The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

Rating:
Summary: Forget 1, 2, or 3, this scores a solid 5 star rating!
Review: If you want a review of this movie, the Top 500 reviewer below has done a thorough job!
However not mentioned was the music score by David Shire (also responsible for those of The Conversation, The Hindenburg, All the Presidents Men and Saturday Night Fever). The Taking of Pelham 123 though, is his masterpiece, indeed I consider it my favourite movie score ever, quite an achievement considering the mastery of Bernard Herrmann in particular. The pulsating opening theme sets you up for a simply superb movie, containing humour, suspense, and some formidable acting from the lead players, Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw and Martin Balsam.
There are more films made in the 1970's amongst my all-time favourites than from any other decade, and this movie in particular indicates why.
Criticism in regard to dark photography, hard to hear dialogue, foul language, stereotyping and more, is largely absurd, or at least irrelevant in the face of so much more that is positive, thrilling, and highly enjoyable.
There are so many memorable scenes that make repeated viewing a joy. Most feature Mr. Matthau, who really is in exceptional form here, particularly whilst he shows some Japanese visitors round the transport police department offices, when he finally loses his temper after a colleague continually gripes at him, and the final closing scene. Not wishing to spoil it, I will only say that his final expression, which sets off that incredible score again, is priceless!
I highly recommend this great film, which wins on all counts!

Rating:
Summary: A Rare Film That's Better Than The Book!
Review: There is a genre of film simply known as a "New York Movie." It's a film where the city itself plays a role in the story. This can be as varied as the Musical, "On The Town," the comedy "Arthur," The fantasy "Superman: The Movie" or the drama "Taxi Driver." "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" is a true "New York Movie."

The plot begins when a small group of terrorists hijacks a subway train and holds the passengers for ransom. At first, the concept seems far-fetched ("Where're they gonna go?") but a convincing script from Peter Stone (from John Godey's novel) makes the plot move forward.

It's really the performances that keep the story on track: Walter Matthau as a harried trainmaster, barking out orders and watching the situation develop from his command post, Robert Shaw as the ringleader of the band of crooks aboard the hijacked train (with Martin Balsam and Hector Elizondo as his partners in crime), and an impressive and authentically New York supporting cast (including Jerry Stiller, James Broderick, Doris Roberts and Lee Wallace, who plays the mayor, and who looks quite a bit like Ed Koch, even though Koch hadn't yet been elected at the time of the film's release)!

It all works to give you a true sense of the flavor of the city in the mid 1970s. Filmed on location in the actual tunnels and trains, it's a clever story and is brilliant. If you like suspense thrillers that are a little smarter than the typical, this film is for you.

Highly Recommended!

Rating:
Summary: "What the hell did they expect for their lousy 35 cents?"
Review: The subway...lifeblood of New York. The largest mass transit system in the world, currently operating over 8,000 rail and subway cars, traveling on over two thousand miles of track, serving nearly eight million passengers daily. Seems like a logistical nightmare, keeping tabs on it all, but MTA (Metro Transit Authority) does, anticipating many problems before they arise. One thing they couldn't anticipate, what no one could have, is someone hijacking one of the trains. But it did happen, once (in movie world, at least).

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), directed by Joseph Sargent (Colossus: The Forbin Project, Jaws: The Revenge), presents a wonderfully talented cast including Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam, and Hector Elizondo. Also making appearances are Jerry Stiller (Seinfeld), Dick O'Neill (Gamera), Kenneth McMillian (Dune), and Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond). The film involves the hijacking of a New York subway train by a group of men armed with semi-automatic weapons for the purpose of extorting one million dollars from the city, otherwise they begin executing passengers, one by one. `What the hell they expect for their lousy 35 cents? To live forever?!"

