When I saw the first - the original - version of The Taking of Pelham 123 back in the late 1970s I was amazed. I hadn't read the book and couldn't imagine how a movie about taking a NYC subway train and its passengers hostage could be made. Or, how it could possibly be believable. I lived in New York. I took subways every day. A subway and passengers hostage? Too crazy for words. And, the lobby cards and theatrical posters were much more fanciful back then. And in the late 70s, a million bucks in New York City was a truck-load of money.
There were a number of folks in the original cast that caught my eye: Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam... that was enough for me to buy a ticket. What a show. What a movie. Pelham 123 became one of my all time favorites.
I've watched Pelham 123 on cable a dozen times over the years. Actually many, many more times. Matthau is just perfect in the original.
Times have changed. Posters and lobby cards have changed. The fun and intrigue of this movie have not. It's a fun escapade. It's a fun escape, and a fun look back at another, earlier decade.
Head over to to our Inner Harbor Landmark Theatres on Friday to take a look at the new version of this movie. I promise it will be great fun.
If you havn't seen the 1970's original... I'd suggest renting it after you see the 2009 version.
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