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The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
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The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

1974
Drama
Suspense/Thriller
1h 44m
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? (imdb)
Directed by:
Joseph Sargent Joseph Sargent
Written by:
Peter Stone John Godey
+1 more
Starring:
Martin Balsam Martin Balsam Walter Matthau Walter Matthau Jerry Stiller Jerry Stiller Robert Shaw Robert Shaw Hector Elizondo Hector Elizondo Beatrice Winde Earl Hindman James Broderick James Broderick Dick O\ Dick O'Neill Tom Pedi Lee Wallace Lee Wallace Nathan George
More
Franchise:
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Genres:
Drama, Suspense/Thriller, Crime, Action
Country:
USA
Languages:
English, Spanish
imdb More information at IMDb
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The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

1974
Drama
Suspense/Thriller
1h 44m
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Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 65.71% from 1118 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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indyatmnINDYATMN
Rated 11 Jun 2009
98
97th
An action thriller in the 70's-classic style, meaning a story that entertains but never panders. Attention is paid 2 detail, plausibility& plot rather than efx & marketing results, so 2day's teens might b surprised 2 find so many smart, normal-looking ADULTS over 40 (!) running around, but every1 else can sit back & enjoy the ride. Shaw is great as a man who could b Hans Gruber's godfather& Matthau proves that 1 knowing glare can knock the audience on its ass as well as an exploding monument.
Rated 11 Jun 2009
kmcneilKMcNeil
Rated 13 Jan 2009
8
84th
A rare gem that works as both thriller and comedy.
Rated 13 Jan 2009
mjvmoviemanMJVmovieMan
Rated 11 Jun 2009
83
84th
A skillful, entertaining classic with taut direction. The movie moves along tightly with the interesting interplay of smarts between dead-serious Matthau and villainous Shaw. But the dialogue doesn't fall to predictable hero-bad guy banter and philosophizing. It's simply business, and the plot hangs on the mysterious plans of the hijackers - that's the film's strength. Played out in what feels like real-time, "Pelham One Two Three" is a thrilling hostage film that doesn't forget to have fun.
Rated 11 Jun 2009
jstryjstry
Rated 17 Mar 2008
88
85th
Suspenseful without being cheesy. Good acting. I liked it a lot.
Rated 17 Mar 2008
jodamicojodamico
Rated 20 Sep 2010
84
93rd
Best NY movie ever.
Rated 20 Sep 2010
juntakinte99juntakinte99
Rated 07 Aug 2020
80
65th
It is a tiny bit dated as future heist films would have a more docudrama approach to crime, terrorism, and hostage negotiation that'd be more suspenseful. Also, the racism & sexism are cringeworthy. But in some ways this flick will always be timeless. First, Matthau is amazing in every scene as an unconventional action hero. And David Shire's jazz-funk music works as a film score and an album in its own right. Still, in the end, it is a well edited piece of fun and document of a time.
Rated 07 Aug 2020
soliloquistsoliloquist
Rated 18 Feb 2008
98
99th
Consummate comedy and a first-rate thriller. One of my favorites. Walter Matthau is priceless, Robert Shaw is gold. The dynamic between them makes the movie (though the mayor of New York City cracks me up). A "must-see" on multiple levels.
Rated 18 Feb 2008
billyshearsBillyShears
Rated 06 Nov 2010
85
86th
Walter Matthau. I can't believe that Tony Scott watched this movie and thought he could do any better.
Rated 06 Nov 2010
icebloxiceblox
Rated 21 Feb 2009
82
91st
An intelligent, gripping thriller.
Rated 21 Feb 2009
astralartistAstralArtist
Rated 13 Dec 2008
99
99th
In my opinion, this is arguably the best American film of the 70s- yes, above Godfather, Jaws, Star Wars, etc.- for one simple reason: it is cinematic entertainment in its purest form. A well paced story that perfectly blends drama, suspense, action & comedy into a gripping story that builds to an exciting climax & believable conclusion without taking itself too seriously. Excellent performances from a stellar cast compliment the gritty cinematography & musical score. One of my personal top 10.
