Bananas (1971) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A neurotic man's attempt to impress Nancy accidentally carries him from romantic aspiration into revolution, presidency, trial, and marriage.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Coup And A Courtship

The film introduces San Marcos through political assassination and a coup that brings Vargas to power. In the United States, Fielding tries to impress Nancy by presenting himself as concerned about revolutionary politics.

Key Events

• San Marcos President Assassinated — Howard Cosell covers the assassination of San Marcos's president. Characters: Himself Location: San Marcos
• Vargas Seizes Power — A coup brings General Vargas to power. Characters: General Emilio M. Vargas, Himself Location: San Marcos
• Fielding Courts Nancy — Fielding tries to impress the social activist Nancy. Characters: Fielding Mellish, Nancy Location: United States
• Fielding Visits San Marcos — Fielding travels to support the revolutionary cause. Characters: Fielding Mellish Location: San Marcos
• Fielding Shows Concern — Fielding attempts to demonstrate concern for native people. Characters: Fielding Mellish Location: San Marcos

The Manufactured Assassination

Fielding travels to San Marcos and becomes the target of Vargas's deceptive assassination scheme. He survives the attack but is captured by the real rebels after Vargas falsely declares him dead.

Key Events

• Vargas Orders Assassination — Vargas orders disguised men to kill Fielding. Characters: General Emilio M. Vargas, Fielding Mellish Location: San Marcos
• Assassins Disguise Themselves — Vargas's men disguise themselves as his opponents. Characters: General Emilio M. Vargas, Fielding Mellish Location: San Marcos
• Fielding Evades Attack — Fielding survives the assassination attempt. Characters: Fielding Mellish, General Emilio M. Vargas Location: San Marcos
• Fielding Captured By Rebels — The real rebels capture Fielding after his escape. Characters: Fielding Mellish Location: San Marcos
• Vargas Declares Him Dead — Vargas declares Fielding dead despite his survival. Characters: General Emilio M. Vargas, Fielding Mellish Location: San Marcos

An Unlikely Revolutionary

With no practical way to return to his former life, Fielding joins the rebels for two months. His awkward revolutionary training leads into the successful overthrow of the existing political order.

Key Events

• Fielding Joins Rebels — Fielding joins the rebels for two months. Characters: Fielding Mellish, Esposito Location: San Marcos
• Revolutionary Training — Fielding clumsily learns how to become a revolutionary. Characters: Fielding Mellish, Esposito Location: San Marcos
• Revolution Succeeds — The rebels achieve a successful revolution. Characters: Fielding Mellish, Esposito Location: San Marcos

The Accidental Presidency

The victorious rebels discover that Esposito has gone mad and replace him with Fielding as president. Fielding then travels back to the United States to seek financial aid for San Marcos.

Key Events

• Esposito Loses Control — Esposito is revealed to have gone mad after victory. Characters: Esposito, Fielding Mellish Location: San Marcos
• Fielding Becomes President — The rebels replace Esposito with Fielding as president. Characters: Fielding Mellish, Esposito Location: San Marcos
• Aid Mission To America — Fielding returns to obtain financial aid while wearing a fake beard. Characters: Fielding Mellish Location: United States

Trial And Matrimony

Fielding reunites with Nancy, is exposed, and faces a bizarre trial involving contradictory testimony. His sentence is suspended, Nancy agrees to marry him, and the film closes with Cosell's comic wedding report.

Key Events

• Nancy Recognizes Fielding — Fielding reunites with Nancy but is exposed despite his disguise. Characters: Fielding Mellish, Nancy Location: United States
• Fielding Faces Trial — Fielding defends himself against several incriminating witnesses. Characters: Fielding Mellish, Judge, J. Edgar Hoover Location: Court
• Testimony Is Altered — A clerk reads back favorable testimony as unfavorable testimony. Characters: Fielding Mellish, Judge Location: Court
• Suspended Prison Sentence — Fielding receives a suspended sentence with a neighborhood restriction. Characters: Fielding Mellish, Judge Location: Court
• Nancy Accepts Marriage — Nancy agrees to marry Fielding after the trial. Characters: Fielding Mellish, Nancy Location: United States
• Wedding Consummation Reported — Cosell reports humorously on the couple's brief consummation. Characters: Fielding Mellish, Nancy, Himself Location: United States

Story Breakdown

• San Marcos Coup — Political violence establishes the unstable world that Fielding enters.
  • Presidential Assassination — Howard Cosell reports the assassination of San Marcos's president.
  • Vargas Takes Power — A coup brings General Vargas to power.
• Fielding Courts Nancy — Fielding's romantic goal motivates his interest in revolutionary politics.
  • Social Activist Nancy — Nancy's activism shapes Fielding's understanding of what might impress her.
  • Journey To San Marcos — Fielding travels to the republic to demonstrate his concern.
• Vargas's Deception — Vargas manipulates violence to obtain foreign financial aid.
  • Disguised Assassins — Vargas's men pose as opponents while targeting Fielding.
  • False Death Report — Vargas declares Fielding dead even after Fielding survives.
• Rebel Captivity — Fielding's failed escape places him inside the revolutionary movement.
  • Rebel Capture — The real rebels capture Fielding after the assassination attempt.
  • Forced Commitment — Fielding joins the rebels for two months because Vargas has erased him publicly.
• Revolutionary Presidency — Fielding's awkward participation culminates in an unexpected leadership change.
  • Clumsy Training — Fielding struggles while learning how to be a revolutionary.
  • Esposito Replaced — The rebels replace the unstable Esposito with Fielding as president.
• Return And Exposure — Fielding returns to the United States and loses the protection of his disguise.
  • Aid Mission — Fielding travels back to obtain financial aid for San Marcos.
  • Nancy Recognizes Him — Fielding reunites with Nancy but is exposed despite his fake beard.
• Courtroom Absurdity — The legal system turns Fielding's political adventure into a contradictory public trial.
  • Incriminating Witnesses — Several witnesses testify against Fielding, including a person claiming to be J. Edgar Hoover.
  • Altered Testimony — The clerk reads favorable testimony back as an unfavorable version.
• Marriage Resolution — Fielding receives conditional freedom and finally secures Nancy's agreement to marry.
  • Suspended Sentence — The Judge suspends Fielding's prison sentence with a neighborhood restriction.
  • Comic Consummation — Cosell closes the film by reporting on the couple's brief consummation.

Directed by

Woody Allen

Key Cast

• Woody Allen — Fielding Mellish
• Louise Lasser — Nancy
• Carlos Montalbán — General Emilio M. Vargas
• Nati Abascal — Yolanda
• Jacobo Morales — Esposito