The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three, 1974 (Grade B+)

Director: Joseph Sargent
Awards: BAFTA Best Supporting Actor; & AFI top 100 Thrillers
Cast: Walter Matthau; Beatrice Winde; Robert Shaw; Martin Balsam; Hector Elizondo; Earl Hindman, James Broderick

sez says: we just watched this back-to-back with the 2009 remake--this is by far a superior movie-(the other, newer version being near trash--all crash and gore and wild unrealistic car crashes and violence--the other has some good actor but the whole is NOT equal to the sum of its parts)  This version, for me, is wonderful not becasue it is a thriller -- but it is wonderful becasue of  the script!  What a great bunch of banter, well delivered!   And a wonderful portrayal of New Yorkers--from the mayor who provided wonderful comic relief--to the cops driving the money to the supervisor who marches into the tunnels to find out what, exactly in going on and to set things straight. And that doesn't even touch the wonderful script given to the main characters. This is a classic. (Grade B+)