Last night we watched what is sure to be one of the movie highlights of the year: the original of "The Taking Of Pelham One, Two, Three," from 1974, starring Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw and a rich cast of familiar faces from the era. In addition to the wondrous scenes of the subway from the day, there are the fashions, the hairstyles, the ghastly attitudes about women (in particular, who had just recently been deemed of working for the Transit Authority: lots of hilarious) sexist blabber). Matthau is brilliant as the glib good guy, and Robert Shy ghoulish as the cool-as-ice bad dude.
But topping them all is New York City as a central character,
including one pivotal scene that takes place at 4th Avenue and 9th Street—the block where Billboard is based, which I calculate I have walked some 3,000 or more times. Riveting movie... I just can't imagine the new version being any better.You can watch the original movie legally, online here, at fancast.com.
8th Street at 4th Avenue... Astor Place. Kmart is now in the building to the left.
The heart of Astor Place/Cooper Union—before the beautiful canopy was restored at the 6 train/Astor Place stop.
The building to the left used to be the home of Astor Place Liquors. It now houses a Walgreens. And to the right, where it says Gourmet Treats... Starbucks. Welcome to America, y'all!
There's no parking lot at the corner of 9th and Fourth Avenue anymore. It's a low-rise building with a local dry cleaner and deli.
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