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FilmEdge.net reviews THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE (1974)
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WHO'S GONNA STEAL A SUBWAY TRAIN? The British ex-mercenary code named Mr. Blue, Robert Shaw's ruthless killer who leads a quartet of criminals to hijack a New York subway train, demanding millions in ransom from a bankrupt city to save the lives of innocent hostages. The Mayor and Garber have one hour to deliver the ransom to the armed gang or Blue will shoot a hostage per minute until his demands are met. Sparks fly from this premise of Godey's best-selling novel and Stone's lean, mean screenplay adaptation create edge-of-your-seat tension from the film's opening scene. The genius of the storytelling is the collision of two key ideas: a hijacking with no apparent route for escape or success, and a mastermind criminal who thinks ten moves ahead of his pursuers and the audience. Garber nor viewers can outguess the Blue's plan, while the threat to his hostages mounts with every passing minute. Accordingly, THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE is among the rarest of crime dramas, a deadly chess game where your opponent is armed with moves and pieces you can't see on the board in order to defeat.  The besieged train, Pelham One Two Three, gets its name from it's station destination on the line and the time of its departure, and quite unlike an airplane hijacking, Mr. Blue and his team can carry out their lethal plans in both seclusion and secrecy deep under the streets of New York. A palpable sense of claustrophobia and danger grows as Blue and former subway motorman Mr. Green, the gruff but sympathetic Martin Balsam, slowly unveil their scheme to trade blood for cash, holding the entire city and its feckless Mayor (hilarious Lee Wallace pre-figuring Ed Koch by four years) hostage in gridlock. Completing Blue's team of thugs are Hector Elizondo as the psychopathic, bloodlusting enforcer Mr. Grey, and Earl Hindman as the stammering Mr. Brown. A delightful team of supporting actors comprise Matthau's fellow transit authority cops, including veteran character star Jerry Stiller as Lt. Rico Patrone, Dick O'Neil as the curmudgeon train supervisor Correll, Tom Pedi as the abrasive, foul-mouthed point man Caz Dolowicz, and 1970s fixture Julius Harris as NYPD Inspector Daniels running defense above ground. Urging the flu-feebled Mayor into action is the Deputy Mayor and political spine of the city, Tony Roberts as Warren LaSalle. I could go on for two more paragraphs listing the fine supporting cast in PELHAM, but better for readers to watch the film and appreciate their work first hand.  This across-the-board excellent cast supply the human realism which makes the plot's dangerous progression all the more involving, along with extensive location production which used New York streets and a retired subway line which has bustling big city atmosphere permeating every frame. The Transit Authority office resembles a radio-chattering bunker thanks to Owen Roizman's expert photography, and with THE FRENCH CONNECTION and THE EXORCIST on his resume already, his images celebrate the documentary-style look and moods of this golden age in American filmmaking. David Shire enhances the tension and humor in his invaluable score which must be heard to be fully appreciated, and you can sample it at this YouTube video tribute. I JUST HAD A TERRIBLE THOUGHT: SUPPOSE THEY'RE NOT ON THE TRAIN?
DO YOU READ ME, PELHAM ONE TWO THREE? — SUMMARY With the semi-successful remake currently running in theaters, now is the perfect time to discover or reacquaint yourself if Joseph Sargent's original runaway thrill ride, THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE. FILMEDGE always recommends you see films and decide for yourself, but our site now offers you side-by-side review comparisons as our own Joan Radell reviews director Tony Scott's updated remake, THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123, starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta. Remake or not, the 1974 classic crime drama deserves its own remastered presentation on DVD and hopefully high definition Blu-ray disc, so this thoroughly entertaining and edgy film remains on the rails for another generation of appreciative and loyal fans. Compare Joseph Sargent's 1974 original with FILMEDGE's take on Tony Scott's remake THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3 now playing. |
