Small Time Crooks (2000)

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

19 May 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

Explodes with big-time laughter.

Plot:

A loser of a crook and his wife strike it rich when a botched bank job's cover business becomes a spectacular success.

Plot Keywords:

Bakery | High Society | Rags To Riches | Directed By Star | Safecracker

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Woody Allen	...	Ray
Carolyn Saxon	...	Candy Salesperson
Tracey Ullman	...	Frenchy
Michael Rapaport	...	Denny
Tony Darrow	...	Tommy
Sam Josepher	...	Real Estate Agent
Jon Lovitz	...	Benny
Lawrence Howard Levy	...	Dynamite Dealer (as Lawrence Levy)
Diane Bradley	...	Cookie Store Customer
Crystal Field	...	Cookie Store Customer
Cindy Carver	...	Cookie Store Customer
Ray Garvey	...	Cookie Store Customer
Bill Gerber	...	Cookie Store Customer
Olivia Hayman	...	Cookie Store Customer
Laurine Towler	...	Cookie Store Customer
Fanda Nikic	...	Cookie Store Customer
Brian Markinson	...	Cop
Elaine May	...	May
Dana Tyler	...	TV News Reporter
Steve Kroft	...	Himself
Brian McConnachie	...	Paul Milton
Ricardo Bertoni	...	Winklers' Butler
Isaac Mizrahi	...	Winklers' Chef
Kristine Nielsen	...	Emily Bailey
Larry Pine	...	Charles Bailey
Hugh Grant	...	David
Julie Lund	...	Linda Rhinelander
Teri Black	...	Winkler Party Guest
John Doumanian	...	Winkler Party Guest
Phyllis Burdoe	...	Winkler Party Guest
Maurice Sonnenberg	...	Garth Steinway
Richard Mawe	...	Anthony Gwynne
Karla Wolfangle	...	Modern Dance Performer
Rob Besserer	...	Modern Dance Performer
Frank Wood	...	Oliver
Ruth Laredo	...	Concert Pianist
Julie Halston	...	Concert Party Guest
Anthony Sinopoli	...	Frenchy's Chauffeur
Jesse Levy	...	Church Cellist
Josephine Calabrese	...	Churchgoer
Cindy Wilks	...	Churchgoer
Trevor Moran	...	Churchgoer
Peter McRobbie	...	Frenchy's Lawyer
Douglas McGrath	...	Frenchy's Lawyer
Elaine Stritch	...	Chi Chi Potter
Howard Erskine	...	Langston Potter
Christine Pipgras	...	Potter Party Guest
Nick Garfinkle	...	Potter Party Guest
Kenneth Edelson	...	Potter Party Guest
Ira Wheeler	...	Potter Party Guest
William Hill	...	Potter Party Guest
Ramsey Faragallah	...	Potter's Waiter
Scotty Bloch	...	Edgar's Wife
George Grizzard	...	George Blint
Marvin Chatinover	...	Dr. Henske
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alva Chinn	...	Potter Party Guest (uncredited)
Evelyn Iocolano	...	Waitress (uncredited)

Directed by
Woody Allen

Writing credits (WGA)
Woody Allen		(written by)

Produced by
Letty Aronson	....	co-executive producer
J.E. Beaucaire	....	executive producer
Jean Doumanian	....	producer
Charles H. Joffe	....	co-executive producer
Helen Robin	....	co-producer
Jack Rollins	....	co-executive producer

Cinematography by
Fei Zhao		(director of photography) (as Zhao Fei)

Film Editing by
Alisa Lepselter

Casting by
Laura Rosenthal
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Santo Loquasto

Art Direction by
Tom Warren

Set Decoration by
Jessica Lanier

Costume Design by
Suzanne McCabe

Makeup Department
Milton Buras	....	second hair stylist
Dina Doll	....	second makeup artist (as Dina Doll Prospero)
Werner Sherer	....	key hair stylist
Rosemary Zurlo	....	key makeup artist (as Rosemarie Zurlo)

