Woody Allen's directorial debut, TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN, is a hilarious mock documentary about the life and crimes of one Virgil Starkwell--a man who always ends up getting his glasses crushed. Familiar newsreel voice Jackson Beck narrates the tale of the hapless criminal and his ridiculous plans that repeatedly blow up in his .. Read more
| Starring | Woody Allen, Janet Margolin, Marcel Hillaire, Lonny Chapman |
|---|---|
| Director | Woody Allen |
| Genres | Comedy |
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Woody Allen's directorial debut, TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN, is a hilarious mock documentary about the life and crimes of one Virgil Starkwell--a man who always ends up getting his glasses crushed. Familiar newsreel voice Jackson Beck narrates the tale of the hapless criminal and his ridiculous plans that repeatedly blow up in his face--sometimes literally. When Starkwell, played by Allen, falls in love with Louise (Janet Margolin), he tries to change, but he comes to realize that he is a born criminal--and a born loser. Allen fills his movie with sight gags galore, including his escaping from prison with a gun made out of soap--then getting caught in the rain, and his parents being interviewed wearing Groucho Marx disguises. Many bits from his stand-up routine also are scattered throughout the screenplay, cowritten with Mickey Rose. Numerous small touches and themes in this film would show up in Allen's later work, but here they are played exclusively for laughs--and the laughs come nonstop as Virgil puts together a gang and plans a big bank job that he believes will get his family back on their feet. Allen's wonderful documentary style would influence such later mockumentaries as THIS IS SPINAL TAP and THE RUTLES; it is relentless in its verbal and visual attack on the senses, a worthy debut for a filmmaker who would change the face of comedy in the coming decades.
| Starring | Woody Allen, Janet Margolin, Marcel Hillaire, Lonny Chapman, Jan Merlin, Louise Lasser |
|---|---|
| Director | Woody Allen |
| Studio | FREMANTLE HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 22 mins |
| Certificate |  |
| Genres | Comedy |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | Production year: 1968 To Rent: DVD: 07 May 2001 |
Discounting the abortive What's Up, Tiger Lily?, this was Woody Allen's debut as his own director, and it marked the... read more on Time Out
- 4
- 1
Shades of Allen
I reckon you either love Woody Allen films or hate them. That being the case, this one has all the characteristics of his better work (earlier); its sharp, ... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
- 0
- 0
Early Allen finding his feet
It's clear from this early Allen film that the man has talent when it comes to the interplay between camera and script, though you wouldn't necessarily ... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
- 1
- 0
Take the Money and Run
Although I am an Allen fan, this first effort of his was of interest more for historical value than for great comedy. I am sorry to say that it was ... read more »
- 0
- 0
No signs of talent
Woody Allen is not to everyone's taste, which is fine. Unfortunately, this DVD was sent in error and hence was watched out of curiosity rather than pre-... read more »
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