The Taking of Pelham One Two Three 1974
I remember knowing nothing about this movie, but then seeing it on TV as a kid, and being really impressed with this classic caper movie. Walter Matthau is great in this mostly serious role (so much better than his overtly comical role in The Odd Couple which I watched just before) and Robert Shaw turns in another great performance as the villain. The movie takes place almost in real time as a group of armed men take over a New York City subway car and ask for one million dollars in ransom. There may not be a lot of character development, but the heist is complicated enough that you don't want to pad that and there are a lot of characters to meet anyway. I was worried it might not hold up on a rewatch, but it really works and is fun to watch as a period piece. Some other noted actors show up too like Jerry Stiller and Doris Roberts, plus Martin Balsam is excellent as one of the color-coded villains, Mr. Green. A lot of the movie takes place in actual subway tunnels and stations in New York to give it some gritty realism. It has nicely measured action instead of having to have one big giant scene after another, but that works better if you have a good story and performances, which this one does.
Written: 06 Jul 2025
Owned on: Blu-ray