Screen legends Walter Matthau (Charley Varrick) and Robert Shaw (Force 10 from Navarone) team up with Martin Balsam (After the Fox) and Hector Elizondo (Valdez is Coming) to deliver a sure-fire entertainment that’s gripping and exciting from beginning to end and is guaranteed to give you the ride of your life. A gang of armed professionals hijack a New York subway train somewhere outside the Pelham station threatening to kill one hostage per minute unless their demands are met. Forced to stall these unknown assailants until a ransom is delivered or a rescue is made, transit chief Lt. Garber (Matthau) must shrewdly outmaneuver one of the craftiest and cruelest villains (Shaw) in a battle of wits that will either end heroically or tragically. Featuring masterful direction by Joseph Sargent (White Lightning), gorgeous widescreen cinematography by Owen Roizman (The French Connection), a classic rousing score by David Shire (The Conversation) and top-notch editing by Jerry Greenberg (Apocalypse Now) and Robert Q. Lovett (Cotton Comes to Harlem).
For thoughts on The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three (1974), please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Kino Classics presents The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three with a dazzling 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer for the first time on 4K UHD Blu-Ray sourced from a 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative. The Dolby Vision is not going to provide a Technicolor spectacle in this journey through the metallic urban jungle, but it brings out a richness to the palette and contrast which is pretty unbelievable. Outside of a handful of elements in the clothing and production design, the film is devoid of anything that would be classified as “beautiful” colors. Black levels are very deep and nuanced with little left to be desired in shadow detail and in resolving crushed blacks. With much of this film taking place underground in darker environments, this is a huge benefit. When things are a bit brighter above ground or inside the train cars, white levels are solid as a rock with no trace of blooming within the highlights.
The level of detail and clarity is much improved from the included remastered Blu-Ray, and the transfer maintains the natural film grain of the presentation without obvious signs of digital management. Most of the grain resolves very well with it looking sharp and compact. The texture on display in the outfits and within the environments are really strong. Facial details such as fake mustaches present with impressive clarity. This transfer rarely features any stray specks after being restored with such care. There does not appear to be hardly anything in the way of jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances. This presentation is a great effort from Kino Classics, and it serves as the definitive version of the film on the market.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with both a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track in English that handle this material without fault. The 5.1 surround track is great for those looking to engage all of their speakers, and the 2.0 stereo track appears to capture the original intention of the film. The environmental sounds of the city and the subway are rendered well alongside everything else. There does not seem to be any obvious instances of age-related wear and tear.
The track is pretty thrilling throughout with a constant sense of forward momentum that comes alive. The memorable score from David Shire is used perfectly to establish the mood of the narrative, and this track handles it terrifically throughout the duration of the film. There is never a moment where it threatens to overwhelm competing sounds, and it maintains a good balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. Kino Classics has given this film a well preserved audio presentation that brings the movie to life exactly how you would want. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary #1: Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson provide a new incredibly informative commentary track in which they discuss the how this film portrays New York City, the source material which inspired the film, the visual aesthetic of the picture, the themes of the film, the backgrounds of the performers, the legacy of the feature and more.
- Audio Commentary #2: Actor/Filmmaker Pat Healy and Film Programmer/Historian Jim Healy provide an archival commentary track that covers similar territory with some key insights that are unique to this one. Both are well worth a listen if you are a fan of the film.
- The Making Of Pelham One Two Three: A six-minute archival piece which takes a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film from the point of view of a transit cop. There is some interesting fly-on-the-wall footage that provides an interesting look at the time.
- 12 Minutes with Mr. Grey – Interview with Actor Hector Elizondo: A 12-minute interview with the actor in which he discusses meeting with director Joseph Sargent, the atmosphere in New York City at the time, the intimate nature of the production, the shooting locations, his relationship with his fellow performers, the direction of Sargent, shaping his character and more.
- Cutting On Action – Interview with Editor Gerald B. Greenberg: A nine-minute interview with the editor in which he discusses his working relationship with Joseph Sargent, the assistance he received from Robert Q. Lovett, the action injected during filming compared to the more comedic screenplay, the obstacles that needed to be overcome practically and more.
- The Sound Of The City – Interview with Composer David Shire: A nine-minute interview with the composer in which he discusses how he came to be involved with the project, the elevated legacy of the film, developing the sound he wanted, the larger ideas he had for the soundtrack, and much more.
- Trailers From Hell with Josh Olson: A three-minute breakdown of the film from screenwriter Josh Olson who espouses the virtues of the feature, the importance of New York to the narrative, the performances and more.
- Image and Poster Gallery: A collection of marketing material and behind-the-scenes images are provided here.
- Radio Spots: A minute-long collection of radio spots are provided here.
- TV Spots: A 32-second TV Spot is provided here.
- Trailers: The two-and-a-half minute trailer for The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three is provided here. There are also trailers provided for Charley Varrick, The Laughing Policeman, Force 10 From Navarone, White Lightning, The Train, Breakheart Pass and Runaway Train.
Final Thoughts
The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three (1974) is a prime example of ‘70s filmmaking which mixes the pleasures of a daring caper with carefully crafted camerawork and memorable performances. The plot is not terribly complex, but it is riveting from beginning to end thanks to a finely tuned script which leaves little room for sagging storylines. Even when you have put all the pieces together and revisit the film, it is still just as exciting as the first time you watch it. Kino Classics has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a terrific A/V presentation and a decent array of supplemental features. If you are a fan of ‘70s crime dramas, this is one of the better ones out there. Recommended
The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three (1974) is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.