Perhaps more famous now for the glossy remake or that it partially inspired Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs, this amiable thriller is more than worth a watch on its own merits, not least as it reminds us that there was a time when lead actors didn't have to look like fashion models. Robert Shaw plays Mr. Blue, the leader of a quartet of hijackers. The twist is that it's a not a plane they've hijacked but a New York Subway train. A British former mercenary, Blue runs the operation with ruthles effeciency, backed up by the psychotic Mr Grey (Hector Elizonda) and disgruntled former subway employee Mr Green (the great Martin Balsam). Dealing with the crisis falls to Transit Police Lt. Garber (Walter Matthau). Can the wily Garber stop Blue shooting the hostages while still working out how to catch him?
The back of the DVD box goes all out to convince the viewer that this is a film full of 'nail-biting action' that's 'gripping and exciting from beginning to end' but Pelham 123 is not your typical action film, being more concerned with character and possessing a rich seam of humour that makes it a surprisingly likeable film. While Shaw plays it totally straight, Balsam, with his constant sneezing and conflicted morals is very interesting while Elizonda's nutter is a blast. You can see elements of Tarantino's Mr Blond here, although, this being 1974, all ears remained attached. The hostages, while an obvious cross section (old, black, hooker, mother, etc) get some good lines too.
Meanwhile, the subway staff are brilliant, from the office supervisor who bemoans the fact he has to watch his swearing as there's now a female employee in the office, to the tetchy members of the main control room. Leading the line in tremendously laid back form is the marvelous Matthau. Clad in a multicolour check shirt with a bright yellow tie (and later sporting the world's worst hat), Garber is the most unlikely of heroes. Writer Peter Stone (based on a novel by John Godey) seems more content providing Matthau with one liners than forwarding the action and the veteran is brilliant here, be it dealing with the brutal Blue over the radio or with his own mutinous staff. The depiction of cowardly Mayor Al (Lee Wallace), in bed with the flu and desperate for others to sort things out, is also very funny. This being 1974, the film is full of non PC delights from the credits listing the black passenger as 'pimp', to the racism against the visiting Japanese underground officials (although there's a quite wonderful payoff which makes it worthwhile). Just remember, it was a different world back then!
Events move to a climax of sorts but even this is rather leisurely, with Matthau riding around in the back of Julius Harris's (Live and Let Die's Tee Hee) police car while the criminals change clothes in a tunnel! Shaw does get a memorable exit and the final shot with Matthau's priceless expression peering back around the last criminal's door just as said criminal thought he'd got away with it, justifies his casting alone. As well as this, the score, by David Shire, is just the kind of hard jazz bombast that movies should all have. Pelham 123 isn't a classic, but it's a satisfying view.
GK Rating: *** The Blog of Delights
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