Rated 13 Dec 2008
yesistastyyesistasty
Rated 07 Mar 2011
76
31st
Fairly entertaining caper.
Rated 07 Mar 2011
teftef
Rated 23 Feb 2011
95
93rd
A perfect film. Nobody gives a shit but everyone cares. New York cynicism throughout, and it all works.
Rated 23 Feb 2011
anomalyAnomaly
Rated 27 Dec 2008
79
72nd
An entertaining seventies thriller that stands out by being set on a subway. Good acting, and a great balance of humor and tension.
Rated 27 Dec 2008
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 09 Jul 2012
80
74th
Far superior to the remake with Denzel, I found the villians to be hardly evil, but that's the way I like it. This is one of the better crime thrillers from this half of the decade, and Matthau was awesome.
Rated 09 Jul 2012
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 10 Mar 2010
89
80th
A funny, foul-mouthed thriller filled with memorable moments of suspense and humor. Great gritty NYC '70's atmosphere. All the actors--even the bit parts--are good, and Matthau, Balsam and Shaw give superior performances.
Rated 10 Mar 2010
stainStain
Rated 29 Apr 2007
80
68th
ACHOO!
Rated 29 Apr 2007
dunbardunbar
Rated 13 Aug 2018
82
80th
A lot of sass and wit get thrown around in this slightly goofy train heist caper. Shaw's villain counters the mood nicely by staying a cool customer throughout. It's not exactly high octane, but it doesn't waste too much time either. Pretty entertaining.
Rated 13 Aug 2018
tathieltathiel
Rated 14 Sep 2009
86
88th
A real great one, very nice dry humour especially on the side of Walter Matthau. Interesting action story with believable hijackers.
Rated 14 Sep 2009
mentaculusMentaculus
Rated 13 Mar 2012
83
79th
A superior action thriller. Funny, tense, with a palpable grittiness that - although dated - adds depth to the setting and seems to transcend its time period. Fantastic stuff.
Rated 13 Mar 2012
kasperlKasperL
Rated 05 Sep 2012
80
86th
Providing humour and menace, respectively, Matthau and Shaw are both fun in this very entertaining thriller.
Rated 05 Sep 2012
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 25 May 2009
5
44th
Nothing all the remarkable, but not a waste of time. It's lacking something to keep it from being great, the remake is gonna be so awful though.
Rated 25 May 2009
myfavchordsmyfavchords
Rated 26 Dec 2011
84
87th
This film is a really great ride. It is a really exciting thriller with some funny lines that will keep you interested for the entire film. I highly recommend this film.
Rated 26 Dec 2011
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 15 Jan 2007
73
79th
Maybe it's not up to speed with more modern thrillers in terms of action and slickness, but it's better anyway, Walter Matthau rocks, and the ending is hysterical. Watch it.
Rated 15 Jan 2007
hellsditchhellsditch
Rated 08 Feb 2008
92
96th
Gritty, '70s style action flick that sets the stage for Die Hard, et. al. And it's got Robert Shaw! In my review of "Road Warrior" I describe it as incredibly lean and fast -- everything on screen has a verve and a vibrancy that is lacking from about 99% of what passes for action movies. Road Warrior has it. Robocop has it. Die Hard has it. Pelham most definitely has it.
Rated 08 Feb 2008
davidkahaneDavidKahane
Rated 25 May 2009
93
87th
Matthau is wonderful as the Transit Authority supervisor who responds to everything with the sort of of rumpled weariness that was the actor's stock and trade. The film offers up a bursting roster of perpetually pissed off municipal workers, many more upset that their workday has been disrupted than they are about the group of commuters who've become hostages. Sargent assembles it all in gripping fashion, mixing urban verisimilitude with expert storytelling perfectly suited to the tight plot.
Rated 25 May 2009
donnamdonnam
Rated 16 May 2011
85
64th
A smart, funny thriller that still delivers more than the heavier-action remake attempts.
