The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

I know I am several days late in posting this review. I know I am also late in posting the preview for next week. Hell, I know I will probably be late in posting my theatrical and DVD move releases for next week as well. But you see I have had a bit of a busy week. I like worked and stuff. By stuff I mean I joined Andrew James and Kurt Halfyard on the Row Three Cinecast this week. I also spent my one vacation day attending multiple screenings, leaving me with little to no free time to actually contribute anything to this site. Also, my cat ate my homework.

Now I know that sounds like a lame excuse that I’ve cooked up to explain why I am late, but it really is true. Those few of you that have had the pleasure of meeting Kali know of her addiction to eating paper. Christmas tends to be her favorite time of year, what with the wrapping paper, ribbons and bows strewn about for her to chew on. But it seems in recent years that she has grown especially fond of Netflix envelopes.

Now Anna and I learned pretty quickly that leaving the envelopes on the coffee table was a less then bright idea considering Kali’s particular vice. Inevitably we would come home from work to discover little nibbles of paper strewn about, and a half eaten envelope laying in tatters. The number of shoddily taped up envelopes we’ve sent back to Netflix is too numerous to count, and until recently we had solved this particular problem. We began hiding the envelopes far above Kali’s reach, and more importantly out of her sight, atop our DVD shelves. But unfortunately, Kali is a bit of climber.

But you see, Kali didn’t devour this weeks film, so really this story is utterly superfluous nonsense, but it did buy me some time as I tried to think of a way to intro into the film I watched. It actually has been a fairly busy week, which has drained nearly all of my free time, and resulted in my delayed postings this week. My only day off was spent pulling a triple feature at the theater, and Wednesday night I spent the better part of three hours joining Andrew and Kurt on the Row Three Cinecast. It is my second appearance on the show, and with Andrew now living in Minneapolis, instead of out in the suburbs, hopefully I can find the time to make more frequent appearances.

As the subway train pulls out of Pelham Station at 1:23 nothing initially seems peculiar. But along its route it will pick up several passengers who have a dangerous plan, one that involves hijacking the train and holding its passengers for ransom, all while the befuddle transit police try to figure out how these hijackers plan to escape when the subway car is on rails. Lt Garber (Walter Matthau) knows the hijackers must be up to something, if only he could figure out what it is before they can escape.

I knew little about The Taking of Pelham One Two Three when I first started to review it, and needless to say I was ill prepared for what awaited me. Opening with a boffo toe tapping theme song that you’ll be humming long after the credits roll, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three makes it clear early on that it is a film to be reckoned with, and will be incredibly memorable for all who have the pleasure of watching it.

Thanks to a stellar cast (Matthau, Robert ShawMartin BalsamHector ElizondoDick O’NeillLee WallaceTony RobertsJerry StillerDoris RobertsKenneth McMillan and a host of other easily recognizable character actors) The Taking of Pelham One Two Three crackles with every delivered line, movement and facial expression. The script is whip smart and sarcastic, caustic and lively, and oh so politically incorrect. Yet it magnificently finds a way to build tension while at the same time making every moment incredibly fun to watch. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three isn’t really a roller coaster ride, it is an event.

While the entire cast brings there A-game to the picture, it is Matthau and Shaw who lead the charge. Shaw is yet again bristling with controlled rage as he carefully stalks the subway car. He is in total control of his environment and his colleagues, and there are few actors who can terrify you the way Shaw is capable of with such seeming ease. The man is truly a great villain and as such is granted a truly memorable death sequence that is incredibly gruesome, yet shockingly bloodless.

But it is Matthau who steals scene after scene as Lt. Garber, a man who at any point of the day looks like he just rolled out of bed, yet somehow manages to be surprisingly good at his job. Garber may look like a schlub, and an outstanding opening introduction to Garber involving him giving a guided tour of the Transit Authority to a group of Japanese investors will do nothing to dispel any early preconceptions you might have, but as you watch as Garber skillfully, deftly and when necessary bluntly manage his colleagues during this crisis a different picture begins to emerge. Garber is not merely competent at his job, he excels at it. And if anyone is capable of figuring out what the hijackers are up to, it is him.

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is one of those rare films that is able to be compelling viewing from the opening credits, carefully maneuvering throughout every scene with precision and care, until the pitch perfect ending shot of Matthau’s ugly mug. It is quite easy to see why Quentin Tarantino was such a fan, and why he took the idea of naming the criminals after colors for Reservoir Dogs, or why everyone’s favorite big budget action film Die Hard gainfully followed the blueprint so carefully constructed by The Taking of Pelham One Two Three as it went on to box office glory. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three has aged incredibly well, and any fan of cinema will have a far richer library by adding it to your collection, the sooner the better.