The New York Subway in the Movies

New York City Subway

As someone who regularly rides the subways of New York City, I am intrigued by a new movie montage video by Jonathan Hertzberg. Hertzberg put together a collection of film clips that feature the New York City subway system of the 1970s and 1980s.

Featured films include The French Connection (1971), Little Murders (1971), Nighthawks (1981), Saturday Night Fever (1977), The Warriors (1979), The Last Detail (1973), Serpico (1973), Bananas (1971), Death Wish (1974), Night Shift (1982), The Brother From Another Planet (1984), and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (the 1974 original, not the 2009 remake). Hertzberg does a great job of putting together the clips in the way that makes it seem like one movie with Charles Bronson and Woody Allen on the same subway car. Check it out.


Slate writes a little more about the video, noting that it is a work in progress and Hertzberg will be adding other films.

What is your favorite New York Subway scene in a movie? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Author: chimesfreedom

    Editor-in-chief, New York.

    2 thoughts on “The New York Subway in the Movies”

    1. There’s a slide ride in front if the Stillwell Ave train. Is this pic real. I don’t remember a slide like that at Coney Island. NY. Was this train setting used for movies? Thk u.

      1. The image comes from around the 1:56 mark in the posted video. While it is not clear which movie it comes from (even though it is right after scenes from “The French Connection”), it does appear to be a real video of the subway stop. Doing a little research, I found that there was a blue slide at Coney Island near the subway stop in the 1970s. It was called the Sky Rapids. You can see it in this photo: Hope that helps and thanks for the comment!

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