Rated 16 May 2011
sirrobbieSirRobbie
Rated 08 Jun 2014
70
53rd
Entertaining as hell! It's great to see Mr. Matthau in yet another well done movie.
Rated 08 Jun 2014
cinemahellcinema_hell
Rated 09 Dec 2009
82
68th
Reservoir Dogs.
Rated 09 Dec 2009
nobambanobamba
Rated 16 Mar 2019
60
62nd
Very gritty setting. ONE. MILLION. DOLLARS. Fav scene: final interrogation.
Rated 16 Mar 2019
pigletPiglet
Rated 26 Jul 2009
75
79th
Will no doubt stand out from the remake coming to a theater near you. As always Shaw as the antagonist the high point.
Rated 26 Jul 2009
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 12 Jul 2009
77
51st
Not a whole lot of twists but it still gets you hooked and wondering what will come next. The sprinkling of comedy meshes well with the tension making for a solid and enjoyable movie.
Rated 12 Jul 2009
hellboy76hellboy76
Rated 21 Oct 2010
72
86th
If you saw the remake and were put off, give this a chance. Understated tension is the star here as well as Matthau's likable slob hero.
Rated 21 Oct 2010
alex_sAlex S
Rated 01 Nov 2011
8
69th
Excellent heist movie with one of the best bad guys i've seen on screen in years. Robert Shaw's so cool and in total control. Walter Matthau's delivery is pitch perfect. Great script,tight editing and a super cool soundtrack make this a must see.
Rated 01 Nov 2011
pepsi_manPepsi-Man
Rated 20 Jul 2009
3
74th
Nicely paced thriller, has a good sense of very cynical humor.
Rated 20 Jul 2009
adamj1982adamj1982
Rated 26 Aug 2015
75
69th
Tense and entertaining through out. A good mix of humor thrown in also
Rated 26 Aug 2015
dmcrimsonDMCrimson
Rated 14 May 2014
86
94th
SOLID! Every scene has a goal, tension, motivations, and entertaining characters interacting with each other. There's not a bad minute to watch.
Rated 14 May 2014
yiannosYiannos
Rated 08 Oct 2017
73
78th
Joseph 'Jaws: The Revenge' Sargent was not a particularly distinguished director, but Pelham was one of the more effective and memorable thrillers of the 70's thanks to a solid script and an appealing cast of splendid character actors. It makes great use of its New York locations, comparable to the exceptional works of New Hollywood, and it builds sufficient tension from its surprisingly unhurried pace. Matthau is at his surly best while Shaw is suitably menacing as the criminal mastermind.
Rated 08 Oct 2017
ocelotOcelot
Rated 07 Apr 2020
80
89th
a film with no wasted motion whatsoever. it starts, it hums, it speeds and it slowly comes to a halt with a pitch perfect ending. almost like a great train ride! there are some vestigial elements likely carried over from the novel, and some of the jokes fall flat, but many others do a good job injecting levity into the premise without undermining the seriousness of the situation itself. there is somewhat of a ceiling on how good schlocky capers can be, and this hits it.
Rated 07 Apr 2020
twincinematwincinema
Rated 18 May 2021
90
92nd
As soon as this ended, I was like, "oh damn, I want to watch that again." Not only is the screenplay perfect, but the ending is the GREATEST ENDING OF ALL-TIME (no hyperbole, buddy). We don't let actors age anymore -- Matthau and Stiller were only 34 and 37 here. You can really see how this influenced Tarantino, right down to the use of *that* word.
Rated 18 May 2021
stepsidewaysstepsideways
Rated 18 Nov 2007
88
56th
Interesting score, and great closing scene.
Rated 18 Nov 2007
nilkynarfynilkynarfy
Rated 25 May 2012
80
78th
Action Matthau gonna save the day!
Rated 25 May 2012
nobletNoblet
Rated 26 Nov 2011
80
70th
I really liked the dialogue, and especially all the funny little lines mixed in with the tense stuff. It's not really a fresh, unique film to me, it's just really, really solid.
