Mario Banana I (1964) User Reviews

Daring...but probably not a film to show your mother.

[planktonrules · 3 May 2012]

This short Andy Warhol film can be found in "American Film Treasures/Avant Garde Film: Disc 2"--a compilation of mostly forgotten art films of the 20th century. This DVD set is NOT for the casual viewer and sometimes I wonder why I watched the films--as some of them were VERY artsy and weird!

Like most of Warhol's short films, this consists of a closeup shot of the subject and lasts about 4 minutes. Nothing that exciting happens here, but I did like that the film was deliberately daring and controversial--with a transvestite (the self-named Mario Montez) eating and licking a banana. I am sure it shocked a lot of folks because of its sexual innuendo and continuing focus on nothing else but Montez. Not a great film but I would LOVE to have seen the audience's reactions to it!

Not art

[Horst_In_Translation · 2/10 · 23 May 2016]

"Mario Banana I" is the first of two 3.5-minute live action short films by famous artist Andy Warhol. His work in film is a lot more prolific than most people today know and the reason is that many of his works on motion pictures were simply not good at all. Just like this one here. we have a static camera directed at the head of a man (Mario Montez) and he is eating a banana while dressed up in fur like a woman. That is it. There is no plot or anything, so it is probably an experimental film or avant garde. But what it really is is a very disappointing film. I refuse to recognize this as art. Everybody can do it. It is being provocative for the sake of it with absolutely nothing to offer in terms of cinematic value. I recommend you to stay far far away and it is beyond me why there is a sequel even. At least both films are very short.

You mean there were two of these?

[classicsoncall · 2/10 · 29 October 2017]

As prolific as artist Andy Warhol was, this is the only film I've ever seen made by him. I have however, seen his 'Campbell's Tomato Soup Can' at a Richmond, Virginia museum, content to be sharing space with other examples of modern art. This is a four minute silent film featuring a full facial close up of drag performer Mario Montez lasciviously lingering with coy delight over a peeled banana. One's takeaway I imagine is that he's about to have an orgasm over a piece of yellow fruit. It's my understanding that there was a sequel to this in which Montez actually eats the banana in "Mario Banana II", so if this one turns you on, by all means, seek out the other. Better yet, put on some beaded gloves, some makeup and a glittering headdress and see if you can come up with your own tasteless film.