Bananas1971
Bananas (1971)
Bananas Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Fielding Mellish
as Nancy
as General Emilio M. Vargas
as Esposito
as Yolanda
as Luis
as Sanchez
as Diaz
as Sanchez
as Arroyo
as Himself
as Himself
as Himself
as Mrs. Mellish
as Dr. Mellish
as Priest
as Dr. Feigen
as Semple
as Perez
as Ambassador
as Judge
as Prosecutor
as J. Edgar Hoover
as Sharon
as Tortured Man
as Policeman
as Paul
as Douglas
as Interpreter
as Patient In Operating Room
as Senator
as Norma
as FBI Security
as FBI Security
as Man on Cross
as Snake Bite Lady
as Cigarette Commercial Man
as Subway Thug
as FBI Man No.1
as FBI Man No.2
News & Interviews for Bananas
Critic Reviews for Bananas
All Critics (24) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (3) | DVD (3)
It is a funny picture - not too consistently, and certainly not too coherently, but when it hits, it hits.
Bananas is chockfull of sight gags, one-liners and swiftly executed unnecessary excursions into vulgarity whose humor for the most part can't make up for content.
Wonderfully incoherent.
Allen's view of the world is fraught with everything except pathos, and it's a view I happen to find very funny.
Rapid-fire gags and some inspired one-liners qualify this as an early classic from Allen.
One of the early, funny films that a more mature Allen would dismiss later in his career, but nevertheless worth seeing again and again.
Audience Reviews for Bananas
At one point, Woody Allen's character says to Louise Lasser's: "I fail to see the humor of this," which is exactly how I felt watching this terribly unfunny comedy that is more like random scenes and sketches sloppily put together - some of them so irritating they are nearly unbearable.
Super Reviewer
Before Woody Allen shifted into serious character dramedies with his revolutionary film "Annie Hall" he made satires and screwball comedies like this one. Over the edge hilarious and completely absurd, "Bananas" is one of the best political satires of the seventies. Playing off of the South American revolutions of the time, and their cyclical nature, Allen stars as a nebbish version of himself who tries to be politically relevant just to get laid. Screwball in its entirety, the film speaks on the complications of foreign policy while also being absolutely ridiculous and funny. If you love the likes of Mel Brooks or the Zucker Brothers, this is going to be a film you will fall for easily.
Super Reviewer
woody's second feature as a director is very clever, very funny. i laughed a lot, and as usual the dialogue was witty and entertaining. i felt that the film lost a lot of steam by the end, which says a lot considering the movie is already very short, but it is entertaining and really uses its ideas well, especially the opening assassination sequence.
Super Reviewer
Bananas Quotes
| Fielding Mellish: | I was always, ah, I was always very shy when it came to girls. I, I remember when I was a little boy, I once stole a pornographic book that was printed in braille and I used to rub the dirty parts. |
| Semple: | I'm sorry to disappoint you but I've known Fielding Mellish for years and he's a warm, wonderful human being. |
| Fielding Mellish: | Uh, would the clerk read that statement back, please? |
| Prosecutor: | I've known Fielding Mellish for years and he's a rotten, conniving, dishonest little rat. |
| Fielding Mellish: | Okay, I just wanted to make sure you were getting it. |
| Fielding Mellish: | Can you believe that? She says I'm not leader enough for her. Who was she looking for... Hitler? |
| Esposito: | You have a chance to die for freedom. |
| Fielding Mellish: | Yes, well, freedom is wonderful. On the other hand, if you're dead, it's a tremendous drawback to your sex life. |