Retro Review: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

It's rare when a remake is better than the original. Only the best remakes, the ones that bring something new to the table, can at the very least live up to the source material.

Back in 2009, Denzel Washington and John Travolta starred in The Taking of Pelham 123, a remake of the 1974 film, which in itself is an adaptation of Morton Freedgood's novel of the same name.

One can argue the Denzel vehicle is just another adaptation but, having seen the two version, it feels like director Tony Scott was trying to outdo the older film, and just couldn't cut it, despite his talented cast.

Then again, it's hard to top of movie that puts Walter Matthau in a tough guy role, and has a pre-Jaws Robert Shaw play a smooth and cunning English criminal. He attempts to extort the City of New York out of $1 million by holding a subway car full of passengers hostage.

The 1974 film oozes a gritty, raw energy that plays real. It doesn't hurt that director Joseph Sargent shot at actual New York locations, including within the subway system. The dialogue is convincing, as are the New York accents. Not one part of this movie doesn't feel authentic.

Sargent doesn't overshoot the thing either. The film has a simple visual style and pacing. He lets the actors do their job and trusts his script is solid, which it is. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three isn't flashy, but that's what makes it work so well. This is something Scott's version lost sight of.

You don't need a lot of showy camera tricks and editing to craft an exciting movie. This Taking of Pelham One Two Three is a crackling good 70's action flick without them, and felt like a breath of fresh air as a result.

A Good for me.

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