This is really an entertaining, tense and witty film that kept me interested up until the very end. Matthau really owns this film, appearing as harried yet cool-headed Lt. Zachary Garber, an officer working for the Metro Authority, and main negotiator with the hijackers, lead by the ruthless Mr. Blue, played by Robert Shaw (it's said Quentin Tarantino got the idea of using colors for the names of his characters in Reservoir Dogs (1992) from this film). Garber really has to play a juggling act, trying to keep the hostages alive, placating the hijackers, and keeping the trigger-happy cops from starting World War III down in the subway tunnels. Robert Shaw does an excellent job playing tactical minded Mr. Blue, basically Garber's counterpart, leader of the hijackers, meticulously planning the entire operation as if it were a military action (we later find out he's a British mercenary `between wars'). He must keep not only the hostages calm and in line, but also his men, especially the psychotic Mr. Gray, played by Hector Elizondo, who seems to suffer from an extremely itchy trigger finger. He's also kinda sleazy...(doesn't it seem like there's always one psychotic in the group? I guess criminals are a highly unstable bunch). As I said, Matthau owns this film, but it certainly doesn't hurt that he had so many talented and highly professional actors supporting him throughout the movie. If The Taking of Pelham One Two Three has the feel of a superior made-for-TV movie about it, that's because one look at Joseph Sargent's credits will show a vast amount of TV work, including shows like Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and a ton of made-for-TV movies. He did venture into films a few times, most notably the 70's sci-fi film Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) and White Lighting (1973), to name a few, but always seemed to return to TV. He's also responsible for one of the worst movies ever made (in my opinion) in Jaws: The Revenge (1987), which probably put a serious hurting on any future film directing offers. As I said, Pelham does play like a TV movie (except for the brief but realistic use of profanity), but a really, really good one. Even the musical score for the film has a TV theme quality about it, but that of a top-notch theme, one that serves to enhance the overall product. The plot is tight, and moves along pretty quickly. The movie also has a real authentic flavor, especially all the smart alecky comments made throughout, the kind one would expect from New Yorkers. I loved the initial reactions to the news of the subway train being hijack, the incredulity accompanied by complete annoyance that someone would have the nerve to screw around with the New York Subway system, much less hijack it (the scene where the one of the men in charge with keeping the trains moving decides he's going to walk down the tracks and see what's going on for himself is priceless, at least until he finds out it's for real). The plot covers a lot of ground, focusing on not only the passengers and hijackers, but also the transit authority cop, the regular cops, right up to the politicians, forced to weigh the decision and consequences of paying the ransom money or not (they do, and the scenes involving the authorities racing to meet the hijacker's deadline is gripping, with slight dashes of humor...the police racing in their car, sirens blaring, Officer O'Keefe: "I always wanted to do this. Look, we're scaring the sh#t out of everybody.", Officer Miskowsky: "Yeah, including me.") The big question posed, and one that's focused on throughout is, even if the hijackers get the money, how are they going to get away with it? They're in a train, underground, surrounded by police, with no visible escape routes. Seems like a tricky proposition, but given Mr. Blue's talent for meticulously covering all the details, I'm sure he's got a plan (don't ask me, just watch the film).

The quality of the wide screen non-anamorphic print on this DVD is pretty good, but not as good as I would have liked to have seen. There's a lack of sharpness in the picture, and the colors a kind of dull. The audio is also pretty good, and the dialog is clear. MGM stints on the special features, as usual, providing a theatrical trailer and an informative 4-page booklet insert. Basically what you have here is an exceptional crime film set in New York, one that rises above most others and doesn't disappoint. Oh, and that warning you always hear about not touching the third rail, as it's full of juice (electricity), and will fry you like a side of bacon? You would do well to heed it, as it's not an urban legend, my friend...

Cookieman108


Rating:
Summary: Patchy thriller that ultimately succeeds
Review: With a cast that includes Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw and Martin Balsam, it can never be less than worth watching, and yet The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is not as great as it could have been. The necessary suspense and tension is lacking in the first half, and opportunities are missed that might have made us feel more involved in the lives of the characters.

Having said that, the suspense does pick up about halfway through, and in the end it turns out to be a fairly solid piece of entertainment.

Rating:
Summary: Come in Pelham 123
Review: I was so pleased to see this released on DVD. copies are inexpensive and should be purchased without prejudice. This is an absolute classic, certainly the type of film that would never be made today. a subway highjacking with all of the classic ethinc seterotypes on board. Walter Matthau is in charge of the case at New York transit headquarters. after putting his foot in his mouth a couple of times, Matthau's leadership come through in one of the best ending to a movie ever. Fantastic

Rating:
Summary: Pelham One Two Three, where the #@&% are you?
Review: Some people want to criticise movies like this for the lack of multi-million dollar special effects, but I for one...prefer to see gritty, more realistic movies such as this. The plot is credible, the villains absolutely ruthless, and politicians are cast in their best light. (that being corrupt)

It has been implied that this movie lacked testosterone, but not all men are Brad Pitt, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, etc. I give this movie five stars, as it was made toward the end of Hollywood's golden era.