Take The Money And Run Filming Locations (That We Know About)

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Can you help us find these Take The Money And Run filming locations?

In our quest to make the most comprehensive film guides to Woody Allen's films, we have been compiling as much location information as possible. More about the locations and how they fit into the films can be found in our book - The Woody Allen Pages Watcher's Guide.

We also thought it would make a great series on the site, illustrated with screenshots where possible. Also, so we could ask the world for help with some of the locations we couldn't find. We are focussing on locations where the production shot, not stock images and footage.

So here's the filming locations for Take The Money And Run. The film was shot in San Francisco, but much of the street and incidental information is gone. Plus the houses look pretty different these days, making Google street view little help.

Many of the streets in the early scenes are San Francisco. But all the stuff with Virgil as a kid does not have enough to help us make it out. Also unknown is the location of many of the talking head scenes. Although Allen has mentioned that the film was made on such a low budget that they used any space they could, including every corner of a rented hotel room and their own production office.

First location we could work out - Big Ben Loan Company, where Virgil buys a cello. 179 is clearly marked on the building. A bit of a google and we found the address on an old yellow pages listing. It's long gone.

Screen Shot 2016-07-26 at 5.29.07 PM

This cello scene. It's shot on Mission Street, but we can't tell the intersection. We will be back on Mission later when Virgil robs the jewellery store. In both scenes, a vertical Tower Records sign can be seen. We couldn't find the address. Anyone?

Screen Shot 2015-01-03 at 9.00.55 pm

Then we're at San Quentin Prison in Marin County. Other side of the bay from San Francisco.

Screen Shot 2016-07-26 at 5.49.09 PM

Virgil snatches a purse at Spreckels Lake, Golden Gate Park. Later scenes when Virgil meet Louise (Janet Margolin) were also filmed here.

Screen Shot 2016-07-26 at 5.54.16 PM

Berkie's Pet Shop was on 2282 Mission Street, San Francisco. It's now an Oyster Bar.

Screen Shot 2016-07-26 at 6.03.20 PM

Ernie's restaurant. 847 Montgomery Street, Telegraph Hills. Now gone.

Screen Shot 2015-01-03 at 9.03.35 pm

Ernie's restaurant. 847 Montgomery Street, Telegraph Hills. Long gone.

The Bank. It's a Bank Of America on 801 Clement Street.

Screen Shot 2015-01-03 at 9.03.35 pm

The rest of the scenes are unknown. The main ones that might be identifiable are:

If you know where these missing locations are, please let us know. Especially that first house! You can find out more with the Take The Money And Run film guide.

 

Locations

  • Big Ben Loan Company, 179 3rd Avenue (now gone)
  • Mission St
  • San Quentin State Prison
  • Spreckels Lake, Golden Gate Park
  • Berkie's Pet Shop, 2282 Mission St
  • Bank Of America, 801 Clement St, SF
  • Ernie's Restaurant, 847 Montgomery Street, Telegraph Hills (now gone)

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5 Comments

  1. The cello scene on Mission Street is shot near 19th / 20th Streets — not a Tower Records in the background, but the Tower Movie Theatre (facade still there but just barely)

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