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Take the Money and Run

'''Take the Money and Run''' may refer to:

Film and television

1969 Woody Allen film

Take the Money and Run is a 1969 American crime directed by in his feature-length directorial debut. Co-written by Allen and Mickey Rose, it was produced by Palomar Pictures International and released by on August 18, 1969. The film stars Allen as the inept criminal Virgil Starkwell, with as his girlfriend Louise and in a supporting role as a . The story chronicles the fictional life of Virgil Starkwell, a small-time crook whose obsession with begins in childhood and leads to a lifetime of bungled , arrests, and breaks. Presented as a pseudo-documentary, the incorporates interviews with Virgil's family and associates, alongside archival-style newsreels and narration to satirize classic films through comedy and exaggerated incompetence. Despite attempts at reform, including his romance with , Virgil's criminal pursuits culminate in increasingly absurd failures, emphasizing themes of futile ambition. The film's title draws from the "take the money and run," thematically underscoring its motifs. Filmed primarily in and State Prison on a budget of about $1.5 million, Take the Money and Run blends visual gags, rapid editing, and satirical commentary to critique the romanticized portrayal of criminals in . It grossed over $3 million worldwide, marking a modest commercial success for Allen's early career. Critics lauded the film's pioneering approach, which foreshadowed the genre's popularity in later works like . It maintains a 91% Tomatometer score on from 23 reviews, reflecting its enduring appeal for innovative humor. Allen received Laurel Award nominations for Male Comedy Performance and Male New Face. The film is available for purchase on DVD and Blu-ray, with streaming options varying by region.

2011 American game show

Take the Money and Run is an American reality that premiered on on August 2, 2011, and concluded its six-episode run on September 6, 2011, airing Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. . The series was produced by Television, Profiles Television, and Warner Horizon Television, with executive producers including and . It drew inspiration from reality concepts, featuring ordinary contestants—typically couples or pairs—tasked with hiding a containing $100,000 within one hour in a discreet location in their hometown. Professional investigators, often law enforcement experts like Paul Bishop and Mary Hanlon Stone, then had 48 hours to recover the briefcase by extracting clues through staged interrogations of the contestants. Clues were revealed progressively, with elements such as decoy sites, contestant misdirection during interviews, and provided vehicles adding layers to the search. If successful, the investigators directed the full $100,000 to a of their choice; failure meant the contestants retained the prize. The show shared its title with a 1969 but featured a unique blend of investigative drama and competition. Critics offered mixed assessments, commending the suspenseful pursuit-and-evasion structure for its procedural appeal while critiquing slower pacing and the relatively low-stakes drama. It earned a on based on seven reviews. The program averaged 4.34 million viewers per episode and a 1.6 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, underperforming against competing primetime fare and resulting in cancellation after its single season.

Music

1976 Steve Miller Band song

"Take the Money and Run" is a song written by Steve Miller and recorded by the for their ninth studio , Fly Like an Eagle, released in 1976 by . The track, produced by Miller himself with a focus on layered stereo sound optimized for radio playback, exemplifies the band's shift toward polished rock production during this era. The lyrics narrate the story of teenage outlaws Billy Mack and Bobby Sue, who commit a robbery in Tempe, Arizona, and evade pursuit by detective McLeod while fleeing in a stolen car, ultimately remaining at large. This tale draws on themes of youthful rebellion, crime, and the thrill of escape, echoing the idiom of seizing quick gains and fleeing consequences in a single, mantra-like chorus: "Go on, take the money and run." Running 2:50 in length, the song blends rock elements with subtle blues influences through prominent guitar riffs and a driving rhythm. Upon release as a single, "Take the Money and Run" peaked at number 11 on the chart on October 9, 1976, and reached number 8 on the RPM Top Singles chart in . Its enduring appeal is evident in cultural uses, such as a soundalike version in a 2014 Taco Bell commercial promoting Crunchwrap Sliders, and covers by artists including country singer Julian Austin in 2000 and a hip-hop adaptation by Run-D.M.C. featuring in 2001. The song has amassed over 225 million streams on as of November 2025.

