San Marcos (fictional)
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San Marcos is a fictional Latin American republic loosely based on Cuba, featured in Bananas, the 1971 Woody Allen comedy. Its scenes were actually filmed in San Juan, Carolina and Loiza, Puerto Rico. Though small, San Marcos leads the world in hernias and dysentery. In exchange for the aid it requests from the United States, San Marcos can offer locusts at popular prices, as well as women. Its taxes are paid in horse manure.
After the assassination of the president – reported live by Howard Cosell, Roger Grimsby and Don Dunphy - General Emilio Molinas Vargas (played by Carlos Montalbán) seizes control. Guerrilla leader Esposito (played by Jacobo Morales) ousts Vargas with the help of New York consumer products tester Fielding Mellish (Allen). Once he assumes power, Esposito quickly goes mad. This speech gives a flavor of his insanity:
- Esposito: From this day on, the official language of San Marcos will be Swedish. Silence! In addition to that, all citizens will be required to change their underwear every half-hour. Underwear will be worn on the outside so we can check. Furthermore, all children under 16 years old are now...16 years old!
Fielding Mellish is asked to replace Esposito, accepts, and soon makes a trip to the United States to seek aid.
