Take the Money and Run (1969)

Synopsis of Take the Money and Run

When Woody Allen's fans refer to his "earlier, funnier" pictures, they often cite his directorial debut as a shining example. Co-written by Allen and Mickey Rose, this side-splitting takeoff of crime documentaries stars Allen as Virgil Starkwell, a sweetly inept career criminal. The film's most celebrated sequence involves Virgil's inability to write coherent holdup notes ("I have a gub"), but others include Virgil's losing battle with a recalcitrant coke machine and his misguided effort to emulate John Dillinger by carving a gun out of a bar of soap (his weapon disintegrates in a heavy rain). As was often the case in Allen's early films, not all the gags work, but for the most part, Take the Money and Run is a delight, enhanced by the on-target supporting performances of Janet Margolin, Marcel Hillaire, and (uncredited) Louise Lasser, as well as the energetic musical score of Marvin Hamlisch. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:

85 mins

Director(s):

Woody Allen

Writer(s):

Woody Allen, Mickey Rose

Producer(s):

Charles H. Joffe

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

PG(Questionable for Children, Adult Language, Adult Humor, Adult Situations)

Categories:

Comedy

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