tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post1043672465074448813..comments2024-02-10T04:53:42.121-05:00Comments on Tales of the Easily Distracted: The Taking of Pelham 123: Armed and Dangerous Strangers on a TrainDorianTBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-75525128139647995342013-09-20T12:05:31.023-04:002013-09-20T12:05:31.023-04:00Thanks so much for your kind kudos for my PELHAM ...Thanks so much for your kind kudos for my PELHAM 123 post, Jill! I also want to applaud you and Michael for doing such a great job on the SUMMER UNDER THE STARS BLOGATHON, as always; heck, it wouldn't be summer without you! While I haven't gotten around to seeing the 2009 version, I nevertheless agree with you that the 1974 version will always be the champ! :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-25249378034282835232013-09-20T02:12:16.709-04:002013-09-20T02:12:16.709-04:00Dorian,
What a great piece! I really enjoyed you...Dorian, <br /><br />What a great piece! I really enjoyed your anecdotes about growing up in the city. I've only seen the original film and not the remake. I'd like to keep it that way. ;) <br /><br />Thanks for a wonderful contribution to the blogathon. Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04700390138336575888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-29773027931092726582013-09-11T14:46:36.076-04:002013-09-11T14:46:36.076-04:00Yvette, we're so glad to have you back where y...Yvette, we're so glad to have you back where you belong, writing your own swell movie blog posts over at "...in so many words," and now commenting ever so kindly on my TotED post here on THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123! True, PELHAM 123 is more rough-and-tumble than the late great Peter Stone's usual suave style, but it just goes to show Stone was versatile! :-) And by all means, count me into the Doris Roberts Fan Club, too! Beaucoup thanks for your kind comments, my friend! :-DDorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-24734964862315911862013-09-11T13:33:54.876-04:002013-09-11T13:33:54.876-04:00Honestly Dorian, I don't remember ever seeing ...Honestly Dorian, I don't remember ever seeing this movie. I love Walter Matthau and I'm happy he got an Oscar. Back then I wasn't as leery of movie violence and bad behavior as I am today. I had the tolerance of youth! Ha. I might not be able to enjoy the film now. But I did enjoy reading your fabulous post - as usual. I LOVE DORIS ROBERTS! Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-285239150803145972013-09-01T13:07:36.805-04:002013-09-01T13:07:36.805-04:00John, we're glad to have you joining the PELHA...John, we're glad to have you joining the PELHAM 123 conversation, especially since you were a New Yorker yourself! Since I posted PELHAM 123, you've got me wanting to catch up again with John Godey's original novel; I'm almost tempted to track the book down and read it on the subway the next time Team Bartilucci visits NYC, just to see if any straphangers might notice! :-) Thanks for your positive comments, and I hope you and Dorothy are having a fine Labor Day Weekend!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-37749898906297031392013-09-01T10:23:44.014-04:002013-09-01T10:23:44.014-04:00Dorian, Yes, this is a great film and a much gritt...Dorian, Yes, this is a great film and a much grittier look a NYC than the remake. Nothing against the Washington &Travolta remake but in comparison, it's just okay at best. I pretty much agree with Michael W's comments above. The book which I remember reading on the subway while going to and from work might have made the read a little more chilling (LOL). Loved you reminiscing! John/24Frameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14719659042858962026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-10275033271100482792013-09-01T10:22:28.677-04:002013-09-01T10:22:28.677-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.John/24Frameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14719659042858962026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-65533501488548763252013-08-28T12:54:31.582-04:002013-08-28T12:54:31.582-04:00Caftan Woman, I'm delighted that you enjoyed P...Caftan Woman, I'm delighted that you enjoyed PELHAM 123 too, and that you too get a kick out of Our Man Matthau, especially that delightfully iconic final image! You make a good point about the comparisons to BARNEY MILLER, also a favorite show of mine back in the day. I'd be curious to hear about your personal experiences in NYC, if you want to share!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-64413725964334402942013-08-28T09:28:15.373-04:002013-08-28T09:28:15.373-04:00That final shot of Matthau (gasundheit) tickles me...That final shot of Matthau (gasundheit) tickles me no end. "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" still works perfectly and is particularly scary for this lifestyle transit user.