Parker Lewis I'm more a fan of Woody Allen's movies such as Manhattan, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Crimes and Misdemeanors, but I still liked Take the Money and Run. I'd say that it has one of the funniest scenes in movie history! I really laughed out loud (before LOL was an internet invention) when Woody's character and his prison posse attempt an escape all shackled up. This is a masterpiece of acting, editing, and directing. This has to be screened to any acting masterclass. If drama is hard, then really comedy is harder. I wish they had more scenes like this in modern day movies.

classicalsteve A lot of movie-goers believe Christopher Guest's "This is Spinal Tap" directed by Rob Reiner was the first American "mockumentary". A "mockumentary" is a type of fictional film in the format of a non-fiction documentary format with fake interviews and sometimes a voice-over narrator. Most often they spoof some kind of overused subject. While "Spinal Tap" may have been the first "rockumentary", about 15 years previously, Woody Allen produced and released "Take the Money and Run". Much of what happens in Allen's offering is the model by which nearly all subsequent mockumentaries would follow, including many by Christopher Guest. And it still stands as possibly Allen's best pure comedic effort.In the 1950's and 1960's, a number of documentaries produced both for the small and large screens told the stories of criminals. (Guest would later make mockumentaries about music groups, hometown theatre, and dog shows.) "Take the Money and Run", written, directed and starring Woody Allen, spoofs documentaries about criminals for the first-ever mockumentary in the United States, complete with narrator and interviews. The first voice of the film is that of narrator Jackson Beck who made a career of doing voice-overs for such documentaries and television advertisements. The "story" involves hardened criminal Virgil Starkwell (Woody Allen), his life and exploits over the years as a mediocre thief. As one character put it: "You know, he never made the 'ten most wanted' list. It's very unfair voting; it's who you know." Similar to "Monty Python's Flying Circus", all the characters, especially the narrator, play their parts dead-pan. In other words, they pretend what they're doing is serious, even though, in the end, it's quite silly. For example, when narrator Beck announces they will hear interviews of Starkwell's parents, he says in all seriousness they will wear disguises. Then we see the parents wearing plastic Grouch Marx noses and glasses. This is the kind of humour which permeates the entire film. In another famous scene, Starkwell is spending time in a maximum security facility where he must endure extra punishment for breaking the rules: he must spend time in solitary confinement with an insurance salesman."Take the Money and Run" at its essence is a series of interconnected comedy sketches, very similar to the feel of Monty Python. Nearly every bit is roll-over-the-floor hilarious. Often the scene begins somewhat "seriously" until Allen applies a zinger towards the end. Much of the later work of Christopher Guest owes much to Allen's original mockumentary. And apparently, one of Starkwell's criminal associates, Frankie Wolf, is still wanted by authorities for dancing with a mailman.

darad Before we got introduced to movies with the brand of humor like "Blazing Saddles" or "Airplane!" there was "Take The Money and Run." As reviewed by others in documentary style it follows the bumbling life of "Virgil Stalkwell," played flawlessly by Woody Allen. I absolutely love this movie and it has always been a favorite. It has so many funny scenes that you really have to watch it a few times to catch everything as you're not done laughing at one thing before they throw something else at you.I've read some negative reviews here but the majority are like me and think it's a Woody Allen classic. You have to like Woody Allen to appreciate the movie to its fullest. Personally, I think it's his best, before he got stuck in New York, not that there's anything wrong with that. Made with a storyline like prison classics of "Cool Hand Luke" it's a must-see side-splitter about a bumbling wannabe famous criminal who's sent to prison, but the whole movie doesn't stay there. Don't expect some deep plotted movie that follows any rules, it's made for laughs and that's what you get plenty of. It's great to have comedies that stay comedies. It's still played well by the entire cast and I love the music, especially the theme by Marvin Hamlisch. So take a break and enjoy a funny movie that puts you in a good mood. You don't have to be a hardcore Allen fan but if you are one (as I am) you'll love it even more.

rustyalex2 My first impression was that I couldn't believe that this was made in 1969. Having seen Annie Hall and not knowing this was made before had really surprised me. Woody Allen comes clean and gives us a fresh comedy, which now days, speaking 21st century makes something like Date Movie seem like it doesn't exist at all. TTMAR, stars Woody Allen as Virgil, a man with no hopes and hardly any positive life experiences, from his early days such as the scene where the bullies step on his glasses to the later days when in he is in court and ironically the judge steps on his glasses, Virgil simply has no luck in life. This movie is just taking the p iss, every situation from robbing banks, to escaping the prison, to lying to his girlfriend and later wife is just hilarious. TTMAR is an example of the pure comedy genius he is. It's a relaxer a mood uplifter and literally makes you feel better about yourself, because I don't think anybody could be as unlucky as him. Heads up to Janet Margolin, she shone with innocence and her beauty posed as a juxtaposition between the two characters.