The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (TV 1998)

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?

Director:

Félix Enríquez Alcalá

Writers:

John Godey (novel), Peter Stone (earlier screenplay),

Stars:

Edward James Olmos, Vincent D'Onofrio, Donnie Wahlberg

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Edward James Olmos	...	Det. Anthony Piscotti
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Mr. Blue
Donnie Wahlberg	...	Mr. Grey
Richard Schiff	...	Mr. Green
Lisa Vidal	...	Babs Cardoza
Tara Rosling	...	Mr. Brown
Kenneth Welsh	...	Caz Hollowitz
Lorraine Bracco	...	Det. Ray
Ben Cook	...	Older boy on subway
Bobby Boriello	...	Younger boy on subway
Bobby O'neill	...	Homeboy on subway (as Black Katt)
Ingrid Veninger	...	Graduate student on subway
Alisa Wiegers	...	Office worker ["Shaky"]
Peter Boretski	...	Old man on subway
Stuart Clow	...	Jogger

Storyline

Four hijackers led by Vincent D'onofrio seize a subway train in the middle of a tunnel and hold 14 hostages for a $5 million ransom. Edward James Olmos and Lorraine Bracco are the officers assigned to work out the release of the passengers. However, even the murder of some passengers are met with an apparent calm by everyone involved. The murder of a subway supervisor prompts everyone to shake their heads and go on about their business.

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Plot Keywords:

subway | hostage | hijack | railway | electric railway | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 February 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Pelham 123. járat megállítása

Filming Locations:

Disused lower platform, Bay subway station, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

MGM Television, Trilogy Entertainment Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot in Toronto's TTC subway system, mainly using the system's only abandoned station platform and two of a class of older cars being retired by the TTC. The two cars were shipped by road to the scrapyard the day after filming ended, still disguised as New York cars.

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Goofs

When the train is coming to a stop in the tunnel the first time, the bright lower headlights are off.

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Connections

Remake of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

User Reviews

More intriguing than the original

Popular opinion seems to favor the original 1974 version, but I came at it from a different angle. I'd never seen the original. I just happened to catch the TV version one evening -- curiously enough, while in Costa Rica (and with Spanish subtitles). The story unfolded well enough that it kept me hanging all the way and I was aggravated that due to business I *had* to leave just as the train was making its final run.

I sought out the film immediately upon return to the U.S. and was astonished to see the Matthau/Shaw et al. cast. Though some cite Matthau's occasional humor as a plus, for me it detracted from the grimness; it throws the story off balance (except for providing a context for the final freeze-frame). The TV version is darker, more menacing, more suitable to how I experienced the story. And, frankly, the dated soundtrack just irks me; Copeland's fits better. Opinions, opinions.