The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
We are going to kill one passenger a minute until New York City pays us 1 million dollars.
Overview
In New York, armed men hijack a subway car and demand a ransom for the passengers. Even if it's paid, how could they get away?
Backdrop
Available Languages
English
US
Title:
"We are going to kill one passenger a minute until New York City pays us 1 million dollars."
Deutsch
DE
Title: Stoppt die Todesfahrt der U-Bahn 1-2-3
"Wir werden jede Minute einen Passagier töten, bis New York City uns 1 Million Dollar zahlt."
Español
ES
Title: Pelham 1, 2, 3
"Vamos a matar a un pasajero por minuto hasta que la ciudad de Nueva York nos pague 1 millón de dólares."
Italiano
IT
Title: Il colpo della metropolitana
"Uccideremo un passeggero al minuto finché la città di New York non ci pagherà 1 milione di dollari."
Français
FR
Title: Les pirates du métro
"Nous tuerons un passager par minute jusqu'à ce que la ville de New York nous verse un million de dollars."
Pусский
RU
Title: Захват поезда Пелэм 123
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Where to Watch
Cast
Crew
Reviews
Robert Shaw is great in this tensely presented heist thriller with a difference. Allied with Martin Balsam's "Green", Hector Elizondo as "Grey" and Earl Hindman's "Brown" they meticulously hijack a subway train and hold the city to ransom for $1 million. It falls to grizzled transit cop "Garber" (Walter Matthau) to try and second-guess their plans before they start killing one passenger per minute! What adds suspence to this mystery is their potential escape route? Stuck in well mapped and monitored tunnels fifty food beneath street level, how are they planning on getting their loot to Cuba? Joesph Sargent gets loads from an established cast of players here who develop the sense of peril and excitement well - especially the master of less-is-more that is Robert Shaw. It's good to see Matthau demonstrate he's not just about whacky comedy and as the plot reaches it's duplicitous, nerve-wracking denouement with even some space for a delicious irony at the end. The photography captures well the dark and claustrophobically dingy subterranean environment as well as the increasingly frenetic command centre where "Garber" is being wound up by track manager "Correll" (Dick O'Neill) whilst facing increasingly pressure from the hapless mayor (Lee Wallace). Pay them or have your electorate slaughtered? What would you do...?
Oscar Awards
Wins
Haven't Won A Oscar
Nominations
Haven't Nominated for Oscar
Media
Trailer
Original Trailer
Clip
Out Of Time
Clip
The Passengers Learn They're Captives