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Movies / On DVD / The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

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The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

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85%
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Reviews Counted: 24 Fresh: 24  Rotten:0 Average Rating: 8.2/10

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 2 hrs 4 mins

Synopsis: THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE superbly achieves what few other movies do: a successful blend of thrills, style, comedy, drama, suspense and action. It is the precursor for many thrillers of the 1990s, from indie hits like Quentin Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS, and more popular, Hollywood... THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE superbly achieves what few other movies do: a successful blend of thrills, style, comedy, drama, suspense and action. It is the precursor for many thrillers of the 1990s, from indie hits like Quentin Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS, and more popular, Hollywood vehicles like SPEED. The story focuses on four criminals who hijack a subway car and demand one million dollars from the mayor of New York, threatening to kill one hostage per minute if their demands aren't met. The hijackers are Mr. Blue (Robert Shaw), the crafty and efficient leader; Mr. Green (Martin Balsam), the train driver; Mr. Gray (Hector Elizondo), the hothead; and Mr. Brown (Earl Hindman), a nervous, stuttering man. New York City transit lieutenant Zachary Garber (Walter Matthau) goes above and beyond his call of duty to play negotiator with the hijackers. The camera grabs the viewer by taking him down into dark gritty hallows of the subway tunnels and into the midst of the harrowing situation on the hijacked car. Based on the book by John Godey, TAKING OF PELHAM is a true classic that depicts the dark, crime-ridden climate of 1970s New York city. [More]

Genre: Action/Adventure

Starring: Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam, Hector Elizondo, Earl Hindman

Director: Joseph Sargent
Producer: Gabriel Katzka, Edgar J. Scherick
Composer: David Shire

DVD Info

Release:

Feb 29, 2000

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1 Encoding
  • Keep Case
  • Widescreen - 1.85

Audio:

  • Mono - English, Spanish, French
  • Subtitles - Spanish, French

Additional Release Material:

  • Theatrical Trailer

Additional Product:

  • Collectible Booklet

Buy It On DVD

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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Director Sargent piles on the tension expertly, proving that sometimes the simplest plots are the most effective. Those who think that the action thriller is an invention of the last two decades would do well to check this one out.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/04/08
Channel 4 Film
Ratings Image
4/5

The kind of gritty, relentless thriller that could only come from the '70s.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/04/08
William Thomas
Empire Magazine
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N/A

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is a good action caper about a subway car heist under the streets of Manhattan.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/04/08
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
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3.5/4

Exciting, suspenseful drama.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/04/08
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Ratings Image
N/A

Superior exercise in urban paranoia; the superb location work of director Joseph Sargent goes a long way toward tempering the artificialities of the plot.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/04/08
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

The film retains a fascination.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/09/06
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
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4/5

Excellent little thriller

comment Comment
01/25/06
Lori Hoffman
Atlantic City Weekly
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4/5

Trama interessante, boas atuações e diálogos excelentes fazem com que este filme mereça ser redescoberto pelas platéias atuais.

comment Comment
01/10/06
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena
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4/5

Exciting and very funny with a knowingly cynical sense of humor.

comment Comment
11/12/05
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily
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5/5

No review available.

comment Comment
11/01/05
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
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A-

A kvetchy slice of urban paranoia life tale that's a precious little jewel.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/01/05
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
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4/5

Shaw at his best and an obvious influence on "Reservoir Dogs."

comment Comment
12/18/04
Michael A. Smith
Nolan's Pop Culture Review
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4/5

Taut crime drama, almost documentary in presentation.

comment Comment
10/26/04
Steve Crum
Kansas City Kansan
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4/5

No review available.

comment Comment
03/18/04
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion
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81/100

This movie is smart, tense, funny and exciting, and it gets right down to business.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/16/04
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide
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3/5

No review available.

comment Comment
01/29/04
Nicolas Lacroix
EnPrimeur.ca
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N/A

Darkened encounters with the ghost of Abe Beame don't come more giddily thrilling.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/26/03
Jessica Winter
Village Voice
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
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4/5

No review available.

comment Comment
07/15/03
Jon Niccum
Lawrence Journal-World
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4.5/5

It's the only action picture I've seen this year that has a rousing plot.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/21/03
Nora Sayre
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
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5/5

Little-known gem of a '70s New York crime thriller is near perfect to begin with, and even better on DVD.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/07/02
James Rocchi
Netflix
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News

Stills From Pelham One Two Three Remake Leak Online
posted by April 29, 2008
The first shots of Denzel Washington in the upcoming Taking of Pelham One Two Three remake have surfaced online!...


Gandolfini Joins Pelham One Two Three Remake
posted by Jeff Giles March 25, 2008
A Sopranos movie is still the stuff of rumors, but fans of James Gandolfini will be seeing him in theaters soon enough....


Tony Scott Directing Don Aronow Biopic
posted by Jeff Giles October 17, 2007
Tony Scott and Fox 2000 are teaming up to bring the life of Don Aronow to the screen.


Denzel, Tony Scott to Take Pelham One Two Three
posted by Jeff Giles September 24, 2007
Pelham is about to be taken again -- and Denzel Washington and Tony Scott are doing the taking.

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