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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is without question one of the best thrillers of the decade. Unique I feel in the genre for its mix of comedy and violence. Similar but superior to Arthur Hillers much underrated Silver Streak.The combination of the world weary Walter Matthau and Roberts Shaws ice cold crook is I feel the balance that makes the film work so well. The supporting cast are all excellent including Ben Stillers dad Jerry. Any completists reading this you have to buy this DVD and give it pride of place in your seventies thriller collection. Its a crying shame its about to be remade there has already been a ghastly low budget TV movie version. God knows what twenty first century Holllywood will make of this classic. Mincemeat I presume.
42 of 46 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The 70's were a fertile period for thrillers..."French Connection", "Dirty Harry", "Charley Varrick", etc. In my opinion "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" is the best of the lot. It thrills like no other movie of the period, everything gels, the script, the direction the music (oh the music, hats off to David Shire for scoring the the best ever twelve tone funk score), the editing, the locale, the cast. And what a locale...this must be the best New York-based film ever; I suspect New Yorkers look at this and go..yeah that's us alright. The characters and the script are a joy...the film is densely populated but even the most minor of characters are graced with eminently quotable lines, and the casting..Walter Matthau rounds off his run of "straight" roles in the early 70's with a fabulous turn here, all sarcastic wit and scathing come-backs..Robert Shaw turns in highly believable perfomance as a mercenary turned hijacker in what must be the prototype of the Brit-as-bad-guy cycle that everyone thinks started with Die Hard...and Jerry Stiller (Ben's Dad) has a good time as Patrone the world-weary and sarcastic transit cop. But the list is endless, the mayor, his aide, the chief of police, the hostages, everyone is outstanding. The script, by Peter Stone is a masterclass in entertaining exposition. It is also frequently laugh-out-loud funny...the humour deriving not from the wish to turn the film into a comedy, but rather the fact that Stone has given these guys a rich sense of humour that naturally develops as the frenetic events unfold. In fact, the juxtaposition of the humour and hard-edged thrills is what makes this film work over and over again...you laugh at a genuinely funny line and then are thrust into (for instance) a frantic, heart-pounding, cross-city race against time and you're in a such great mood because of the wit of the scipt just beforehand, that the action is heightend and your involverment is likewise increased; and that good-vibe/hard action momentum just snowballs all through the movie. In all, this is an essential purchase for anyone who enjoys pared down, superbly scripted thrills. A five-star classic.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I watched this movie again recently after a number of years and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Everything about the movie shines- the settings, script, performances and music. It rattles along at a fast pace. A lot happens in the less than 2 hours running time. Nowadays every "serious" film has to be at least 2 hours for some reason. To sell more popcorn perhaps?
Matthau is excellent as the deadpan Subway police chief who tries to make the best of a nightmare situation. Shaw excels as the ruthless mercenary who planned the heist. Supporting performances from Martin Balsam and others are also top notch.
I think a native New Yorker would appreciate the film even more as it is full of NY humour. The scenes with the the panic stricken mayor are very funny and examples of the humour that runs through the film.
Undoubtedly an underrated classic from the seventies opening theme music to the brilliant ending.
Everything about the movie shines- the settings, script, performances and music. It rattles along at a fast pace. A lot happens in the less than 2 hours running time. Nowadays every "serious" film has to be at least 2 hours for some reason. To sell more popcorn perhaps?
Matthau is excellent as the deadpan Subway police chief who tries to make the best of a nightmare situation. Shaw excels as the ruthless mercenary who planned the heist. Supporting performances from Martin Balsam and others are also top notch.
I think a native New Yorker would appreciate the film even more as it is full of NY humour. The scenes with the the panic stricken mayor are very funny and examples of the humour that runs through the film.
Undoubtedly an underrated classic from the seventies opening theme music to the brilliant ending.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Gritty drama, Gritty town
This is an excellent thriller with great characters. But what I really love about it is the whole atmosphere of New York. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Bigcat
Great film
Having seen the remake of this classic film, but never having seen this original version, I was curious to compare them. This does seem a bit dated now, but it is worth watching.
Published 8 months ago by JS
An Excellent Crime Thriller with Unexpected and Hilarious Comedic...
I first saw this excellent film on release way back in the early '70s, the main draw being (for what was then) a stellar cast and a promising cinematic experience. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mr. Laurence Williams
Brilliant DVD
This dvd will keep you on the very edge of your seat until the end , it is just brilliant , it is a pretty old film but it makes up for that in quality , if you are looking for... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mr. S. Richardson
Classic 70s thriller and the best version by far!!
Don't waste time with the Tony Scott shakycam remake of PELHAM 123 which was a massive disappointment - stick with the 1974 original, which is WAY better and I will say seems a lot... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr N Forbes-warren
One of the 70's films best-Let down by a poor quality DVD
I love this film alot. It's one of cinemas greatest films,with a great cast,but the DVD should be so much better, the film really deserves it. Read more
Published 21 months ago by filo4590
The Taking of Pelham 123
I first saw this movie in 1974 when I was 15 with my dad, I recently bought the DVD and watced it with my sons, they are aged 11 and 20, they loved it as much as I did all those... Read more
Published on 26 April 2010 by D. A. Mooney
Not as good as the remake
Sometimes you hear colleagues extolling the virtues of the original film over the remake. Usually they are right but not here. Read more
Published on 17 April 2010 by Dr. Michael J. Atkins
Just one point to add
Just to add that my copy of the DVD is a 4:3 presentation of the full widescreen film with black bars top and bottom to make the full film fit a 4:3 (square) TV screen. Read more
Published on 10 April 2010 by John Malcolm
pelham
Bought this to compare against the new film. Plot (understandably) is more or less the same. Without giving anything away, Robert Shaw acts his role well as does Walter Matthau,... Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2010 by Mr. S. P. Rowlands
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