Calling a halt

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
15, Nationwide

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 is a remake of the 1974 film which starred Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw — remember the ending; the sneeze and the gesundheit? — and I don’t know how this remake got off the ground exactly, but I’m imagining the initial meeting went something like this:

Film Executive #1: ‘Let’s remake The Taking of Pelham One Two Three but do it dumber.’