Review of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) by Graham B — 01 Jun 2013

Superb hijacking thriller. A simple plot, but very well executed. The script is sharp and witty and so the humour can sometimes distract from the tension.

I love the way that most of the cast is anonymous. The four hijackers adopting colour pseudonyms (an idea later stolen by Tarantino), but none of the hostages are named. The mother, the hooker, the wasp, the pimp, the homosexual! This is how they are identified in the credits.

The whole film is steeped in the 70s. The fashion, the soundtrack and dialogue so relentless with its racism and misogyny that it must be parodying itself.

It's a thrillingly well paced ride with a great ending.