Rating: 
Summary: THIS IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE!
Review: How many movies can you say that about? I've seen it about 3 million times and never get tired of it. Tatum and Ryan O'Neil work so well together. The father and daughter thing works out perfectly. They are such a good team. This movie is thoroughly enjoyable. Tatum definitely deserved that Oscar. I haven't seen her in anything else. Where'd she go? She's great! This little comedy is a delight for the whole family.
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Summary: Enchanting Story of 9-Year-Old Con Artist in 1930's
Review: Tatum O'Neal became the youngest Oscar winner in history for her scene-grabbing role as Addie Pray, a whipsmart, adorable, 9-year-old grifter in the 1930's dustbowl/Depression era. The heartwarming, genuinely moving film is based on an equally terrific book by Joe David Brown, "Addie Pray." When Moses Pray (Ryan O'Neal, Tatum's father) inherits young Addie at a funeral and then fritters away her $200, she loudly demands repayment over Coney Islands and Nehis in a drugstore, forcing him to grudgingly take her along on his Bible-selling grifts across Kansas. The pair take off on the winding roads in Moses' jalopy, Addie keeping careful track of their "take" in her cigar box (repayment of the $200 debt) and Moses shortly discovers that the child's grit, tenacity and shrewdness, mixed with apple pie cuteness, make her an invaluable partner. There's also just a chance that Moses might be Addie's "pa," given that, according to her, they "have the same jaw."
Along with Tatum's heart-rending performance, there is gorgeous black and white cinematography that really captures the era hauntingly and great 1930's tunes like the titular "Paper Moon." Tatum O'Neal -- feisty, precocious, and touching -- is unforgettable, whether dancing alone in the bathroom with her mother's pearls or getting Moses out of a jam.
The wonderful Madeleine Kahn also appears as Trixie Delight, a hoochy dancer that Moses picks up along the way.
A treat.
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Summary: Nepotism At its Best
Review: Say what you want, but if Ryan O'Neal had never convinced director Peter Bogdanovich to cast eight-year old daughter Tatum O'Neal in the role of Addie Pray, then film history may have been irrevocably altered.
And so would have my own childhood. When Paramount released "Paper Moon" in 1973, I was likewise eight years old, and saw this great movie one Saturday afternoon. It was the first time I can recall falling in love with a screen siren, I was so smitten with Tatum's tomboy onscreen persona. She stole the show, the best supporting actress Oscar, and I'm sure my little boy's heart was not the only one she stole, either.
Although "Paper Moon" is self-consciously a "period" film, it is so without getting overly pulled into the trappings of the era in which it took place. Bogdanovich tells his story in a straightforward manner, and the only abrasive affectation I could catch was Ryan O'Neal repeatedly telling Addie to eat her Coney Island.
The story is a fun con game, which follows crooked Bible salesman Moses Pray (Ryan) and his charge, Addie Loggins (Tatum), whom Moses is delivering to St. Joseph, Mo, after the death of Addie's mother.
Early on, the audience can surmise that Moses is actually Addie's illegitimate father. It is a delight watching the two grow closer together as father and (adoptive) daughter, as the two plan cons to pull over on the marks from bill changing scams, to searching the obituaries for recent deaths, then selling the widows Bibles "pre-ordered" by the deceased at highly inflated prices, to selling a bootlegger his own moonshine that was stolen from under his nose.
Along the way, they meet a lot of suckers, a crooked bootlegger and his vengeful sheriff brother and a gaggle of hillbillies (including a young Randy Quaid). Most hilariously, they pick up exotic dancer (and sometimes lady of evening leisure) Miss Trixie Delight, played with bounce and sass by the late great comedienne Madeline Kahn.
Director of Photography Laszlo Kovacs invests the movie with gorgeous black and white cinematography that recalls John Ford's movie version of "The Grapes of Wrath" in the portrayal of the dustbowl Midwest, of Walker Evans' photographs in capturing the Victorian architecture of the movie's few well-to-do and of Edward Hopper's paintings of roadside America of that bygone era.
Bogdanovich used actual locations in Kansas and St. Joseph, Mo., which had hardly changed in the 40 years since the Great Depression.
Set to a soundtrack of 1930s jazz records, "Paper Moon" gives the viewer an uncanny feel for the era, a device later borrowed by Woody Allen for many of his own movies, including "The Purple Rose of Cairo" and "Radio Days."
This one is Bogdanovich's best directorial effort and a fun movie to sit down, munch on popcorn to and have a lot of laughs.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning Collaborative Work
Review: Everything comes together--direction, writing, casting, cinematography, performances, music...right down to the last prop-- for this triumphant picture by Peter Bogdanovich and Company.
The Director's Commentary track is fantastic and will probably entice you to put Bogdanovich on your list of "Most Sought After Dinner Party Guest." His stories are as entertaining as they are enlightening.