Production Management
Mara Hade Connolly	....	production supervisor
Helen Robin	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul F. Bernard	....	second assistant director
Keith Maitland	....	dga trainee
Richard Patrick	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Frank Didio	....	head carpenter
Peter Gelfman	....	property master
Robert Grant	....	stand-by carpenter
Daniel K. Grosso	....	leadman
Vincent Guarriello	....	chief construction grip
Christian Halac	....	art department assistant
Glenn Lloyd	....	art department coordinator
Leonardo Mastrantoni	....	shop manager (as Leonardo Mastrantonio)
Robin McAllister	....	assistant property master
Jessica A. Milstein	....	set decorating coordinator (as Jessica Milstein)
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator (as Ronald Petagna)
Cliff Schorr	....	stand-by scenic artist
James Sorice	....	master scenic artist
Ray Fisher	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Regina Graves	....	assistant set decorator (uncredited)
Joseph S. Patire	....	shop craftsman (uncredited)
Addison Pettit	....	graphic designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gary Alper	....	production sound mixer
Kam Chan	....	foley editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Constanzo)
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor
Bradford L. Hohle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as Brad Hohle)
Frank Kern	....	foley editor
George A. Lara	....	foley recording engineer (as George Lara)
Sylvia Menno	....	dialogue editor
David Pastecchi	....	second boom operator
Glenfield Payne	....	sound effects editor
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Anne Pope	....	assistant sound editor
Gisburg Smialek	....	assistant sound editor
Marc-Jon Sullivan	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
John Ottesen	....	special effects coordinator
Ron Ottesen	....	special effects coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
David E. Baron	....	second assistant camera (as David Baron)
John Clifford	....	still photographer
Jack Coffen	....	best boy electric
Michael Green	....	camera operator
A. Lee Morris	....	camera loader
Gary Muller	....	first assistant camera
Billy Patsos	....	best boy grip (as William Patsos)
George Patsos	....	key grip
Michael Proscia Jr.	....	gaffer
Chris Hammond	....	best boy electric (uncredited)
Mark Proscia	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sarah Allentuch	....	casting assistant
Patricia Kerrigan DiCerto	....	casting associate (as Patricia Kerrigan)
Grant Wilfley	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Adkins	....	wardrobe supervisor
Susan Carrano	....	assistant costume designer
Anne Gorman	....	shop wardrobe supervisor
Rosemary Lepre	....	costume assistant
Melissa Stanton	....	wardrobe supervisor
Thomas Stokes	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Tom Stokes)

Editorial Department
Michelle Botticelli	....	assistant editor
Sheri Bylander	....	assistant editor
Sara Corrigan	....	first assistant editor
Jennifer Lilly	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Jill Meyers	....	music clearance

Transportation Department
John Mulligan	....	transportation co-captain
Peter Tavis	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Leon Adair Jr.	....	parking coordinator (as Leon Adair)
Clay Adams	....	production assistant
Abby Bailey	....	assistant production accountant
Kay Chapin	....	script supervisor
Lauren G. Chapin	....	assistant: Mr. Allen
Meredith Cohen	....	assistant production coordinator
Logan Cooper	....	production assistant
Teena Deocales	....	production assistant
Drew Dillard	....	location manager
Peter J. Dowd Jr.	....	production assistant (as Peter Dowd)
Debora Fearon	....	craft service
Alex Fernández	....	production assistant (as Alexandra Fernández)
Atnan Guze	....	craft service
Cecil Ham	....	production assistant (as Cecil 'Buddy' Ham)
Kathleen E. Kearney	....	production assistant
Cary Lin	....	assistant: Mr. Zhao
Pietro Lorino Jr.	....	production accountant
April Merl	....	payroll accountant
Christie Mullen	....	location scout
Kim Noble	....	location scout
Cesar Quinones	....	production assistant
Jennifer Ross	....	production assistant
Elizabeth Stoll	....	production assistant
Carl Turnquest Jr.	....	projectionist
Renannah Weinstein	....	dailies apprentice (as Renannah Seliger)
Will Wilder	....	parking coordinator
Janice Williams	....	production coordinator
Tom Yeager	....	assistant location manager