Rated 26 Nov 2011
tonydaltonydal
Rated 21 Aug 2011
80
74th
Some of the jokes were a bit forced, but generally a lot of fun (and gripping too). Kind of like Barney Miller done as a thriller. "How the hell are you supposed to run a goddamn railroad without swearing?" lol
Rated 21 Aug 2011
naurunauru
Rated 03 Oct 2009
75
85th
Not bad at all. A bit predictable and a little gratuitous with the sexist/racist/stupid jokes, but generally well done and well paced. Stylish music, nice ending, and an authentic New York feel -- each of the characters seems real, you know? Like these are guys you would reasonably expect to see working at the Met or on the NYPD, not polished-looking celebrities.
Rated 03 Oct 2009
glm01glm01
Rated 08 Feb 2013
89
97th
88.500
Rated 08 Feb 2013
ytadelYtadel
Rated 04 Jun 2009
7
84th
Cool villains and likable heroes in a very pure thriller that gets the adrenaline pumping and even gets you concerned about the hostages. Lots of suspense and an entertaining, claustrophobic setting. It peaks just a little early but otherwise is damn cool. I can see why they picked it for a remake.
Rated 04 Jun 2009
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 30 Mar 2011
3
38th
It's alright. A bit TOO realist and subdued for my tastes, without any one aspect that make it stand above the rest. Still, solid all-around, and it's always a safe bet that Robert Shaw will deliver.
Rated 30 Mar 2011
natebarriosnatebarrios
Rated 20 Jan 2023
85
94th
a top-to-bottom banger. lean as hell and overflowing with details and texture. like the first time listening to Illmatic.
Rated 20 Jan 2023
irvinejumpirvinejump
Rated 23 Jan 2009
80
84th
The remake is so so, but this is fantastic, with Robert Shaw and Walther Matthau both in fine form
Rated 23 Jan 2009
okkervilOkkervil
Rated 01 Aug 2009
70
67th
Cracking thriller. Full of tension.
Rated 01 Aug 2009
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 08 Dec 2006
74
50th
Good heist thriller, nothing too special but not a waste of time either.
Rated 08 Dec 2006
misterlizardmisterlizard
Rated 29 Apr 2013
75
79th
A great hostage movie, full of 70s New York cynicism and believable characters. It's a slow burner that gradually draws you in to its story. It underpins the hostage situation with some great characters and a vein of black humour. There are some moments that seem politically incorrect today, but they just reflect attitudes at the time. The Die Hard movies owe a huge debt to this film, and I can't think of better praise than that.
Rated 29 Apr 2013
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 21 Jan 2016
60
62nd
Not bad.
Rated 21 Jan 2016
nathandarkoNathanDarko
Rated 23 Mar 2009
91
85th
Great action thriller
Rated 23 Mar 2009
jebJeb
Rated 25 May 2009
86
73rd
A standout thriller in the wacky and goofy 70s era. The new one with Denzel Washington is no doubt going to be a huge failure.
Rated 25 May 2009
dean_franzDean Franz
Rated 15 Nov 2008
80
79th
Incredibly tight and flawlessly executed crime caper/cop story. Don't expect a grand gesture of cinema, but simply a flick whose one humble aim is to keep the adrenaline pumping a solid 100 minutes. And yes, it delivers.
Rated 15 Nov 2008
skiewulfyskiewulfy
Rated 21 Aug 2009
50
56th
Worth watching if you like having a lot of archetypal cops and robbers hamming things up with the plot kept within the strict confines of a single subway car. A bit by the numbers, but a grizzled Walter Matthau keeps things memorable.
Rated 21 Aug 2009
ribcageribcage
Rated 23 Jun 2015
80
77th
Everybodys great. Loved Shaw loved matthau( especially that last shot!). Pace was spot on... Never a dull moment. Solid movie
Rated 23 Jun 2015
rottentRottenT
Rated 19 Mar 2018
100
98th
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.
