MovieChat Forums > Bananas (1971) Discussion > Best Part?

Best Part?

posted 17 years ago by ralballer
46 replies | jump to latest

My candidates:

- Mellish is presented with the check at the end of the night when he dines with El Presidente, he disagrees with it.

- The taylor on vacation presenting problems in the timing of Mellish's assasination, and later on, rebels complaining about ill fitting uniforms.

- The fake translator at Mellish's return to the US, repeating word by word what was being said, only with a Spanish accent.

- While escaping to exile, Colonel Vargas booking cheap motel rooms and complaining about prices.

Any more?

[–] kessingler 17 years ago

its all over for el presidente!

and the whole trial

[–] nightswatch 17 years ago

man, the absolute best part was:
"I have this recurring dream"

ending when trying to parallel park a crucifix erupts in a brawl between rival monk clans. I was seriously crying.

[–] rzajac 16 years ago

nightswatch wrote:

Man, the absolute best part was:
"I have this recurring dream..." [It ends] when trying to parallel park a crucifix erupts in a brawl...

Yes. This is *the* great gag in the movie. It's great because it reflects Woody Allen doing what he does the very best--this kind of humor--as a sight gag.

[–] joshpines 17 years ago

FWIW, the hotel he calls was far from a cheap motel but rather one of the fanciest large hotels in Miami Beach: The Fountainebleu.

My favorite part is probably the speech after the rebel victory ("all children under the age of 16...are now 16 years old.")

[–] filmboy09 17 years ago

I ike The "Giving" And "Recieving" Scene when The Girl Breaks up with Allen!

[–] psuro1 17 years ago

The scene where he plays the cellist...in a marching band.

[–] witmachine 17 years ago

I might be mistaken, but isn't the cello playing in a marching band scene in an earlier film ... "Take the Money and Run"?

[–] Edwardcole 17 years ago

There are so many good parts of this film, but the dinner scene where the food taster drops dead, El Presidente casually remarks "I have been poisoned so much, I have developed an immunity" and Fielding is looking at his food in a very concerned manner, is as good as any. The guy at the magazine store shouting "How much for the copy of 'Orgasm', this main wants one," and the later subway scene with Sylvester Stallone are pretty much a dead heat with them, especially at the end where the woman he tried to help is reading his magazine. The non-verbal scene early where he pickets an embassy immediately after telling the people he works with "I know what I'm doing" also deserves mention.

[–] UN_Jefferson 17 years ago

Melish placing his order at the Diner for the entire rebel group and then skipping out on the tab!

[–] JohnS-37 17 years ago

I liked the exercise desk the most. Everytime I see this part I laugh out loud and it's never gotten old.

[–] seamus_lavery 17 years ago

I have a confession to make....I'm Fielding Mellish

..I thought there was something missing..

[–] mervis32 17 years ago

Suck OUTd da poison!!

Joo enjoy your flight? Jes, I deed!!

Underwear must be changed every half hour. In order to make sure this is being done, underware will be worn on the outside!
(Yeah, the "all children under 16 are now 16" is hilarious, too.)

[–] miko-19 17 years ago

" Don't worry about me sweetheart!. I'm like a cat....I always land on my feet!"

Split second cut to him balling in the streets.

[–] balthazar_bee 16 years ago

>" Don't worry about me sweetheart!. I'm like a cat....I always land on my >feet!"
>
>Split second cut to him balling in the streets.

Yes! My son and I were hysterical after that scene.

What about...

"You're immature, Fielding."

"How am I immature?"

(There's a punchline to this joke, but it could never have been funnier than the way Woody's voice lilts upwards at the end of "immature"; he sounds like he's about twelve.)

Miss America saying, "Then he becomes a subversive mother."

The evil general: "I could kill him now -- he buys cake for a group of people, he doesn't even bring an assortment."

Assassinated President: "Facist...dictator." (dies)

Howard Cossell: "Well, of course you're upset."

And finally, greatest of all, to the suggestion that Mellish open with a joke at the San Marcos fundraiser in America...

"I'm reminded of the farmer who had incestuous relations with both of his daughters simultaneously...this is the wrong crowd for this joke."

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] [email protected] 16 years ago

There's so many great parts - this is one of my all-time favorite comedies - but I love the version of that old movie cliche where Fielding in disguise meets Nancy and she doesn't recognize him. She remarks that he looks like her old boyfriend "...oh, but you're not like him at all! I mean, you're wonderful, and he was...an idiot. ...he was a...a stupid clown..." His expression listening to this, eyes and brows only visible, is priceless.