Rhinoceros

Original 'comedy' about an everyman's struggle to maintain his identity in a society that pushes mass conformity. Not being familiar with the source material, it's difficult to provide meaningful comparisons, but it does effectively convey the seductive lure of mob rule and the difficulties associated with active resistance, even if its moments of slapstick seem unnecessary. The message seems to be that collective hysteria leads to barbarism, and Mostel, Wilder and Black do fine work.

Too shrill

A very timely film I can see my old stamping ground the Prince Charles Cinema in London (upon re-opening) will not hesitate to screen either as a mystery film or as a special one-off, but it all feels like watching a rhinoceros run into a brick wall at 10000fps and then just watch it try to compute what just happened at 5000fps

Despite the rather harsh reviews, the American Film Theatre's take on Ionesco's RHINOCEROS proves a fairly entertaining--and relevant--absurdist allegory on conformity and identity. Zero Mostel's rambunctious performance is the best part of it (his transformation scene is priceless), but Gene Wilder is solid as the pathetic everyman, as is Karen Black as the ethereal Daisy. Tom O'Horgan's direction is just a bit heavy-handed at times with some dated touches; Galt MacDermot's score is wonderful.