I could have interpreted in many ways but I took it literally and went the subway route...nyuck, nyuck. I missed last week because I had Nadda but I am back on track and am writing here and my A to Z challenge which is also about movies. Check out Wandering Through The Shelves to find out how the others interpreted this week’s theme. Here are my 3...
1. THE INCIDENT-1967
This is quite an engaging thriller which speaks about people’s characters and that not much has changed in 51 years. You have a couple with a young child, an older couple, a young man who is homosexual, a couple of soldiers, an African American couple and so on, who all board a subway unbeknownst that 2 hooligans will board a train and cause much havoc and fear. You watch dumbfounded yet riveted by the action and, all I can say, is the ending makes you just shake your head considering the police of today.
2. SHORT WALK TO DAYLIGHT-1972
I couldn’t remember the title of this TV movie and had to search for it for an hour because I haven’t seen it since the 1970’s. I really want to see this again because I found it scary since it takes place underground after, I think, an earthquake but I seem to recall a bomb also. James Brolin heads the cast of people on a subway car that must find a way out. I remember being freaked out by the people trying to stay away from one rail or they would be electrocuted. It was tense and well done from what I can remember.
3. TAKING OF PELHAM, ONE, TWO, THREE-1974
Screw the remake even if Denzel Washington stars in it because it is not as well done as the original. This film is very tense with the great Robert Shaw as the non emotional head of a robbery gang who take hostages on a subway demanding money. Walter Matthau plays a Transit Authority Policeman who talks to Shaw hoping to keep the hostages alive. I love this film because it’s gritty, dirty and the people are not beautiful but average. The hostage takers are not young thugs but middle aged men. A great film worth seeing and the music is excellent in creating tension.
What underground films would you choose?
This is how I took this week as well, but I was so afraid I was taking it too literally lol. I haven't seen any of your picks.
ReplyDeleteI figured you didn’t see these
DeleteI'll go literal with your subway angle and some movies that had scenes in subways - Mimic, Cloverfield, and Dire hard III.
ReplyDeleteI think I remember watching the original Taking of Pelham.
I have seen some of your choices at other posts. Good choices
DeleteHaven't seen or even heard of the first two. Underground? I first thought of Journey to the Center of the Earth.
ReplyDeleteLove that film and it’s is popular but I chose it earlier
DeleteI haven't seen any of these but The Incident sounds pretty good.
ReplyDeleteIt is good but intense
DeleteBirgit,
ReplyDeleteWe want to see the original "The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three". This flick appeared on a list DH came across in December of the best 100 films ever made and we tried to find it to stream but neither Netflix or Amazon Prime had it. I'm sure buying was an option but chances are it was more than we wanted to pay, so we must wait. Thanks for the excellent movie picks and for visiting yesterday's A2Z post.
Curious as a Cathy
A2Z Creating iPad Art Sketches "E" - Eyes
Hope you see it
DeleteHi Birgit...only seen the last one in your picks which I loved...hope you had a good easter...it snowed here,just when we thought spring was round the corner...xxxx
ReplyDeleteOh it is so nice to see you my faithful card making friend! I hope to post some cards soon
DeleteI didn't hate the remake of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, but I agree it's easily inferior to the original. Haven't heard of your other two picks. The first sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite good
DeleteI liked The Incident though it's very dark but what a cast! To see Martin Sheen as a thug now seems so strange but he had that whole brooding, dangerous thing going on when he was young. A nice change of pace role for Thelma Ritter as well.
ReplyDeleteI remember Short Walk to Daylight vaguely. It wasn't bad but hemmed in by it's TV budget. I was devoted to those Movies of the Week.
You last is my favorite of the three. I LOVE The Taking of Pelham One Two Three and in fact just rewatched it a couple days ago. It captures the feeling of 70's Manhattan so well and again what an amazing cast all of whom feel organic to the setting, not at all like actors playing roles. And yes its far superior to the remake. It was the first I thought of for the week but I've used it before.
Not being able to use Pelham I had trouble coming up with films set entirely underground but my three spend the majority of time there.
