A study of the Cuban Revolution by way of Freedonia
Bananas (1971)
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Reviews Counted:17
Fresh:15
Rotten:2
Average Rating:7/10
Runtime: 85 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: Woody Allen leads a revolution in a small Latin American dictatorship in this hysterical comedy that parodies everything from the American media and political activism to the CIA and the judicial... Woody Allen leads a revolution in a small Latin American dictatorship in this hysterical comedy that parodies everything from the American media and political activism to the CIA and the judicial system. Allen plays Fielding Mellish, a nebbish unwilling to commit to anything--until he meets Nancy, played by Louise Lasser. Mellish soon finds himself fighting with guerrilla forces in the small third world country of San Marcos, and he becomes an international figure, even appearing on ABC's WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS with Howard Cosell (who plays himself). The film is loaded with sight gags that pay homage to Chaplin, Bergman, and the Marx Brothers. It also tackles politics, government, and religion, even breaking for a commercial for cigarettes endorsed by the church! One of the most memorable scenes of Allen's career occurs when Mellish defends himself in the funniest courtroom scene since the Three Stooges' DISORDER IN THE COURT. Allen's obsessions with food, sex, and death begin to take form here, on their way to becoming major themes in such films as LOVE AND DEATH, ANNIE HALL, and HANNAH AND HER SISTERS. [More]
Starring: Woody Allen, Louise Lasser, Carlos Montalban, Charlotte Rae
Starring: Woody Allen, Louise Lasser, Carlos Montalban, Charlotte Rae, Conrad Bain, Howard Cosell
Director: Woody Allen
Director: Woody Allen
Screenwriter: Woody Allen, Mickey Rose
Producer: Jack Grossberg
Composer: Marvin Hamlisch
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Reviews for Bananas
Inspired by the Marx Brothers comedies (specifically Duck Soup), Woody Allen made a leap forward as filmmaker in his second feature, a zany satire composed of riotous sketches and incoherent but funny one-liners.
An attempt to capture the same zaniness the Marx Brothers had in Duck Soup.
Yes, Allen has made better movies -- lots of them -- but I'm not sure he ever made anything funnier.
A severely overrated Allen project. This campy string of unfunny gags does not hold up.
Bananas (1971) is the story of a New Yorker who becomes a South American rebel leader, to impress his political activist love interest Nancy (Louise Lasser).
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| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
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| 12% 12% | Spread |
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