Subways are subways. Nothing much changed in decades. In this story a New York City subway gets stolen and the passengers are taken hostage only to be released for 1 million dollars in ransom demand. How will they get away with it?This classic hostage flick goes back to the seventies, 1974 to be exact. Sound quality is MONO. Does everybody still even know what that means? One channel sound, when today there are 7 or more. Besides this the photography isnt grandiose either. It really has got that typical cheap early seventies feel to it, the period however Quentin Tarantino was so found of and is now going back to with his new movie. And for good reason, because in this period a lot of classics were born. And "The Taking of Pelham 123" is one of them. Although it certainly is no masterpiece. It is just a good hostage movie with excellent acting by Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw.You can also choose for the modern remake of this movie with Denzel Washington and John Travolta. I tried that myself but got bored with it within minutes. Maybe kids would love the modern version better, but if you are more of a cinephile then the seventies version is the more popular one that gets the highest ratings.Seen it many times now and besides some cheap effects and poor sound quality it is still a movie I go back to every year or so. I just love the New York cussing and complaining in it,I love the dirty New York strreets and subway and I really dig the great seventies soundtrack however bad it technically may sound in MONO lol...

This was a brilliant and thrilling action thriller movie from the 1970's. Walter Matthau usually did comedy films but he is fantastic in this as the detective. A really great old school thriller. Much superior to the remake they did not so long ago.

When watching "Pelham" it's easy to see why it was remade twice: a gripping storyline, intriguing characters, an event that could easily happen forty years ago, or twenty years from now. This 1974 version is so well done, from throwing you immediately into the story, to great actor choices like Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw, it's hard not to like – more or less love – this film. It dispenses with unnecessary romantic subplots, and never deviates from the cat and mouse game interwoven from start to finish. Shaw is captivating as the menacing mastermind, and Matthau is surprisingly good as his would-be nemesis. Even the supporting cast from Jerry Stiller to Maltin Balsam (as "Mr. Green" – BIG smiles for all BIG 'Reservoir Dogs' fans out there) to Hector Elizondo are wonderful choices. Sure the clothing is dated as is perhaps some of the Seventies lingo, but it never detracts from the intense story. It really has that 70s movie feel and the external Manhattan scenes are terrific. If there is any negative to be given about this film, the less-than dramatic ending and its subsequent frozen last image could have used an additional Hollywood-styled edge-of-your-seat conclusion. Otherwise, this a movie is well worth the watch.

Confession - I watched the Tony Scott remake of this Sargent flick with Denzel Washington and John Travolta first. Another - that, in no way diminished from my enjoying this on TV recently. Yes, there are those repartees that are more a norm, them being organic and all, though they were rehearsed, of the 70's staple, that could be found in movies of any genre (with a few not-too- notable exceptions, of course). Yes, like many movies of that period, it looks like 'French Connection' (the first one). Yes, 'Payback' got the 70's period soundtrack right. This one has the pounding score throughout, except when it's all silent for us to get the sound design. Very nice.The plot's the same, with the plan being the same, and the dead man's feature being the linchpin of the gig. It's been a while since I watched Robert Shaw man it up as the suave baddie. He does one more fantastic job, that evokes memories of his other good roles, in 'From Russia with love' and 'The Sting', among others. he would have made a great Marlowe, along with the other Robert.Speaking of evocative turns, Matthau pretty much mans it up too, throwing politically incorrect barbs all the way, while Jerry Stiller is very much himself, and Hector Elizondo playing the kind of character we have not seen him play in a long, long time, wishing he'd had more screen time. Balsam is, as always, fantastic, and his 'tic' (Hic) that's used very much for effect, and a key twist as well, is super- endearing.The focus is on the narrative throughout, and this has to be one of the best edited features out there, and does not seem dated a bit. Mattahu plays the kind of reluctant and recalcitrant hero we have seen before, but the way he kind of eases into it allows us to get into his shoes quite a few times, and there's no doubt about who's actually in control in all the exchanges he has with Shaw, even though things on the surface might indicate otherwise.Not to be missed, and worth repeat viewings. The remake's pretty decent too, but if I were asked to choose, in spite of my fondness for Tony Scott movies, and the Washington-Travolta combo, I'd have to say that the original's the better movie of the two, even though I saw it after the remake.