Review of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) by Nick S — 02 Nov 2008

Nearly 40 years on, this thriller still proves to be a thoroughly enjoyable film with a story that demands your attention. More than anything, the film has served as inspiration for a whost of directors, such as Quentin Tarantino who used the colour coded gang-member names for Reservior Dogs.

Another famous example would be Die Hard, a film which almost certainly drew inspiration from this classic heist story. The acting is great, Robert Shaw proving to be a resourceful yet brilliant villian who ellicits a similar presence to Hans Gruber.

At times I felt the proceedings dragged a little, but then that's just me personally. Looking at the protagonist, I also found it tough to get behind Walter Mattheu's character. Still, for historical purposes alone this deserves a watch and I'd wholeheartedly recommend it.