Thanks
Greg Johnson	....	thanks

Production Companies

• DreamWorks SKG (as a DreamWorks release)
• Sweetland Films (presents)

Distributors

• DreamWorks Distribution (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• Concorde Filmverleih (2000) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Eurocine (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• FilmFour (2000) (UK) (theatrical)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2000-2001) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Gloria Film A/S (2001) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Indies Film Distribution (2000) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (2000) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2000) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Pyramide Distribution (2000) (France) (theatrical)
• Canvas (2003) (Belgium) (TV) (first national airing)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• DreamWorks Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD) (VHS)
• Europa Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• Europa Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)
• RTL Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing) (RTL5)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)

Other Companies

• Sound One Corporation  sound re-recording
• Grant Wilfley Casting  extras casting
• Effects House, The  titles and opticals
• J.G. Films  negative cutting
• PMK Public Relations  publicity
• Albert G. Ruben and Company  insurance
• Axium Payroll Services  payroll
• Associated Press Ltd.  thanks
• Bragman Nyman Cafarelli (BNC)  thanks
• Mercedes Benz USA  thanks
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  thanks
• New York Public Library  thanks
• Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum  thanks
• TWA  thanks: airplane footage

Also Known As:

Woody Allen Spring Project 1999 (USA) (working title)
Woody Allen Summer Project 1999 (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for language.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS (Mono) | Dolby Digital (Mono)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Brazil:Livre | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:I | Netherlands:AL | Norway:A | Peru:PT | South Korea:All | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Mott Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

This was Woody Allen's first movie in a deal of five with DreamWorks Pictures.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Shown the house where writer Henry James (whom her husband confuses with band leader Harry James once lived), the culture-challenged Frenchy announces that James was author of The Heiress - which she pronounces as "The Harris." In reality, The Heiress was the title of the screen version of James' novel (and a play based upon it) called Washington Square. James never wrote anything called The Heiress.

Quotes:

Ray: What are you gonna do with a flower shop?
Benny: Burn it down
Ray: You're still burning stuff for insurance?
Benny: I burn everything, how do you think I sent two kids through college?

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Midgets Vs. Mascots (2009)

Soundtrack:

Prelude in B minor opus 32, #10

Woody Lite

Like Mighty Aphrodite and Manhattan Murder Mystery, Small Time Crooks is the kind of movie Woody Allen would have made lots more of if he hadn't, in the post Annie Hall 1970s, started thinking of himself primarily as film auteur, rather than comedian. I count myself among those who are very glad he made the detour into Art that produced such original and challenging films as Manhattan, Hannah and Her Sisters, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Husbands and Wives, and Deconstructing Harry. Small Time Crooks has a much lower level of ambition. Still, like most people in the audience at the showing I attended, I found much in it very amusing.

The film's comic plot starts out like Take the Money and Run revisited, but then takes a number of surprising turns. Along the way, Tracy Ullman, Elaine Stritch, and - especially - Elaine May all give scene-stealing performances. Early Woody one-liners and sight gags sparkle through the script (along with, unfortunately, a higher frequency of duds and chestnuts than in early Woody). Also adding an interesting dimension to the comedy is the influence of The Honeymooners on the relationship between Ray and Frenchie Winkler (Woody and Tracy) and on the film's fish-out-of-water class-based situation comedy. Woody has often professed his admiration for The Honeymooners, but this is the first film where he seems to have consciously reached for similar themes and effects.

On the down side, some of the plot twists seem downright arbitrary and amateurish, especially those involving Frenchie's comeuppance. Inadequate comic use is made of Ray's gang of losers (Jon Lovitz has one good line and too little screen time). And Hugh Grant as a Bluebeard wannabe is too much to ask of any audience. As to Woody himself .... what can you say? It's painful to watch his late career hardening of the comic arteries into stiff, unintentional self-parody. Let's hope the next Allen movie marks a return to high directorial ambition and low (as in "no") acting profile.