IMDb > The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
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The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 15)
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) -- Movieplayer.it - Trailer (Flash)
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) -- How long does it take to count one million dollars?
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) -- Get out your pen and paper! Mr. Blue is ready to lay down his demands.
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) -- Bang bang on the train.
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) -- Mr. Grey is not fond of uninvited passengers.

Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   9,206 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 45% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
John Godey (novel)
Peter Stone (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Taking of Pelham One Two Three on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 November 1974 (West Germany) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Before this train reaches the next station it will become the scene of the most spectacular hijack ever attempted more
Plot:
In New York, armed men hijack a subway car and demand a ransom for the passengers. Even if it's paid, how could they get away? full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(9 articles)
Weekend Report: Lush 'Hangover,' 'Up' Linger Over Typical 'Taking'
 (From BoxOfficeMojo.com. 15 June 2009, 1:23 PM, PDT)

Trainiac!
 (From New York Post. 12 June 2009, 8:35 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Another example of why the 70's was the finest decade for films. more (145 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Walter Matthau ... Lt. Zachary Garber
Robert Shaw ... Blue
Martin Balsam ... Green

Hector Elizondo ... Grey
Earl Hindman ... Brown
James Broderick ... Denny Doyle

Dick O'Neill ... Correll
Lee Wallace ... The Mayor
Tom Pedi ... Caz Dolowicz
Beatrice Winde ... Mrs. Jenkins

Jerry Stiller ... Lt. Rico Patrone
Nathan George ... Ptl. James
Rudy Bond ... Police Commissioner
Kenneth McMillan ... Borough Commander (as Kenneth Mc Millan)

Doris Roberts ... Mayor's Wife
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
El tomar de Pelham uno dos tres (USA: Spanish title) (dubbed version)
Pelham 1-2-3 (Europe: English title) (video box title)
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (USA) (alternative spelling)
La captura del Pelham 1-2-3 (Uruguay) (Venezuela) [es]
Dlugi postój na Park Avenue (Poland) [pl]
Il colpo della metropolitana - un ostaggio al minuto (Italy) [it]
Les pirates du métro (France) [fr]
O Seqüestro do Metrô (Brazil) [pt]
Pelham 1-2-3 kaapattu (Finland) [fi]
Pelham 1-2-3 kapat (Sweden) [sv]
Pelham 1.2.3. (Spain) [es]
Stoppt die Todesfahrt der U-Bahn 1-2-3 (West Germany) [de]
Stoppt die Todesfahrt der U-Bahn Eins Zwei Drei! (West Germany) [de]
Togkapring (Denmark) [da]
more
Runtime:
104 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
West Germany:16 (f) | UK:AA (original rating) | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | Canada:14+ | Canada:18A (video rating) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Walter Matthau says "gesundheit" three times during the movie. more
Goofs:
Continuity: As Mr. Brown is about to pull his gun on the conductor, a man in a black jacket is seen entering the train. Then Mr. Brown pulls his gun and tells the conductor that when the person leaning against the first car (Mr. Blue) gets on, he is to close the doors. The same man in the black jacket gets on again. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Mr. Mattson: Okay, kid, out loud now so's I can hear what you're sayin'.
Bud Carmody: I'm checkin' the passengers gettin' on and off...
Mr. Mattson: Uh-huh.
Bud Carmody: Front and back. Shuttin' the doors. Rear section first and the first section. And the doors are closed. Now I'm checking my indicator lights to make sure all the doors are locked. I remove my switch key and back out the window for a distance of three car lengths to make sure no one's being dragged. 51st Street next stop; next stop, 51st Street. How'd I do?
more
Movie Connections:

FAQ

What is the dead man feature?
Is "The Taking of Pelham" based on a book?
What does the title "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" mean?
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28 out of 34 people found the following comment useful.
Another example of why the 70's was the finest decade for films., 28 September 2006
9/10
Author: ntvnyr30 from Staten Island, NY

It is my belief that the finest era for films was the 1970's. Consider all the classics that were produced in that era (Godfather I and II, Patton, The Sting, Jaws, Mean Streets, The Exorcist, The French Connection, Star Wars etc). My belief was recently validated by Jodie Foster, who essentially said the same thing. One of the reasons why the films were great was that the directors were ostensibly in control of the films, rather than by a committee of the usual Hollywood "insiders" who think they know what people want to see, but rarely make the correct decisions.

I know that this film was re-made( for TV)--God knows why--but I'm sure if they attempted another film version Matt Damon would be playing the grizzled transit police cop (Matthau's role) and Jude Law would be playing the Robert Shaw role. That's another reason why the original and other films of the 70's were so great: the casting was more believable. Today Hollywood is so incredibly youth-obsessed that actors are completely miscast.

I am not stating that this is another 70's classic, but even this film is far superior to many of today's films. And yet, I'll bet you couldn't find "Pelham" in your local video store.

I love several things about this film. The first thing to hit you is that wonderful, funky score that in some parts sounds like controlled chaos. I love the script, which is not completely dark despite the underlying theme, as there are some very funny moments throughout the film: for instance, the chagrined look on Matthau's face when he discovers the Japanese visitors can speak English.

There are many examples of mistaken identity in this film: the supervisor who is gunned down is called "goombah", but he isn't Italian; Matthau thinks the black police captain is white over the radio; Matthau mistakes the long-haired undercover cop (who was shot on the train tracks) for a female. I also love the character who plays the mayor, who unbelievably bears a striking resemblance to Mayor Koch, who was elected 3 years later!!!! All in all a great action film, and one that will hold up for years.

Addendum: Well, they're doing it--they're re-making this film because Hollywood is almost completely bereft of new ideas (see "Josie and the Pussycats" "Bewitched" the upcoming "I Dream of Jeannie"). I half-expect they will remake "The Paper Chase" next with P.Diddy as Professor Kingsfield.

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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Can I still watch this after seeing the remake? slapnutz777
One Million Dollars???? nsavage3-1
'Gesundheit' - question Marcus Laubner
*SPOILER* What Happens To The Other Two Hijakers? jbartelone
Reservoir Dogs namesakes clive-ihd
Best New York Crime Films? SoMoneyBaby
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