<br /><br />My personal experiences in NYC didn't occur until later in that decade, but watching the movie always puts me in mind of "Barney Miller". For a show that rarely moved outside its precinct set, it really captures that same atmosphere.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-50596988401404824212013-08-27T22:18:13.310-04:002013-08-27T22:18:13.310-04:00Michael, I had to smile when you commented: "...Michael, I had to smile when you commented: "Please don't take this the wrong way, Dorian, but I always felt the NYC you grew up with was a lot more interesting...." Well, as you and other pals have commented, quite a few of us have been nostalgic for the, shall we say, more outlaw-style 1970s NYC. Personally, I think if you have an opportunity to visit NYC, you'll find there's actually a decent balance between squeaky-clean good clean fun, and fun of a more naughty bent. Get started with a subscription to TIME OUT NEW YORK, and see if that gets you where you want to go -- couldn't hurt! :-)<br /><br />Anyway, my friend, I'm glad you enjoyed my PELHAM 123 comments and memories, especially: "No gun battles [maybe Matthau learned his lesson while chasing Audrey Hepburn in Paris (in CHARADE]... no explosions . . . just a deliciously hound-dog look back at Martin Balsam. Yummy!" We couldn't agree more, Michael! You've also reminded me that I've been meaning to get ahold of John Godey's novel. That "Piggy, Piggy, Piggy" bit is worth the price of admission itself, so to speak! :-D So glad to catch up with you -- you're always welcome at TotED!<br />DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-78236904223303475652013-08-27T21:38:23.180-04:002013-08-27T21:38:23.180-04:00Ruth, I'm tickled to hear you enjoyed my PELHA...Ruth, I'm tickled to hear you enjoyed my PELHAM 123 review and my memories of growing up in various parts of The Big Apple -- thanks, my friend! I think you'd really enjoy the film; Peter Stone was The Man here at Team Bartilucci HQ! This is also one of my favorite Walter Matthau roles; he makes loud ties look good! :-DDorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-84213620514452624232013-08-27T18:02:25.053-04:002013-08-27T18:02:25.053-04:00"The NYC of the early 1960s and 1970s was pre..."The NYC of the early 1960s and 1970s was pretty much the one I grew up with, the one that hadn’t yet found its smile—crime, strikes, pimps, and hookers at Times Square."<br /><br />Please don't take this the wrong way, Dorian, but I always felt the NYC you grew up with was a lot more interesting. Perhaps if I had to dodge cars driven by Gene Hackman or Roy Scheider, or witness Laurence Harvey playing a game of solitaire, or even (hey!) been hijacked while in a subway my opinion would be different. Here I have to confess that, when I partook of the subway back during my NYC visit in the early 80s, I was checking out my fellow passengers for dramatic potential (and you don't even want to know what was running through my mind years later, when I was on the London Underground).<br /><br />It goes without saying that Child Bride and I also very much prefer the Sargent version of "Pelham". And giving additional respect to the likes of Washington, Travolta, etc., the original film gave us gritty and more easily simpatico characters. I suspect real NY transit cops are closer to Walter Matthau and Jerry Stiller than the actors used in the later versions. <br /><br />Besides, who else but Matthau could've given us that absolutely primo denouement which wraps up the film? No gun battles (maybe he learned his lesson while chasing Audrey Hepburn in Paris), no explosions . . . just a deliciously hound-dog look back at Martin Balsam. Yummy!<br /><br />(And Robert Shaw's end, while perhaps not cinematically explosive, still rates a severe wince from me.)<br /><br />A word more about Godey's novel: the character of the undercover policeman gets a much larger role in the book than he did in the movie. There's a small subplot regarding his girlfriend who hates him for being a "pig" (and yet, while recuperating the hospital, she shows up and throws herself on him, sobbing "Piggy, Piggy, Piggy . . .").<br /><br />Giuliani may have cleaned up the city, but in doing so he made New York a lot less interesting as a place to film crime dramas. Oh well . . . win some, lose some.Michael Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11808166630399508232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-5580824860589803042013-08-27T17:36:45.065-04:002013-08-27T17:36:45.065-04:00Dor, I've never had any interest in this film ...Dor, I've never had any interest in this film until I read your excellent review. With interesting characters, suspense and Walter Matthau's yellow tie, what's not to like! I'm really keen to see it now.