The Taking Of Pelham 123 Details

Gerald Greenberg and Robert Q Lovett are the “stars” of this tough and compelling thriller about the hijacking of a New York subway train. They are the film editors whose superb sense of rhythm and pace brings real tension to the radio exchanges between villain Robert Shaw and transport cop Walter Matthau, who tries to prevent Shaw and his gang from killing hostages while waiting for the payment of a $1-million ransom. Frankly, the motley collection of clichéd passengers doesn't deserve to be rescued, but, fortunately, director Joseph Sargent keeps the focus firmly on his leads. Shaw is admirably fanatical, and the world-weary, wisecracking Matthau is magnificent.

Entertaining crime caper made less enjoyable by all the fashionable faults Ð the script is deliberately hard to follow and full of four letter words, the sound track hard to hear, and the visuals ugly.