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IMDb > The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1998) (TV)

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1998) (TV) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
5.0/10   437 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 56% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Writers (WGA):
John Godey (novel)
Peter Stone (earlier screenplay)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Taking of Pelham One Two Three on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 February 1998 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama | Thriller more
Plot:
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? full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
1 win & 1 nomination more
User Comments:
Tepid TV remake of the '74 classic more

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
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Additional Details

Runtime:
100 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Colour:
Colour
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Stereo
Certification:
Netherlands:16 (video premiere) | Portugal:M/12
Company:
MGM Television more

Fun Stuff

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. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Toronto trains show a two-digit "run number" in lighted numerals at the base of the driving cab window. (It identifies the train, like "Pelham 123" in the movie.) The run number at the front of the detached car is usually 31, but 07 when it is an H-6. At the rear, the run number is usually 22, but 27 just after the train has been divided. more
Movie Connections:
Version of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
8 out of 10 people found the following comment useful:-
Tepid TV remake of the '74 classic, 5 March 2006
5/10
Author: alvin81 from Phoenixville, PA USA

Based on the 1974 classic of the same name, this TV version looks very much like a regular TV show, spread out over two hours instead of one. This remake does indeed suffer from modest budgets, a less than sterling cast. Vincent d'Onofrios, stepping into Robert Shaw's "Mr. Blue" ringleader role, seems bored, wooden, and unaffected by the entire scenario. Likewise, Edward James Olmos (filling Matthau's shoes) is equally as bored and wooden as d'Onofrios. Poor Brooklynite Lorraine Bracco is reduced to a supporting role (formerly played by Jerry Stiller) that does not make use of her endless talents.

What is most irking is the fact that the NYC-based flick was filmed in Toronto, Ontario. Exterior shots, subway stations, and particularly subway equipment looks nothing like the grimy, intimidating system that is New York's. New York's transit system is as much a celebrity as the city it holds together. Few cities in the world can be quickly identified by their form of subway transport as New York's. One big demerit for the producers on this one (no fault of Toronto, either—it is a marvelous city, to be sure).

With the one exception of an emotional relationship established by highjacker "Brown" (Tara Rosling) and her 'angel of mercy' female conductor "Babs Cardoza" (Babs Cardoza), all other subplots among the hijackers and characters were not developed. The deliciously menacing "Mr. Grey" character, played to perfection in the original by Hector Elizondo, was reduced to an angry, almost juvenile person by Donnie Wahlberg.

The overall feeling is choppy and suspenseless. One gets the feeling the original movie was being watched closely during filming, with the director causally removing chunks of original script.

Even though TV movies are in an entirely different category than those produced in Hollywood, there is no reason for quality scripts to go M.I.A. TV budgets may be limiting, but the believability in the characters need not suffer.

Stick with the original. Watch this remake to satiate the curiosity factor only.

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Ending? awmiller
This just annoyed me about the movie Mad-D
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1998 Version) michael-larsen-1
Ending (contains spoiler) laungent
Showing on Movies 24 in UK in Aug/Sept 06 ffinisterre
This is on UK TV 1st August techiebelle
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