Bananas: Difference between revisions

A 1971 comedy movie by and with [[Woody Allen]] as Fielding Mellish. He's a lonely product tester in the big city, who tries and fails to maintain a relationship with Nancy, a politically motivated woman whose pet project for the year is raising money for the rebellion in San Marcos, a Central American country ruled by dictator Vargas and riven by rebellion. Despondent over the break-up, Fielding travels to San Marcos to see things for himself, and gets sucked into the fight against Vargas. [[Hilarity Ensues]].

 

 

 

* [[Acquired Poison Immunity]]: Gen. Vargas has a servant on hand to taste his meals in case they are poisoned. One meal does turn out to be poisoned, but the General eats it, anyway, claiming that he's been poisoned so many times to have developed immunity.

* [[Air Guitar]]: This movie has a scene with an ''air chamber band''. Woody eventually asks them to keep it quieter. (Originally, there were supposed to be instruments, but they never arrived and Woody decided [[Throw It In|to roll with it]].)

* [[Baby Carriage]]: As a quick throwaway gag

* [[Banana Republic]]: San Marcos. (A [[Fictional Counterpart]] of Cuba)

** The same with the executions in the middle of the film. Woody Allen stated that it was a comedy, and blood would have ruined the [[Charlie Chaplin]] mood he was going for.

* [[Book Ends]]: [[Wide World of Sports]] shows up to cover both a political assassination (at the opening) and a honeymoon (at the end) as sporting events.

* [[Clark Kenting]]: Sent to the US to plead for aid, Mellish knows he needs a disguise to hide the fact he's really an American in charge of a foreign nation. Cue one ridiculous-looking beard with the straps keeping it in place visible to everyone.

* [[Cold War]]: US Troops being flown to San Marcos:

'''Second Paratrooper''': The CIA is not taking any chances this time. Half of us are for, half of us against! }}

* [[Cool and Unusual Punishment]]: Being forced to listen to ''Naughty Marietta''.

* [[Drunk with Power]]: After overthrowing the government of San Marcos and rebel leader Esposito declaring himself the new president.

* [[Everything Sounds Sexier in French]]: Discussed when Woody is in bed with his new girlfriend.

'''Nancy:''' ...oh. }}

* [[False-Flag Operation]]: The dictator of San Marcos attempts to assassinate a bumbling American tourist (guess whom) and frame a revolutionary group, in order to obtain American aid against the insurgents. It backfires, ultimately leading to the tourist becoming the ''leader'' of San Marcos.

* [[Full-Circle Revolution]]: Parodies this; upon taking power, the leader of the revolution immediately starts making a series of ridiculous decrees, see above. His underlings get rid of him and make Woody Allen dictator.

* [[Hilariously Abusive Childhood]]: Woody Allen recalls his parents to his psychiatrist:

* [[I Have to Wash My Hair]]: Fielding Mellish tries to ask out a [[Sexy Secretary]].

'''Norma:''' Aw, that's sweet. I'm busy. }}

* [[Jungle Princess]]

* [[Kent Brockman News]]: It began with [[Howard Cosell]] himself providing live commentary on the assassination of the leader of San Marcos.

** It ends with [[Wide World of Sports]] covering Fielding's marriage to Nancy.

* [[Male Gaze]]: Done to comic effect with a leather clad secretary who brags she and her friends are going to have a porno party.

* [[Waking Non Sequitur]]: As Woody Allen is roused after being knocked out, he's moaning "...no more Polish women!"

* [[With Great Power Comes Great Insanity]]:

'''Fielding:''' What's the Spanish word for straitjacket? }}

 

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[[Category:Films of the 1970s]]