Review of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) by John G — 02 Mar 2009

Sucks that I hadn't heard of this gem until the remake was announced. Thanks for making it available Hulu!

This movie works because it uses classic elements, from the old fashion train robbery, as well as ticking clock with the city delivering the money.

I can see that this flick may have inspired such capers as Speed (the hostages on a thrill ride/a friend of the hero getting killed trying to get to the bad guy, and the villain being a former employee), Under Siege, Highlander 2, Universal soldier, Heat (loose cannon heist member), Die Hard 1 (hero and villain over the phone) and Die Hard 3 with a Vengeance (total confusion with the authorities); as well as why they decided to remake this one.

Great and funny dialogue, good use of the ensemble cast, it will be interesting to see how the remake updates them, they don't really need to, even the clothes are back in style. Of course the ransom may be bigger, the communications will be altered (cell phones - Die Hard 4), and the hostages will be higher profile or related to the hero (Die Hard 2).

Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, and Jerry Stiller all wonderful performances.

I give it 7.5 out of ten, minus 0.5 for the darkness of the picture. Even though they were underground they could've lit with silhouettes instead of total black towards the end. Also another point I wish they had used the undercover cop a little sooner, and Robert Shaw died kind of a wussy death, but I guess it was an honor thing, him being a soldier and all.