<br /><br />Also, thanks for sharing your memories of growing up in NYC. They made for wonderful reading. I feel like we all know you a bit better now. :)Silver Screeningshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955048716754142299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-22500100219869400622013-08-27T15:37:59.381-04:002013-08-27T15:37:59.381-04:00Thanks for your positive feedback, Sean! In your ...Thanks for your positive feedback, Sean! In your parents' defense, I can understand how they might have been leery of having you venturing around NYC back in its wilder days. Once I became a parent myself, I became a little more sympathetic about such things to a degree, though not a "helicopter parent," I hope! ;-) I'm glad you enjoyed my anecdotes from my own NYC days, too!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-10522892961227083442013-08-27T15:21:22.857-04:002013-08-27T15:21:22.857-04:00Don't worry, Rich, I understand where you'...Don't worry, Rich, I understand where you're coming from when it comes to NYC in the '70s, being my hometown and all. :-) I don't think the city will ever completely lose its scrappiness, especially considering that so many people come from so many places to make it their home, for better or for worse or a little of both! :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-55575251903610697112013-08-27T14:40:33.795-04:002013-08-27T14:40:33.795-04:00Very nice write-up, Dorian! Not having been in New...Very nice write-up, Dorian! Not having been in New York during that time (we lived in New Jersey, but we visited Manhattan from time to time; however, given how overprotective my parents were, we tended to stay away from the more crime-ridden neighborhoods), I liked all the anecdotes about the city at that time. And you go deeper into the supporting characters than I did. Like you, I don't like the 1998 made-for-TV version (and having seen the 2009 version, I can say you're not missing much), and no version (or rip-off) has measured up to this version.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-30861304895557690302013-08-27T13:47:00.378-04:002013-08-27T13:47:00.378-04:00I came up in NYC a little bit after you did, Dor, ...I came up in NYC a little bit after you did, Dor, but I still have vague memories about the New York embodied in films like this, and it's something I've talked about in my blog. <br /><br />Looking at how different the city is now - and the difference is like night and day, almost - there's much that's better now, no question. At the same time, though, there's something about the rough edges, the scrappiness, the attitude, that's inherently part of New York's personality, and it's something that 'Pelham' captures perfectly, especially with the smaller characters, like the subway passengers. <br /><br />It's something that transcends race and gender and even class, to a certain degree, and it's something that I believe New York is losing, if not already lost, now that Times Square has been Disney-fied.<br /><br />Maybe it's something that only a native New Yorker can truly understand, but when I look at 'Pelham' now, it seems like it comes from a different world. Like I said, I'm glad that the city is cleaner and safer, but it shouldn't have to be at the expense of our distinctiveness, that which makes us unique. Maybe that's part of why I've grown more disillusioned with the city in recent years.<br /><br />Don't mean to bring you down, but as a fellow native New Yorker, I know you get where I'm coming from.Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11376065182154885503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-17769814862449222272013-08-27T13:11:56.651-04:002013-08-27T13:11:56.651-04:00Kristina, my friend, I'm thrilled that you'...Kristina, my friend, I'm thrilled that you're a fan of the original PELHAM 123, too! Ah, the days when "one meeeelion dollars" was considered a king's ransom; you had me laughing out loud! :-D Thanks for your generous praise of PELHAM 123; I love these blasts from the past, too!<br /><br />By the way, coming up sometime soon from Team Bartilucci: a delicious Robert Morley double-feature of WHO IS KILLING THE GREAT CHEFS OF EUROPE and HOT MILLIONS!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-80170035763833874562013-08-27T12:25:08.818-04:002013-08-27T12:25:08.818-04:00Love this movie, What. A. Cast! I remember when I ...Love this movie, What. A. Cast! I remember when I watched this, chuckling at the one meeeelion dollar demand. Wouldn't cover a nice NYC condo nowadays, and dven then only bought 18 sure votes. Nice bio details about you and your fam, about the cast and Shire, and I never paid enough attention to the credits to even notice the same screenwriter Stone penned all these cool films. Just recently got Who is Killing the Great Chefs, looking forward to watching it more now that I know. Fun read, thanks for it! Kristinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11659951781597698530noreply@blogger.com