The O'Neals and the late Madeline Kahn...all perfection in this timeless classic.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Memories
Review: I remember watching this movie as a little boy, at the end of my moms bed late at, and even then i was drawn in to it's story. I don't remember a lot of it, but i am ordering this DVD really soon.It's very sad to hear that the real life father and Daughter relationship was not as loving and clse as the movie.
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Summary: Quiet, subtle, excellent and funny
Review: What a great and fun movie! Tatum O'Neal steals the show here; she definitely deserved the Oscar for her great portrayal of the way-too street smart for her age orphan (maybe) Addie Pray (Loggins). Adults and kids can enjoy this together without much fear of the admittedly seedy subject matter -- con artistry, prostitution, racial exploitation, the corruption of youth, etc. You can't help but root for Addie all the while knowing that Moses will never be a good father, role model or successful "businessman." The black and white cinematography recalls classic Margaret Bourke-White Depression-era photos as well as "The Grapes of Wrath," but without the need for Prozac or counseling. The soundtrack is comprised of Thirties pop radio standards that fit perfectly without calling too much attention to themselves. Madeline Kahn is a scream as Miss Trixie Delight, John Hillerman excels in two roles: a sheriff and his brother, a local bootleggar, and P.J. Johnson is great as Trixie's maid, Imogene. I loved it when I first saw it as a 12-year-old. I still love it now. So will you.
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Summary: How could anyone not love this movie?
Review: Paper Moon is without a doubt Ryan O'Neal's best performance. His daughter Tatum absolutely STEALS the show. The Academy Award says it all. Back then the Oscar meant something, now the whole thing's become a joke. But Paper Moon will always be one of my favorites. You really get the feel of the Depression era Midwest. All the sets, costumes, and music authenticate this. I've never gotten that "Grapes of Wrath" feel from any other movie that's been produced since the forties, and that's not just because it's shot in B&W. This movie also will keep you in stitches as Moses (O'Neal) slowly discovers how clever a little con artist Addie (Tatum) really is. Her wit and sarcasm would make this movie equally entertaining if you turned off the picture and merely LISTENED to it. It's that good. I also adore Madeline Khan and Trixie Delight IS a delight. This movie is in my top twenty and I recommend it as a "must own."
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Summary: It's Only A Paper Moon Sailing Over A Cardboard Sea...
Review: Adapted from the matchless novel "Addie Pray" by Joe David Brown, Paper Moon is set in the Midwest/dustbowl during the Great Depression/Roosevelt era. One-of-a-kind directing by Peter Bogdanovich, beautiful black & white cinematography, a great musical score with snippets of old time radio shows like Fibber McGee & Molly, Jack Benny and a host of others. Real-life father & daughter duo, Ryan & Tatum O'Neil team up in this gem of a movie. Ryan plays Moses Pray. A slick, sliver-tongued, gold toothed, travelling huckster & who always has a new con to turn up his sleeve such as door to door Bible selling to recently widowed women, bootlegging, short changing, and a "car swappin' wrasslin' match" between Moses and a very young Randy Quaid. Tatum plays Addie and garnered the coveted Oscar for her performance at the tender age of 10. Addie decides to get in on many of the cons and becomes quite a prolific short change artist. Addie decides on her own to take Moses' last name and travel with him under the guise as his daughter. In one of the best scenes in the movie they deal with whether or not Addie is Moses' illegitimate daughter. That scene is set in a diner while drinking NeHi's and eating Coney Islands. Addie is sure that Moses is, indeed, her father as she states, "We got the SAME jaw!" Moses responds and says, "I know a lady who has the jaw of a bullfrog but that doesn't mean that she's the damn things mother!" Addie asks Moses, "You meet my mamma in a barroom?" (implying that her mamma was a prostitute). Moses comes right back asking Addie, "You think that just because a man meets a woman in a barroom means that they get a baby?" Ryan and Tatum's bantering repartee is natural, hilarious and touching all at the same time. The Prays fall "prey" to a con played on them (well, Moses anyway) as the film progesses, by a hootchie-cootchie sideshow carnival dancer/prostitute named Miss Trixie Delight, adeptly played by Madelyn Kahn who was also nominated for an Oscar. The sneaky and a little jealous Addie deals with Miss Trixie in her own time and also helps out Miss Trixie's maid, Imogene and gives her money to return back to her family. This is a great family movie with a touching father/daughter story to share. No nudity, few "cuss" words, and an all-around crowd pleaser whether you are 6 or 106. I don't mind telling you that this is my favorite movie of all time and I have viewed it upwards of 100 times. I still laugh, cry, and go through a multitude of emotions no matter how many times a watch the film. Certainly, a hallmark of a great cinematic masterpiece! Happy Watching!
Rating:
Summary: Depression era--but far from depressing
Review: I discovered this funny gem a few years ago and haven't been able to stop watching it. The humor is subtle and hilarious, the acting superb. Tatum O'Neal's frank and mature performance as her real-life father's tag-along cohort in crime makes the movie. If you enjoy tales of lovable con-artists, this is definitely for you.
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