Synopsis
We are going to kill one passenger a minute until New York City pays us 1 million dollars.
In New York, armed men hijack a subway car and demand a ransom for the passengers. Even if it's paid, how could they get away?
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
1974 Directed by Joseph Sargent
Cast
Walter Matthau Robert Shaw Martin Balsam Héctor Elizondo Earl Hindman James Broderick Dick O'Neill Lee Wallace Tom Pedi Jerry Stiller Rudy Bond Kenneth McMillan Doris Roberts Christopher Murney Julius Harris Bill Cobbs Joe Seneca Tony Roberts Mari Gorman Cynthia Belgrave Anna Berger Gary Bolling Alex Colon Joe Fields Michael Gorrin Thomas La Fleur Maria Landa Louise Larabee George Lee Miles Show All…
Director
Producers
Writers
Editors
Cinematography
Art Direction
Set Decoration
Composer
Sound
Costumes
Make-Up
Studios
Country
Language
Alternative Titles
Pelham, un, dos, tres, Pelham 1.2.3., O Seqüestro do Metrô
Popular reviews
More-
-
Astounding. A truly smart, thrilling movie that feels imbued with such a modern blockbuster energy. The distinct personalities feel so full and bounce off each other so well I almost wish it was longer- Shaw’s detailed, uncompromising villain against Matthau’s annoyed, almost bumbling transit worker is such a good pairing, made even better with each having psychopath associates (Mr. Blue with Mr. Grey, Garber with Frank) who each threaten to derail (pun not intended but my best alternative was “hijack,” so) their respective partners’ goals. It’s wild how they manage to keep the humor afloat with such a tension-rich premise without sacrificing that tension! They let all the humor stay above ground while having the constant threat of death feel…
-
-
A cinematic tribute to the sweaty, bellowing oafs who make up New York City's civil service and government. Yes, they may be bigoted, bumbling, corrupt, and uncouth, but when push comes to shove, they care about this city and its people, because that's New York baby! #1.
Highlights of NYC leadership in crisis includes: Walter Matthau calling the directors of the Toyko subway system "dummies" and "monkeys" to their faces, a big fat Italian MTA supervisor saying he'll quit if he can't curse just because they "hired a few broads", and another MTA administrator saying of the 17 hostages being held in a subway car, "Screw the passengers! What do they expect for 35 cents? To live for ever?"
One…
-
Forty-five years later still a perfect examination of how the NYC subway is a bad and miserable place
-
-
-
Lovely acting by all, especially Matthau, obviously. Brilliant how bored he plays this. Rest In Peace Jerry Stiller, not the style he’s known for but a well-cast, effortless performance.
Very funny but never let’s go of the danger, I don’t think you see a lot of movies with this sort of tone anymore or really at all, probably some immediately post-Vietnam War stuff that people don’t access anymore, I dunno maybe I dunno! I literally do not know!!
Train platforms look like shit, I want to be on one. The taking of pelham one, two, three, four stars!
-
It’s my birthday today, and I’m 33!
That means only one thing…BRING IT IN, GUYS!!!
*four middle aged men dressed as cartoon perverts covertly enter the Pelham 123 train and take it ransom, killing one passenger a minute until New York City pays them one million dollars for a HUGE party*
-
"Even great men have to pee."
Yes, even Walter Matthau.
The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three is a film that had the misfortune of being a thriller made in the 1970s. What this meant was that instead of getting the absolute widespread plaudits, awards and huge box office that it quite obviously deserves, it ended up bubbling under a fair amount of the massive numbers of other similar films made in the decade.
It's not the fault of the film or anyone involved - it just happens like that sometimes. There is no doubt in my mind, though, that this is not only every bit as deserving as other more iconic films from the decade such as The French…
-
-
In the New York of “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three; if the train delays and subway rats don’t try to screw with you…. the hijackers certainly will derail your day.
But there’s no way they are gonna mess with a New York attitude.
Director Joseph Sargent’s 70s thriller is very much in keeping with the disaster flicks of its time, including “Towering Inferno” and “Poseidon Adventure.” But, tactful redirection steers “Pelham” more in the direction of taut thriller than overwrought action entry.
Sargent doesn’t waste breath or script on building up general caricatures of the victims in “Pelham.” Even the criminals behind the train hijacking aren’t granted real names, and are only given minimal backstory. All of…