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url: https://thedigitalbits.com/reviews/item/taking-of-pelham-one-two-three-1974-4k-uhd-2022 title: "Taking of Pelham One Two Three, The (1974) (4K UHD Review)" clipped: 2026-04-18 mode: full-page

status: processed

Taking of Pelham One Two Three, The (1974) (4K UHD Review)

URL: https://thedigitalbits.com/reviews/item/taking-of-pelham-one-two-three-1974-4k-uhd-2022
Reviewers: Tim Salmons (film), Bill Hunt (A/V), The Digital Bits, Dec 13, 2022

Clips

1. 4K scan quality — significant upgrade but not reference

"The result is impressive, offering a significant visual upgrade... this is not what one would call reference-quality."

Placed in: Physical Media Releases (The Taking of Pelham One Two Three) — after tunnel sequences section What changed: Added reviewer assessment setting honest expectations for the transfer

2. HDR reveals the earth-toned 1970s palette

"The muted and Earth-toned colors of 1970s attire and grimy subway stations exhibit a bit more nuance. The yellow of Walter Matthau's tie is richer looking."

Placed in: Physical Media Releases (The Taking of Pelham One Two Three) — same section What changed: Added specific HDR color observations; confirmed black crush is inherent in the negative

3. Matthau on a streak of crime thrillers

"Matthau was on a streak of great crime thrillers that included Charlie Varrick and The Laughing Policeman..."

Placed in: Walter Matthau — new section before tunnel section What changed: Added career context framing Garber as part of a sustained crime-thriller commitment

4. No backstory, all forward momentum

"Pelham doesn't bother wasting time with useless character backstory. Even the motivations of the four criminals are never really explored."

Placed in: Themes and Analysis (The Taking of Pelham One Two Three) — after Ebert quote What changed: Added Salmons's articulation of the film's structural discipline

5. Panaflex camera details

"Shot on 35 mm film... using Panavision Panaflex cameras with Panavision anamorphic lenses... finished photochemically at the 2.39:1 'scope' aspect ratio"

Placed in: Owen Roizman — opening paragraph What changed: Updated camera equipment from generic "anamorphic Panavision" to specific Panaflex identification

Notes

• Neither Hunt nor Salmons credit Roizman or Sargent with supervising the restoration. Unconfirmed section updated.