The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

R

Released Oct 2, 1974

1 hr. 44 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Action

Crime

Drama

List

98%

45 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Shadowman4710

The one the best action films of the 1970's. The movie is nearly perfect, with the entire cast delivering first class performances. The script is engaging, literate and often times hysterical and the direction is top notch. I have it on dvd and have lost count of how many times I've watched it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/15/24

Full Review

ben j

Was not expecting such a tightly wound, exciting ride. An incredibly suspenseful movie that stands the test of time easily. It's become one of my favorite 70s movies after one viewing (last night) and I am about to give it another because it's just so well executed. For anyone who likes action or thriller movies (from any decade), this is a must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/08/24

Full Review

Simon T

Even after fifty years Pelham 123 is an object lesson in how you can turn a daft premise into an effective 100 minute thriller. It does take time to get going, saving its most effective sequences for the last twenty minutes, but it's very well acted by its ensemble cast, has a witty screenplay by Peter Stone, and a great screeching score by David Shire. Gazundheit!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/16/24

Full Review

nick s

I didn't find the storyline particularly rich so some patches in the movie were a little dull. But overall it was well directed and closed strongly. A good grungy, cynical vibe and well acted by the leads.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/02/24

Full Review

David W

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three has the usual feel and expected plot elements from a 1970s disaster-terrorist movie. Great pacing and solid performances from a cast that includes Walter Matthau, a middle-aged Jerry Stiller, and a young Hector Elizondo make for an enjoyable experience. The unexpected ending is a welcome deviation from the usual tropes. I would definitely watch this again.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/28/23

Full Review

Sahooon C

This film is pretty good. It's not action pact like a John wick but it's not Alien level of suspense. I'd class this is classic cinema that most people would enjoy

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/29/23

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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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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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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
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

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