Bananas (1971)
Directed by Woody Allen
Genres - Comedy | Sub-Genres - Absurd Comedy, Political Satire, Slapstick | Release Date - Apr 28, 1971 (USA - Unknown) | Run Time - 82 min. | Countries - USA | MPAA Rating - PG13Share on
Synopsis by Don Kaye
One of Woody Allen's earlier, more slapstick-oriented efforts, Bananas tells the story of Fielding Mellish (Allen), a neurotic New Yorker who follows the object of his affections, Nancy (Louise Lasser), to the fictional Central American country of San Marcos, where she is involved in a revolution. Nancy wants nothing to do with Fielding, but he soon becomes a guest of the country's dictator (Carlos Montalban), before accidentally becoming the leader of San Marcos himself. Fielding is eventually shipped back to the US and tried as a subversive, but being that this is a comedy, and an especially light one at that, everything works out in the end. A far cry from Allen's later, more somber films, Bananas still works as an often hilarious amalgam of sight gags, one-liners, and bizarre asides.
Characteristics
Moods4>
Keywords
revolution, Central-America, dictator, fish-out-of-water, trial [courtroom], survivor, politician
Attributes
High Artistic Quality, High Historical Importance