In this episode of Adapt or Perish, we discuss the many incarnations of the classic tale of criminal ingenuity and intractable bureaucracy that is The Taking of Pelham One Two Three!

For this episode, we read and watched:

• The original 1973 thriller, written by Morton Freedgood under the name “John Godey.” Read it on iBooks or Amazon.
• The classic 1974 movie, directed by Joseph Sargent, written by Peter Stone, and starring Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam, and Héctor Elizondo. Watch it on iTunes or Amazon.
• The 1998 TV movie, directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá, written by April Smith, and starring Edward James Olmos, Lorraine Bracco, Vincent D’Onofrio, Richard Schiff, and Donnie Wahlberg. There’s no real way to watch it other than getting an old DVD, but here’s a clip on YouTube.
• The 2009 theatrical remake, directed by Tony Scott, written by Brian Helgeland, and starring Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, James Gandolfini, and Luis Guzmán. Watch it on iTunes or Amazon.

Footnotes:

• The Adapt or Perish trilogy of “Books written by white dudes in the 70s who know a whole lot about one thing,” which includes The Godfather, Jaws, and now The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.
• The Wikipedia list of ethnic slurs
• r/menwritingwomen
• An example of David Shire’s score for the 1974 The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
• Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs
• Michael Ordoña’s take on the 2009 remake, from SFGate

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