Rated 19 Mar 2018
xacviantxacviant
Rated 26 Jan 2013
88
85th
Four armed men led by an ice-cold psychopath (Robert Shaw) take over a subway train, and the authorities--like the sardonic Lt. Garber (Walter Matthau)--rush to meet their demands and stop their getting away. Peter Stone's smoothly worked-out script (from a bestseller) bubbles over with dark comedy (some of it a bit dated), and Joseph Sargent's direction keeps the tension high till the very end. Shaw and Matthau lead an excellent cast; the final shot is perfect. Wonderful music by David Shire.
Rated 26 Jan 2013
leemarvinsleemarvins
Rated 15 Sep 2018
85
91st
Funny and tense script by Peter Stone. Wonderful ensemble cast of 70's character actors gives this film a feel and authenticity of a down and dirty New York crime picture. Music by David Shire is just the coolest.
Rated 15 Sep 2018
vladhammerVladHammer
Rated 20 Apr 2011
80
41st
Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw - pretty powerful lineup and a better-than-average story made this fun to watch, even if a bit outdated. Also notable for the surprising amount of adult language in a film from '74.
Rated 20 Apr 2011
mike365365mike365365
Rated 01 Sep 2019
72
77th
I enjoyed it, even if people con't really get "kicked out of the mafia".
Rated 01 Sep 2019
eastondEastonD
Rated 06 May 2016
83
72nd
no movie star good looks to be found here
Rated 06 May 2016
ofterdingenOfterdingen
Rated 15 Dec 2012
70
76th
Very entertaining. Rather silly.
Rated 15 Dec 2012
spleenspleen
Rated 10 Nov 2009
85
84th
The New York subway system steals the show here. And then there's Jerry Stiller.
Rated 10 Nov 2009
angliche92Angliche92
Rated 21 Oct 2012
77
64th
Robert Shaw is the man !!!
Rated 21 Oct 2012
wwallce4prezWWallce4prez
Rated 20 Jan 2019
83
82nd
This no frills suspense film is a tightly packed story in its gripping 100 minutes relies on smart banter and white knuckle deadlines. The battle between Matthau and Shaw is what shines, especially as the former delivers some hilarious barbs. A classic.
Rated 20 Jan 2019
eatbeanseatbeans
Rated 11 Jul 2020
10
96th
a wonderful movie with great suspense, good acting, and even a little bit of understated humor thrown in.
Rated 11 Jul 2020
badfurdayBadFurDay
Rated 27 Feb 2023
6
59th
Strange amounts of deadpan humor in this suspenseful heist story. The ending is a bit too conventional, and the movie too full of copaganda, but it's a fun watch nonetheless.
Rated 27 Feb 2023
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 05 Nov 2023
6
34th
What a snooze, the premise is cool but the execution is lacking and they commit one of cinema’s biggest sins: casting Robert Shaw and just totally wasting him. I love how Tony Scott looked at Walther Matthau in this film and was like: “yep, Denzel”.
Rated 05 Nov 2023
neonmanNeonman
Rated 27 Jan 2012
71
41st
A straight-forward thriller with a nifty car chase (that is, a car chasing a stationary train). Nice, passable entertainment, and more enjoyed by those keen on the '70s sensibilities of film-making, but I find the humour is pretty distracting and badly implemented amongst the taut story. And the last shot is ... odd.
Rated 27 Jan 2012
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 18 May 2017
80
37th
Viewed May 17, 2017.
Rated 18 May 2017
walkaboutwalkabout
Rated 16 Jun 2009
70
69th
highly enjoyable film, except for the anti-climactic final act...
Rated 16 Jun 2009
braddad68braddad68
Rated 11 Jul 2013
94
74th
Love the tense pacing. Great cast!
Rated 11 Jul 2013
jmboschJMBosch
Rated 27 Jul 2009
90
91st
This is such a wonderful product of its time that a remake is a sad affair. New York City itself is a character in this movie, and a good one. Hell, all the characters are fun, real, and believable. It's able to balance a lot of suspense/thriller aspects with a lot of jokes to keep you hooked. The acting is great and Matthau is on-point up to the last frame of the film with his "gotcha" mug. Oh, and I think Hans Gruber learned a thing or two from Mr. Blue here.
