In a directorial career spanning more than four decades, Joseph Sargent has mainly worked in television – from classic 1960s series such as The Fugitive, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and Star Trek to a long string of television movies ranging from The Karen Carpenter Story to A Lesson Before Dying. When he ventured into big screen productions, they were mainly forgettable, such as would-be star Susan Anton’s 1979 bomb, Goldengirl and Jaws 4 – generally considered one of the worst movies of all time.
Whatever success Sargent has missed in the rest of his movie-making career, he found for at least one production – The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. This movie is smart, tense, funny and exciting, and it gets right down to business. The opening scene doesn’t mess around with character development. We step straight into a New York City subway car with four moustachioed men carrying boxes – Mr. Blue (Robert Shaw), Mr. Green (Martin Balsam), Mr. Grey (Hector Elizondo) and Mr. Brown (Earl Hindman). And before we know it, we’re in the middle of a hostage taking. It might seem that there’s no escape from a subway, but these guys have chosen to hijack a subway car and demand a million dollars to free the 18 people on board.
Lieutenant Zachary Garber (Walter Matthau) is the subway cop whose job it is to negotiate with Mr. Blue, who is a shrewd and calculating fellow. The mayor is in bed with the flu, but he’s dragged out to make a decision, and before long, the million is on its harrowing way through the streets of Manhattan on the way to be exchanged for the hostages. Needless to say, there are a few wrinkles along the way, as the hostage takers try to pull off their escape and Garber and company try to nab them.
This is a great 1970s crime-thriller, and it’s also really funny. It’s the details and the smart, street-wise dialogue that makes it entertaining. In the ‘70s, it wasn’t yet cool to be cynical, but this film really is. For example, as the mayor contemplates his decision, an aide suggests, “A million seems like a lot of money, but just think of what we’ll get in return.”
Another aide replies, “What’s that?”
“Eighteen sure votes,” she replies.
The gang of bad guys is an interesting bunch. In addition to the calculating Mr. Blue, whose previous job was as a mercenary, there’s the discredited former subway driver, Mr. Green, who’s steady but in over his head. Mr. Brown is about as bland as his name implies, but Mr. Grey is anything but colourless. This guy is an untrustworthy hot-head who’s more than happy to kill a hostage or two.
Matthau is perfect as the cool-headed and sardonic Garber, who handles the hostage taking like just another day on the job. Shaw is also superb as the icy Mr. Blue, who fills out a crossword puzzle while awaiting word from the authorities in the midst of the hostage taking.
