Trivia: Stars Paul Newman and Steve McQueen apparently argued intensely over who should get top billing. In the end the producers settled for a compromise: reading the film poster (which is reproduced as the DVD cover) top to bottom, Paul Newman is first, i.e. higher, or "top" billing. But reading left to right, Steve McQueen is first. The same applies to their photographs either side of the main artwork, McQueen on the left but Newman (marginally) higher up. Ironically, this billing format was an issue when McQueen was considered for a role in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."
Trivia: When the film was released Burt Reynolds arranged to have this film shown in maximum security prisons all over the US, because the prisoners obviously couldn't get to the theaters to see it themselves.
Trivia: New York Transit Authority has code words for trains going through subways, based on the departure station and time of departure. Pelham One Two Three means the train left Pelham Bay Park Station at 1:23 pm. Ever since the 1974 film was released, New York Transit authority has made a conscious decision to try very hard not to let subway trains leave Pelham Bay Park Station at 1:23 in the morning or afternoon.
Trivia: Sidney Lumet's first choice for Hercule Poirot was Alec Guiness, with Paul Scofield as his second choice. Because they both were busy with other projects, Albert Finney was chosen, even though Lumet felt he was too young for the role.
Trivia: Walter Matthau plays the drunk who sits at the bar wearing a loud shirt and pimp hat. However, for the end credits his name is listed as "Walter Matuschanskayasky"
Trivia: A very young, tall and thin Jeff Goldblum plays one of the thugs that murders Bronson's wife. He is credited as Freak 1.
Trivia: The final repetition of the line "He'd kill us if he had the chance" had its inflection changed because preview audiences became preoccupied with questions over whether Harry had misinterpreted the couple's conversation or if they were deliberately being misleading (or both). The ambiguity was initially intended, but appeared to work a little too well and distracted the audience from appreciating the rest of the ending, so this delivery of the line was made more definitive.
Trivia: The final train crash scene was used in the opening credits of the 1980's TV show "The Fall Guy" starring Lee Majors.
Trivia: Adam Faith limps in stardust as he was injured in a car accident shortly before filming, but this fitted his character Mike, as Mike exited the prequel "that'll be the day" when he was beaten up by thugs although Mike was played by Ringo Starr in that film.
Trivia: In the opening scene, Alice - a young girl - lives on a farm with her parents/grandparents, and her mother/grandmother, standing at the back door, calls Alice in for dinner, and the voice has to belong to Ellen Burstyn. When Alice grows up, she is played by Ellen Burstyn.
Trivia: Edward Binns plays Mr. Frye, the father of Gid Frye (Anthony Perkins). In real life, Binns was only sixteen years older than Perkins.