Transatlantic Tunnel (1935)-Engineer Richard "Mack" McAllan (Richard Dix) proposes the building of a tunnel to connect England and the United States though revolutionary new technology. The film follows the many years and problems encountered as the realization of the project progresses. Futuristic early sci-fi posits the construction of an undersea tunnel linking England with the United States was one of the first film allegories to attempt to strengthen the US/UK bond as the dark clouds of war began to waft through Europe. Though little known today this was a high profile project at the time with two of the most esteemed actors in film, Walter Huston and George Arliss, as the President of the United States and Prime Minister respectively.
Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)-Sir Oliver Lindenbrook, a Scottish geologist (James Mason) and his assistant Alec McEwan (Pat Boone!) set off on an expedition to the center of the earth after finding directions in an inscription hidden in volcanic rock. Along the way to an Iceland volcano to begin their journey Carla Göteborg (Arlene Dahl) the widow of a famous scientist, Icelander Hans Bjelke (Peter Ronson) and his pet duck Gertrud join their party. On their way they encounter, treacherous terrain, subterranean oceans, prehistoric monsters and rival scientist Count Saknussemm (Thayer David) who is on their trail. The sets and effects are very dated by today’s standards but still a fun adventure.
Daylight (1996)-When robbers fleeing police collide with trucks carrying toxic waste inside New York’s Holland Tunnel a fireball results collapsing both ends and trapping a disparate group of survivors who turn to the disgraced former chief of Emergency Services Kit Latura (Sylvester Stallone) now working as a cab driver and trapped with them “the only man capable of saving the day!” Typical Stallone nonsense but vigorous and actiony if undemanding.
I love Journey and would have picked it this week but I already used it before. I haven’t seen the first one but want to! The last is quite good and I enjoyed it as a typical Stallone flick
DeleteMovies about mining and spelunking come to mind--there have been several about both topics. Movies taking place in subways is a good choice too.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Oh yes...13 is actually a good film about the miners...wait I have that title totally wrong...36...
DeleteI haven't seen any of these
ReplyDeleteMaybe one day...
DeleteIf the original version of Taking is better than the Denzel version it must be good.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day, Birgit.
It is and I love Denzel!
DeleteBefore I even had the chance to scroll down I thought "She's GOT to have The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. An incredibly intense film. I own it on DVD and watched it again a few months ago. The final scene, with that priceless look on Matthau's face? How many actors could have done that without needing some clever line to bolster them?
ReplyDeleteI did like the remake with Denzel Washington, but I still prefer the original. (By the way, what's up with all the remakes Denzel's been involved in? Pelham, Magnificent Seven, Manchurian Candidate...???)
It’s great!! You’re right and forgot Equalizer
DeleteHmmm... Off the top of my mind, I can't think of too many subway movies. Or ANY, for that matter.
ReplyDeleteBut one movie that does have a memorable subway scene which I like is the original 'DEATH WISH' with Charles Bronson. (It's really bad news for the bad guys when the good guys get outraged and start fighting back!)
Also, "underground" in the other sense (i.e., Non-Mainstream), a movie I enjoyed which just came to mind recently was 'THE POSTMAN'.
~ D-FensDogG
STMcC Presents 'Battle Of The Bands'
I almost used Death Wish...good movie with an actor my mom loved and so do I
DeleteOnce again, you've shown us gems I'd never seen or even heard of. And yes, screw any remake that's worse than the original - even if -sigh- Denzel stars in it.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy.
The original is great
DeleteOnly one I am familiar with is the Pelham one. Not sure I ever saw it though.
ReplyDeleteOne day...maybe:)
DeleteThe original Pelham was great indeed.
ReplyDeleteDaylight is another one that takes place in a subway that goes boom.
Daylight is a good movie
DeleteI have not seen any of those. Underground, eh? I would have no idea where to start.
ReplyDeleteI almost went with the Underground Railroad pictures
DeleteI've only seen the third one.
ReplyDeleteOf course, you could have picked Subway, with Christopher Lambert and Isabelle Adjani. But that might have been too on the nose.
I'll take the Mafia, as in the criminal underground:
Godfather II
Casino
Goodfellas
I have not seen Subway! Love your great pics for this theme even if I can’t stand Goodfellas
DeleteThe James Brolin movie sounds vaguely familiar. I think of him wearing a turtleneck. haha. I like your interpretation of underground movies. :-)
ReplyDeleteYeah...you saw it!
Delete