Other songs

Several other songs titled "Take the Money and Run" have been recorded by various artists across genres and decades, though none reached the commercial heights of the 1976 hit. New Zealand pop singer Bunny Walters released "Take the Money and Run" as a single in 1972, featuring vocal-driven pop arrangements produced by Bernie Allen; it peaked at number two on the charts and appeared on compilations like Loxene Golden Disc 1972. In 1975, Crosby & Nash included "Take the Money and Run" on their collaborative album Wind on the Water, a folk rock track characterized by the duo's signature harmonious vocals, written by David Crosby and supported by strings arranged by Jimmie Haskell. Dutch pop trio O'G3NE (also stylized as OG3NE) issued "Take the Money and Run" as a single in April 2016 from their album We Got This, an upbeat electronic pop number co-written by Ash Milton, Dan Goudie, Maegan Cottone, and Tebey Ottoh; the group was later selected to represent the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017, where they ultimately performed "Lights and Shadows.") These tracks often evoke motifs of crime, escape, or opportunistic flight, aligning with the idiomatic phrase's connotations, but they remain lesser-known compared to the enduring popularity of the Steve Miller Band version.

Other uses

Idiom

The idiom "take the money and run" refers to accepting a financial benefit or opportunity and promptly withdrawing from the situation to secure the gain and avoid potential losses, risks, or further complications. This expression embodies a pragmatic, often opportunistic approach, advising satisfaction with what has been obtained rather than pursuing more that might lead to reversal. The phrase originated as mid-20th-century , likely drawing from contexts where a player cashes in winnings and exits to prevent losses, or from scenarios involving quick exits after . Its earliest documented uses appear in print during the 1940s, often in references to where bettors are urged to collect payouts and leave before odds shift. Though the precise first attestation remains debated, it gained widespread recognition by the late , as evidenced by its inclusion in major compilations. Common usage spans , where executives might accept a package and depart a amid —such as in high-profile acquisitions where leaders secure and move on. In , it describes coaches or players leaving for lucrative contracts after a successful season, prioritizing financial security over loyalty, as seen in transitions to higher-paying programs. Everyday applications include personal advice to seize modest windfalls, like cashing a small prize immediately, while literary instances appear in crime novels emphasizing opportunistic exits, such as those by depicting characters grabbing illicit gains and fleeing. Culturally, the frequently appears in headlines and to or describe hasty financial decisions, such as politicians securing funds before scandals erupt or investors liquidating assets during market volatility. Variants like "take the cash and dash" convey similar urgency in informal contexts, often with a rhyming flair for emphasis. As of 2025, it holds a stable entry in the English Dictionary's idioms section without recent revisions, underscoring its enduring colloquial status. The phrase has inspired titles across , serving as a thematic motif for narratives of quick gains and escapes, including direct use in the titles of Woody Allen's 1969 film and the Steve Miller Band's 1976 song.

2004 Disney song

"Take the Money and Run" is a song from the 2004 animated film , produced by . The track was written by Cheri Steinkellner, Randy Petersen, and Kevin Quinn, with music and lyrics credited to the trio. It is performed by jazz musician , whose swinging vocal style contributes to the song's lively energy. In the film, the song is sung by the character Helperman—voiced by —who has transformed into a human boy named Scott Leadready II and begins earning through clever schemes at school. The number celebrates themes of newfound success and playful mischief within the educational setting, highlighting Spot's excitement over his human experiences and financial gains. It serves as a key musical moment in the story, where Spot revels in the perks of , such as buying treats and navigating school life. Stylistically, "Take the Money and Run" is an upbeat rhythm-and-blues spoof with pop-jazz elements, clocking in at approximately 2:39 in length. The track appears on the film's official soundtrack album, Disney's (Original Soundtrack), released in 2004, which features original songs integrated into the movie's score by composer Stephen James Taylor. The soundtrack emphasizes the film's humorous, musical tone but did not achieve significant commercial success. The song was produced as part of the film's overall musical elements, blending seamlessly with the animation's vibrant style, which received praise for its fluid character designs and expressive sequences. However, Teacher's Pet underperformed at the , grossing $6.5 million domestically against a $10 million budget, marking it as a financial for Disney. As of 2025, the film and its soundtrack, including "Take the Money and Run," are available for streaming on Disney+. The song has garnered a minor among animation enthusiasts for its catchy tune and Sheldon's distinctive performance, though it has not inspired major covers or widespread adaptations.

References

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