The Incident (1967)

Late one night, two young toughs hold hostage the passengers in one car of a New York subway train.

Director:

Larry Peerce

Writer:

Nicholas E. Baehr (story)

Stars:

Victor Arnold, Robert Bannard, Beau Bridges

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Victor Arnold	...	Tony Goya
Robert Bannard	...	Pfc. Phillip Carmatti
Beau Bridges	...	Pfc. Felix Teflinger
Ruby Dee	...	Joan Robinson
Robert Fields	...	Kenneth Otis
Jack Gilford	...	Sam Beckerman
Mike Kellin	...	Harry Purvis
Ed McMahon	...	Bill Wilks
Gary Merrill	...	Douglas McCann
Donna Mills	...	Alice Keenan
Tony Musante	...	Joe Ferrone
Brock Peters	...	Arnold Robinson
Thelma Ritter	...	Bertha Beckerman
Martin Sheen	...	Artie Connors
Jan Sterling	...	Muriel Purvis

Storyline

Stark melodrama about two thrill seeking tough guys who terrorize late-night passengers on a New York City train. The random victims are more concerned with their own problems than helping each other and pray that they won't be next. But it's going to take a lot more than prayer to end this nightmare of fear and violence. Film debut of both Martin Sheen and Tony Musante as the hoodlums.

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Plot Keywords:

train | passenger | new york city | subway | city | 

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Taglines:

At 1:55 a.m. Joe Ferrone and Artie Connors went looking for kicks. They found it 7 minutes later in "The Incident."

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 January 1968 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

El incidente

Filming Locations:

3rd Avenue, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Moned Associated

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The outdoor scenes of the El train were filmed on and around the Bronx section of the Third Ave El, which closed in early 1973 and was torn down shortly after .

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Quotes

Pfc. Felix Teflinger: Where were you buddy?

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Connections

Referenced in Bananas (1971)

User Reviews

Staggering, truthful

What's great about The Incident is how its strips bare so many pretenses, tears away the social order, and lets the chips fall where they may. The subway car where the meat of the action takes place might as well be the jungle--a merciless, survival of the fittest kind of place. The two thugs are the embodiment of the civilized man's worst nightmare. Strong, aggressive, amoral males with a thirst for blood and domination. The frail bonds of society--that keep the strong from throttling the weak--are gone. No police, no laws, no manners, and, most of all, no honor. Stripped to its essence, true nature reveals itself: the sex-starved woman who wants a domineering macho man; the slick, handsome guy who had no true feelings for his pretty date, just for himself; the soldier whose uniform hides his cowardice; the list goes on and on.

This is a great film. Inspired, gripping, and razor-like in its insight. Sure, it isn't perfect. But it's says something important in an incredibly powerful way. If you don't see yourself in it, or some part of you, you're probably deluding yourself--especially these folks who say, "I would have taken care of these thugs!" Maybe these, but at some point that bravado falls away.