Joseph Sargent’s 1974 classic, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three , has long been celebrated as a quintessential New York thriller. Recently, it has received a definitive physical media upgrade, with releases from Kino Lorber Studio Classics in the U.S. (December 2022) and Arrow Video in the UK (June 2025). Both editions utilize a new 4K restoration from the original camera negative, offering a gritty, high-definition look at the 1970s subway system. Visual Restoration: Gritty but Gorgeous
If you are deciding between the two, the general consensus is that while the video and audio quality are a "coin flip" between the Kino Lorber and Arrow releases, due to its significantly deeper and more valuable library of special features and physical packaging.
Both releases are packed with supplemental material, much of it ported from earlier editions: Commentaries
Watch the masterclass in chemistry between Walter Matthau's comedic weariness and Robert Shaw's psychopathic precision in the highest possible quality. the taking of pelham 123 4k
The Grit Doesn’t Fade: Why The Taking of Pelham One Two Three Demands a 4K Restoration
Are you looking to the 4K disc, or are you more interested in the differences between the 1974 original and the 2009 remake?
This difference extends to their critical reception. The 1974 film is a certified classic, boasting a near-perfect . In contrast, the 2009 remake holds a middling 51% critics score , often cited as a prime example of "style over substance." Joseph Sargent’s 1974 classic, The Taking of Pelham
Evaluating the technical aspects of the 4K UHD release reveals where the format shines over legacy Blu-ray formats.
The 4K restoration is superior to the 2009 remake, which DoBlu suggests is a pale imitation of the 70s atmosphere.
For the uninitiated, The Taking of Pelham 123 follows a group of heavily armed, color-coded criminals led by the cold, calculating Mr. Blue (Robert Shaw). They hijack a New York City subway car, hold the passengers hostage, and demand $1 million from the city within precisely one hour. Every minute the ransom is late, they will execute a hostage. Both editions utilize a new 4K restoration from
Before we dive into the pixels and HDR, let's establish the legacy of the film that started it all. Joseph Sargent's 1974 adaptation of John Godey's novel is a quintessential New York crime film. The plot is deceptively simple: four armed men, led by the cold and calculating "Mr. Blue" (Robert Shaw), hijack a subway car and demand a $1 million ransom within one hour—or they will start executing the hostages. On the other side of the radio is the world-weary Transit Authority Lieutenant, Zachary Garber (the incomparable Walter Matthau), a man who has seen it all and is barely amused by this amateur-hour disruption to his afternoon.
The film's sound design is also noteworthy, with a immersive Dolby Atmos mix that puts the viewer in the midst of the action. The sound effects, from the screeching of the train's wheels to the gunfire and explosions, are vivid and realistic, making the viewing experience even more intense.
The primary reason to upgrade to The Taking of Pelham 123 on 4K UHD is the video presentation. Typically sourced from a native 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative, the format breathes new life into the cinematography of Owen Roizman ( The French Connection , The Exorcist ). Grain Structure and Detail
The 4K disc typically offers a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio track (often in both original mono and a remixed multi-channel format).