Rating: 
Summary: Matthau Takes On Terrorist Shaw In NYC's Subway System
Review: The Taking Of Pelham 1-2-3 is unquestionably among the most grossly underappreciated police films ever done. Even today it remains a taut, unusual, and very tense drama mixing in nice dashes of believeable humor. Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw shine as the two primary protagonists of perhaps the most audacious terrorist act ever conceived - the hijacking of a subway train between stations. Shaw, playing a British mercenary, makes the skin crawl as he tersely informs the passengers of their fate and communicates with the NYC subway system's command center. He is backed by ex-motorman Martin Balsam and two gunmen - one of them, played by Hector Elizondo, is a trigger-happy ex-mafia hitman and Shaw nearly comes to blows with him at several points. Matthau is the gruff NY Transit Police Lieutenant who must ad-lib and bluff his way through negotiations with the hijackers. He is also fast-thinking enough to have another officer (comedian Jerry Stiller, here proving himself a qualified dramatic actor) comb personnel files for a clue on the key player in the gang - the motorman. Throughout the proceedings, the question plaguing Matthau and his men is just how Shaw and the other hijackers intend to escape. When Matthau finally decifers how, he may be too late. Complaints that the film is hopelessly "dated" - the crack about ethnic stereotypes, absurd neckties, bad hairdos, and the lack of explosions - miss the point, which is that its basic premise and the performances of all involved give it a timlessness that transcends its 1974 release year yet also make that release year a key element in its effectiveness as a film - to update the story, as attempted in 1999, would injure its dramatic pull. Moreover, the lack of explosions is no deficiency at all - if anything it makes the audience pay attention to the character interplay more - and the "ethnic stereotyping" is done for the comedic effect of making light of itself. So ignore the bad neckties and hairdoes and just enjoy this original and excellent hijack drama.
Rating:
Summary: Tense & terrific
Review: Walter Matthau has never been better than in this suspense film of four hijackers, led by Robert Shaw, who steal a New York subway train & hold it for ransom. The director, Joseph Sargent, avoids a potentially claustrophobic effect by having a lot of the action occur above ground. He can even be forgiven for a great big hole in the plot involving a "dead man's" switch on the subway train. A very good movie from 1974. Highly recommended
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