The Classic Taking of Pelham 1,2,3
Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw Square Off in the New York Subway
Apr 23, 2008
The Setup
It is Manhattan, New York in 1974. The Lexington line subway speeds by. A veteran conductor observes a new recruit, giving him on the job training. The camera shows a man in glasses and a hat, with a mustache and a large parcel. At the next stop another man of similar ilk boards the train, then a third man at a third stop. Finally, a fourth man walks to the front car, brandishes a gun, and these four men take over the train.
The men take the train farther down its route, detach all the cars from the first, and demand a million dollars in an hour, or the remaining passengers (now hostages) are going to start getting it between the eyes one at a time. Such is the premise of Pelham 1,2,3. The four robbers refer to each other by colors. Mr. Blue (Robert Shaw, of Jaws fame) is the leader; Mr. Green (Martin Balsam) is the guy who knows how the train works; Mr. Brown (Earl Hindman) is the calculated backup guy, and Mr. Grey (Hector Elizondo) is the guy that got kicked out of the Mafia. There is very little background given, and it is never established how these men met, or where they really come from.
Against Them…
Is Zach Garber (Walter Matthau), a Lieutenant for the Transit authority, and Lieutenant Rico Petrone. Matthau gives a tour de force performance, blending his uncanny comedic skills (his opening with the Japanese observers is priceless) with more serious tones as the story progresses. Garber’s interactions with Blue are fascinating to watch, as he tries to stall, convince, quell, and crack wise at the robbers while Blue calmly does a book of crosswords while threatening to kill people with submachine guns.
Why It Works
The genius of the story is its simplicity. The majority of the film takes place in a subway car and the transit authority control room. Four men with no names demand a large sum of money in an hour. Where do they go once they get it? Where CAN they go? The solution is, again, brilliant in its simplicity and plausibility. Garber knows he’s dealing with a well thought out plan, and him racing to try and intercept the robbers before they get away is beautifully crafted.
Another element that is sorely lacking in many modern crime films is the amount of humor dispersed throughout the well-penned script. Dry, sardonic humor is ever present, both from Matthau’s sharp tongue but also Robert Shaw, the icy villain who is not above musing about the possibility of dying.
Directed by Joseph Sargent, from a novel by John Godey, with a brilliant score by David Shire, The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3 is a gem of a film that should not be missed. Quentin Tarantino borrowed heavily from this movie to make his own Reservoir Dogs. It is easily accessible via Netflix, and is a fantastic example of the brilliance of 70s filmmaking.
All names and titles referenced via IMDB
