“The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” (サブウェイ・パニック), Original Japanese Movie Poster, 1974 Film, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) P60

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster for The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (サブウェイ・パニック), the classic American crime thriller directed by Joseph Sargent and starring Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam, and Hector Elizondo.

Released in the 1970s under the highly effective Japanese title サブウェイ・パニック — “Subway Panic” — the film remains one of the definitive urban thrillers of the decade: tense, cynical, sharply edited, and driven by the claustrophobic terror of a hijacked New York subway train.

Film background
Based on the novel by John Godey, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three follows a group of armed criminals who seize a New York subway train and demand a ransom for the passengers. As the clock runs down, transit police lieutenant Zachary Garber must negotiate with the hijackers while the city authorities scramble to respond.

The film is now regarded as a classic of 1970s American suspense cinema, admired for its gritty New York atmosphere, dry humour, procedural realism, and superb performances — particularly Walter Matthau as the weary but sharp Garber and Robert Shaw as the coldly professional hijacker Mr. Blue.

Poster design
This Japanese B2 is a striking and highly dynamic campaign design. The central image is framed inside the tilted outline of a subway car, showing terrified passengers trapped in chaos as armed hijackers take control. The composition uses a dramatic orange transit-map line that cuts through the image, ending in circular markers, cleverly connecting the poster’s graphic language to the subway system itself.

At the top, the orange Japanese copy reads:

「地下鉄のハイジャックに始まり 白昼のニューヨークを襲った 凄まじい連続パニック!!」
“Beginning with a subway hijacking, a terrifying chain of panic strikes New York in broad daylight!”

Beneath the main artwork, the English title “THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE” is printed in a slanted type treatment, while the Japanese title サブウェイ・パニック dominates the lower right in large jagged red lettering. The design’s black background, sharp diagonals, and red-orange accents give the poster a strong sense of danger and urban urgency.

The lower section also notes the film’s 1974 San Sebastián Film Festival Director’s Award, alongside Japanese release credits and the United Artists mark.

Condition
Very Good / Excellent condition. Please review the photos carefully, as they show the exact poster for sale.

This is an original Japanese theatrical B2 poster.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

It is over 50 years old.

Certificate of Authenticity included.