The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

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The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

R

Released Oct 2, 1974

1h 44m

Mystery & Thriller

Action

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In New York City, a criminal gang led by the ruthless Mr. Blue (Robert Shaw) hijacks a subway car and threatens to start shooting one passenger per minute unless they receive a million dollars in cash from the city within an hour. On the other end of the line, crusty veteran transit policeman Zachary Garber (Walter Matthau) has his hands full dealing with the mayor's office and his hotheaded fellow cops, while also trying to deliver the ransom before the deadline expires.

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Critics Consensus

Breezy, thrilling, and quite funny, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three sees Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw pitted against each other in effortlessly high form.

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Pauline Kael

New Yorker

The movie must have been an editor's nightmare: the scenes are thudders, and the whole thing was punched together -- with no glue but the basic idea.

Sep 21, 2023

Full Review

Jerry Renshaw

Austin Chronicle

Stiller is terrific as a transit authority police lieutenant, as is Matthau as the rather sour cop who has to outsmart the bad guys.

Mar 7, 2021

Full Review

John H. Dorr

Hollywood Reporter

The large, well-characterized cast is ably headed by Walter Matthau, whose wonderfully weary sense of irony is perfect.

Oct 3, 2018

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast

This movie walked... err... rolled so "Die Hard" could run a decade and a half later.

Sep 26, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Filled with distinctive characters and crackling dialogue -- and always with another surprise up its sleeve.

Rated: 4/4

Feb 15, 2023

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Joe Nolan

Nashville Scene

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three's title is as memorable as its unique hold-a-subway-car-hostage take on the heist film

Sep 13, 2021

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Tyler G

A really smart heist movie that wasted no imagery or space. Characters are good if a little stereotypical/flat.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/22/24

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Leaburn O

It’s a fun, fast paced crime thriller that showcases a New York subway system that’s pretty much unchanged from this late 70s film. Characters are a bit caricatured but it’s not a film to take overly seriously. I probably enjoyed the remake a little bit more than the original but this is still a fun thriller where the action has aged better than some of the cringing social commentary and plain prejudiced jokes. Watched on DVD.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/29/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Holding hostages is one thing but an entire locomotive is another Director Joseph Sergeant makes one of the earliest thrillers of the 1970s starring the late Walter Matthau and the late Jerry Stiller 4 crooks devise a plan to take several hostages on a NYC subway and demand $1 million in ransom money If the money doesn’t come through the hostages get shot one by one It’s up to transit officer Garber and the Department of Transportation to handle the situation but there’s dealing with the mayors office along with fellow officers Can they save them before time is up? Sad to say I didn’t find this the least bit thrilling So many scenes are in the dark and on this subway car Plus Matthau never makes it to where the action is taking place until the very end Even the ending was unsatisfactory

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/03/24

Full Review

Audience Member

The original is so much better than the remake. I love Robert Shaw in this he plays a really great bad guy and prob my favorite Walter Matthau favorite role. Amazing score by David Shire who also did the Zodiac score. Love the humor and banter between the characters. So many critics said this was the best movie of 1974 . I might have to agree with them . 8.5/10 it's a great movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/29/24

Full Review

Leonard F

Classic in the way the actors slowly turn up the heat. I loved the ending

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/26/24

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Dana N

This is a classic, and a perfect example of how movies were made back when Hollywood still knew how to make movies, just a good story realistically portrayed with good actors.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/25/24

Full Review

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Joseph Sargent

Director

Walter Matthau

Lt. Zachary Garber

Robert Shaw

Blue

Martin Balsam

Green

Héctor Elizondo

Grey

Earl Hindman

Brown

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The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - I'm Taking Your Train

2:04

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - Gesundheit!

2:08

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - Rolling in Dough

2:00

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - The Mayor and His Wife

2:21

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - The Money Has Arrived

2:35

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - Meeting the Demands

2:06

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - You're a Sick Man, Rico

1:22

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - Mr. Blue Electrocutes Himself

2:03

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - Trying to Negotiate

1:44

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three: Official Clip - Runaway Train

1:24

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Synopsis

In New York City, a criminal gang led by the ruthless Mr. Blue (Robert Shaw) hijacks a subway car and threatens to start shooting one passenger per minute unless they receive a million dollars in cash from the city within an hour. On the other end of the line, crusty veteran transit policeman Zachary Garber (Walter Matthau) has his hands full dealing with the mayor's office and his hotheaded fellow cops, while also trying to deliver the ransom before the deadline expires.

Director: Joseph Sargent
Producer: Gabriel Katzka, Edgar J. Scherick
Screenwriter: John Godey, Peter Stone
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Action, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 2, 1974, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2010
Runtime: 1h 44m

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