Pellham 123

Anyone ever see "The Taking of Pellham One Two Three"? Cool flick from 1974, starring Walter Matthau and Jerry Stiller as NY transit cops and Robert Shaw and Martin Balsam as subway hijackers (with "colorful" code names).

There was a definite influence on Tarantino from this film. Check it out (avoid the 1998 made-for-TV remake).

They re-made it? Criminal!

Yes, obviously a Tarantino inspiration, though only for the feel and bad guys- I doubt QT would ever cast an actor like Walter Matthau.

Yeah, I know what you mean. Matthau was more of a comic actor (though often with a deadpan "bulldog" presentation) who I never saw as one who could make the transition to more serious "noir"-type roles.

However, I could see Tarantino casting Robert Shaw...or maybe even Martin Balsam (if they weren't both dead, of course).