Bananas

Movie / Show Details

Woody Allen directs, co-writes, and stars in this 1971 comedy about a hapless New York product tester named Fielding Mellish who gets dumped by his activist girlfriend Nancy and flees to the fictional Latin American nation of San Marcos. What begins as a vacation quickly spirals when he is kidnapped by rebels, and after they seize power, the group installs him as their leader, believing he can save the country. Allen’s satirical approach takes aim at relationships, politics, and authority itself, delivering rapid-fire jokes and absurdist humor that builds into a memorable courtroom sequence where Mellish conducts his own cross-examination.

This is a single-disc DVD release from United Artists with a runtime of 82 minutes and a PG-13 rating. The film features Carlos Montalbán, Howard Cosell, and Louise Lasser alongside Allen, showcasing an early example of what the director called his “slapdash” comedic style. Grab this used copy and experience Allen’s second directorial effort at a fraction of retail cost.