The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
Director: Joseph Sargent Cast: Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam, Hector Elizondo
Memorable Line: "We have your train."

* Underrated and Overlooked *
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is a movie you've probably never heard of, but one you will most certainly enjoy because it so well crafted. It's one of several cool and edgy thrillers from the 1970's filmed in a naturalistic style with a script that is so smart and real, it's amazing that more people don't regard this movie as being one of the better thrillers to be made in that decade.

Zachary "Z" Garber (Matthau) is a New York City Transit Authority Police Lieutenant who happens be on duty when a subway train is hi-jacked by four well armed men. The leader (Shaw) is a cool and ruthless man who has plan detailed down to the minute. If his ransom demands aren't met by his deadline, he will execute a passenger every minute the ransom is delayed, but the flaw in his plan is that he failed to take into account that he's hi-jacked a train in largely dysfunctional city and his deadlines quickly become unreasonable. The question is what will he do? Stick to the plan or show some mercy? It's up toGarber to get the system to work and to keep those 17 passengers alive.

The script is what makes this film sing. Unlike some thrillers produced years later, it is completely realistic. There are no fantastic shoot-outs with the hero shooting with pistols in each hand while diving through the air while shooting with pin-point accuracy. The characters are real. You believe these are really transit authority workers. The dialog sounds as if you're eavesdropping on a conversation and it has just the right amount of New York City gallows humor to give the audience some relief from the tension. Matthau breaths life into Garber, creating a calm and calculating, yet involved hero. Shaw is wonderful in his measured and ruthless poise.

Not to knock other movies, but when you compare this movie with a contemporary peers such as Speed (1994), this movie beats it hands-down because it sticks with being realistic. It never stretches the audience suspension of disbelief. Director Sargent provides tension by keeping the movie going in real time, cross cutting between scenes on the train and back at the transit authority nerve center. Thrown in for comedic relief are scenes involving the mayor as he must decide on paying the ransom from a razor tight budget or risking the lives of the passenger.

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is a movie I say is a must-see film for fans of thrillers. Forget Speed and go to your local video store or get this one in your Netflicks queue - now!