Rated 27 Jul 2009
zealot185Zealot185
Rated 15 Jun 2009
56
36th
Its certainly able to maintain a level of suspense throughout, but there's nothing particularly smart or unexpected that comes out of this by-the-numbers heist. I felt that much of the humor was pretty dated, and that the eye-rolling ending was telegraphed way too easily.
Rated 15 Jun 2009
christofchristof
Rated 08 Dec 2022
85
76th
Absolutely one of my favorite films. Walter Matthau is incredible (the remake is the ultimate exercise in hilarious pointlessness, surpassed only by that unforgivable chocolate factory remake).
Rated 08 Dec 2022
silent_discosilent disco
Rated 24 Feb 2024
85
84th
Bring back American movie heroes that are actually just hideous, schlubby, bigoted, selfish and barely competent, getting by on bare minimum amounts of fumbles, acting on selfish, almost counter-intuitively competitive whims, good guys only in comparison to the cold blooded and calculated. The modern American action movie hero myth rings false but the brass balled supervisor who just marches hot headed up to a train car, unarmed, gets gunned down and is never spoken of again? That's my America.
Rated 24 Feb 2024
rthornhillrthornhill
Rated 19 Apr 2023
95
93rd
a favorite subgenre for me. a gritty, grimy NYC crime drama circa early 70's. matthau, shaw and balsam are terrific. pleasantly surprised to see jerry stiller as well. the ending shot is fantastic.
Rated 19 Apr 2023
aarona1caarona1c
Rated 09 Dec 2007
44
38th
Okay melodrama.
Rated 09 Dec 2007
3drevelation3dRevelation
Rated 06 Mar 2017
69
41st
Not sure if this aged poorly or if I just wasn't in the mood, but this didn't live up to my expectations. I didn't find the attempts at humor funny for the most part and it wasn't as thrilling as I thought it could be. The cast is decent, but I don't think there was much they could do to elevate this.
Rated 06 Mar 2017
madmanMadMan
Rated 27 Mar 2022
100
96th
Fantastic and highly intense with a marvelous cast. Definitely one of the most NYC movies ever made.
Rated 27 Mar 2022
wayofthegunwayofthegun
Rated 08 May 2012
65
29th
Better than the remake, but very slow paced and not all that interesting.
Rated 08 May 2012
sirstuckeySirStuckey
Rated 10 May 2013
90
94th
Really awesome thriller that is further proof movie makers knew what they were doing in the 70s.
Rated 10 May 2013
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 06 Aug 2013
2
21st
Meh, it's not bad but it's not at all remarkable.
Rated 06 Aug 2013
calexicoCalexico
Rated 10 Sep 2021
85
82nd
Sharp and funny. Love the MTA supervisors
Rated 10 Sep 2021
nickprolNickProl
Rated 09 Oct 2012
90
75th
For what it is (a hostage situation movie) it does its job perfectly. Given its age it holds up amazingly well. Riveting. And also really funny. I dare not watch the remake. This was a great piece of movie making! I loved this movie so much!
Rated 09 Oct 2012
glmglm
Rated 03 Apr 2012
91
94th
90.750
Rated 03 Apr 2012
matthewmj336matthewmj336
Rated 26 Jul 2022
49
11th
Stoo-puhd
Rated 26 Jul 2022
icarusIcarus
Rated 20 Sep 2021
82
69th
Vibrant and grimy, in all the best ways one would hope for in a 1970s thriller. The goofy mayor makes almost no sense, especially since there's no payoff. But that last shot is *chef's kiss*
Rated 20 Sep 2021
difontaineDifontaine
Rated 17 Jan 2022
83
84th
Really good crime suspense. Shaw and Matthau both stand out
Rated 17 Jan 2022
dustydDustyd
Rated 16 Sep 2007
70
63rd
Solid thriller.
Rated 16 Sep 2007

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