Bananas

Top 10 Fun Facts

1. The film's title could be considered a double pun-tendre: "bananas" as in, bonkers, and also referring to a "banana republic" (the geopolitical term, not the store).
2. For his part, Woody Allen claimed he called the film Bananas "because there are no bananas in it." Duh.
3. Another possible source of the title: some of the film's plot comes from the Richard P. Powell novel Don Quixote, U.S.A., in which the protagonist is an agronomist specializing in bananas.
4. Before it was Bananas, the film was going to be called El Weirdo. We're guessing the latter didn't test as well with ape-based focus groups.
5. Despite the violent setting of the plot, Woody Allen opted not to show any blood in the film to maintain a light, farcical tone. The fake movie blood industry was not amused.
6. Sound familiar? The rebels' anthem would be used again two years later in Woody Allen's film Sleeper.
7. Before he was Rocky Balboa, he was Subway Thug #1: keep your eyes peeled for a young Sylvester Stallone in an uncredited role as a bully in the subway.
8. Woody Allen allowed legendary sports announcer Howard Cosell to improvise most of his lines. Sylvester Stallone was probably not so fortunate.
9. Bananas ranked #78 on Bravo's list of "100 Funniest Movies," right above ¡Three Amigos! (Nobody tell Chevy).
10. Just in case you were wondering, San Marcos isn't a real republic. The movie, however, was partly filmed in the very real locations of Puerto Rico and Peru.

Cast

Crew