The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

8/10

Starring

Walter Matthau

Robert Shaw

Directed by Joseph Sargent

I have to say, this movie is more intense and more thrilling than the 2009 Denzel Washington and John Travolta remake. The screenplay was adapted from a 1973 novel of the same name written by Morton Freedgood. The film itself was a critical and financial success and was tagged as one of 1974's finest films. The movie’s strength lies in its suspense—even if, like me, you saw the 2009 version first, you’ll still be surprised by what happens.

The movie shows us four men boarding a train. Each of these men seems to be positioning themselves. The moment the train reaches a particular stop, one of the men, Mr. Blue, pulls a gun on the train’s driver, telling him it’s a hijacking. Meanwhile, Mr. Green takes control of the train’s lever and starts driving. Another man, Mr. Brown, pulls a gun on the conductor, ordering him to close all the doors. The last one, Mr. Grey, positions himself at the other end of the train. Together, Mr. Brown, Mr. Blue, and Mr. Grey pull out machine guns and hold everyone on the train hostage.

A call is made to central by Mr. Blue, who speaks with Lt. Garber. He tells him the train has been hijacked and demands the city pay a million dollars, or he’ll kill all the hostages. Garber is now the man who has to talk to Blue, keep him calm, and try to get the money to them.

How they plan to get away with the money through the tunnel is something you have to see for yourself. And unlike its 2009 counterpart, this hijacking has nothing to do with the stock market—the hijackers just want the money.

I was amazed by the production of this movie. In comparison to its 2009 counterpart, if this is a ten, that was a two. If you look at the actors in this 1974 adaptation, you have to show respect—everyone was so dedicated, from the ones who died to the ones trying to keep them alive. The 2009 version, on the other hand, failed to deliver any performance worth acknowledging, which is strange considering the money spent and the talent at their disposal.

One other great thing I enjoyed about the movie is the thrilling tension you feel when the focus is on the train. The movie is packed with tension everywhere—from the control room to the train, everyone involved is getting under each other’s skin. You watch this movie and just hope the people don’t turn on each other before it ends.

This is a fine movie, one you should see.