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The Taking Of Pelham 123 [DVD] [1974]
 
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The Taking Of Pelham 123 [DVD] [1974]

DVD ~ Walter Matthau
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
RRP: £12.99
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Frequently Bought Together

The Taking Of Pelham 123 [DVD] [1974] + Charley Varrick [DVD] [1973] + Hopscotch [DVD] [1980]
Total RRP: £36.97
Price For All Three: £18.84

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Taking Of Pelham 123 [DVD] [1974]
96% buy the item featured on this page:
The Taking Of Pelham 123 [DVD] [1974] 4.5 out of 5 stars (34)
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Product details

  • Actors: Walter Matthau, Lee Wallace, Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam, Hector Elizondo
  • Directors: Joseph Sargent
  • Format: Dubbed, PAL
  • Language English
  • Subtitles: Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: MGM Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 29 April 2002
  • Run Time: 100 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000063BMF
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 2,510 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Special Features

French\German\Italian\Spanish
English\German
English
Region 2
Mono English French German Italian Spanish
Mono
Original Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Menu
Chapter Selection
Danish\Dutch\English\French\German\Italian\Norwegian\Spanish\Swedish


Synopsis

Four ruthless gunmen (played by Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam, Hector Elizondo, and Earl Hindman) take over a New York City subway and hold the passengers for ransom. They threaten to shoot one each minute until a million dollar ransom is fully paid. Walter Matthau portrays the transport cop determined to stop the criminals. The tense thriller is based on the book by John Godey.

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Customer Reviews

34 Reviews
5 star:
 (21)
4 star:
 (10)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (34 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Best thriller of the Seventies?, 29 April 2002
By A Customer
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.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Top Tier Drama, 6 Aug 2007
By Mark Angus "Sound Guy" (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
For me, the 70s were a golden era for film. With directors temporarily freed from the restrictions of the studio system, there was an outpouring of original drama, and many long-standing actors suddenly found themselves at the height of their powers.

Robert Shaw is one of those whose huge talent was best showcased in that era. The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 is sandwiched in between The Sting and Jaws on his resume, but deserves as much admiration as those two blockbusters. Shaw's character Mr Blue, a precursor to Tarantino's multicoloured mobsters, has a devious plan for a robbery, and only Walter Matthau's jaded subway controller can see what's happening deep beneath the city streets. Their fantastic scenes together are all the more remarkable for being conducted almost entirely over the phone. Shaw brings the steel, Matthau brings the New York grit and reminds us that it wasn't just Lemmon who could branch out into serious drama.

You can't really see Hollywood making a film like this today, there would have to be some sort of pyrotechnic explosion and chase across Central Park before the denouement. And there's the rub, as Pelham 1-2-3 delivers one of the best final scenes in cinema, and not a stuntman in sight.

Shaw would deliver a few more heavyweight performances before his untimely death, but for director Joseph Sargent this was the highlight of a long, mainly TV, career. The DVD is Widescreen, but sadly only contains the original mono soundtrack. It would be nice to see a remastered version, but this transfer still delivers the goods.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars The Best of 74, 21 Nov 2008
By G. R. Donaldson (Great Britain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Pelham 1-*2-3 the original
As so often, the original is arguably the best. The recent remake with Travolta is truer to life perhaps, but this original is first class. Thoroughly recommended.
Published 29 days ago by Mr. G. D. Stewart

4.0 out of 5 stars The Taking of Pelham 123 (DVD) 1974
I recently went to the cinema to see the re-make of this film now starring John Travolta and Denzel Washington. Read more
Published 1 month ago by M. C. Morris

4.0 out of 5 stars The Taking of Pelham 123
Is Denzel Washington a better Garber than Walter Matthau, most definately "yes".

How you can possibly improve this film, the original Pelham 123? Read more
Published 1 month ago

5.0 out of 5 stars DVD Taking Pelham 123
Very pleased with this product. Went to see the latest remake which was quite good but not a patch on the original.
I knew I had to see Robert Shaw version again! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. S. Loofe

5.0 out of 5 stars Pelham 1.23
I always loved this movie, the new version was good, but this one was far better.
Published 2 months ago by F. G. Coogan

5.0 out of 5 stars The Taking of Pelham 123 (1974 version)
I first saw the taking of Pelham 123 back in 1974 at the Cinema and thought it was excellent with Walter Matthau's dry humour working so well and also Robert Shaw is brilliant as... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. K. Bullock

4.0 out of 5 stars A classic
Bought this because the remake was coming out and remembered enjoying it as a teenager. It lived up to the memories. Read more
Published 2 months ago by A. Miatt

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent thrilling 70's New York Crime Caper
This is a classic.

A thrilling, gripping crime flick. Epitomises the dangerous streets and subway system of 1970's "Zoo York". Read more
Published 2 months ago by British Commentator

5.0 out of 5 stars Always go for the original
Do not bother with the current re-make of this film, it isn't a re-make it is just a film of the same name.

The original is one of my favourite films. Read more
Published 2 months ago by m c fontaine

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent
"The Taking of Pelham 123" is a fantastic piece of work. As fresh and thrilling today as it was 35 years ago. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. Ross Maynard

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