oOoBarracuda In the style of faux-documentary which would be used with varying success all over cinema, Woody Allen's 1969 film, arguably his first true directorial feature chronicles the life of Virgil Starkwell, the always struggling inept thief. Virgil's incompetence plays out on the screen through complete hilarity. Woody Allen's grasp of comedy was evident in his earliest features proving the talent of the iconic director. I have endured the early features of many directors and rarely are they as good as Allen's Take the Money and Run. I have even grown used to the notion of knowing I'll have to slog through many subpar films before getting to the gems of my favorite directors, with Allen, though, no such notion exists. As we follow Virgil, played by Woody Allen, through his attempt at a music career and his obsession with bank robberies, we see the quick- witted dialogue and brilliant comedic gags now synonymous with Allen's work. Don't skip Take the Money and Run, there is enough essential Woody Allen contained in this early gem to last a lifetime.

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.

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.

George Wright Woody Allen's first Imovie is a slapstick comedy with a brilliant series of gags about a failed cello player who takes up a life of crime. Virgil Starkwell is being hunted by the FBI and the movie is a newsreel account consisting of side-splitting skits: Virgil escaping from prison using a bar of soap; trying to rob a bank as tellers argue over the meaning of his notes; chain gangs on the loose as everyone overlooks the obvious clanging of the chains. The clichés are endless and exaggerated to the point of hysteria. Interviews with his parents (in Groucho Marx disguises) are part of the narrative. We can see the style of humor that at the time was reminiscent of Mel Brooks. Interesting to compare these with his mature movies such as those set in Manhattan in the 1980's and later on, Crimes and Misdeameanors and Manhattan Murder Mystery, where the word play and script were dominant. Yet the early Woody Allen was a budding genius and very funny.