The absurdist nature of the film doesn't hide the basic premise of the story - conformity to a herd mentality is to be resisted at all times if one is determined to remain an individual. The rampage of the rhinoceros(es)/rhinocerii(??) may serve to distract the disengaged viewer, but if you're paying attention, you'll get it pretty clearly. Even Stanley (Gene Wilder), seemingly immune to rhinocerization, in a way falls victim to his own brand of conformity - getting drunk on weekends to escape the fact that he 'can't get used to life'.
My question would be - where did Zero Mostel get the energy to pull off that rhinoceros transformation? That was a pretty challenging and inspired piece of work. Can you just picture him over at the Bronx Zoo rhino pit evaluating the huge animal's every movement and idiosyncrasy? They were all incorporated into that magnificent characterization that had to go on for a significant portion of the story. It seemed that even Wilder was entranced by the performance.
As for Karen Black, I wonder whose idea it was for her to wear that front slit skirt to distract the audience? Herd mentality at work, right? It worked on me, along with those long, leggy shots in every imaginable contorted position. It's too bad she became a rhinoceros too, she had such promise.
I had never heard of this movie before until spying the title on one of the cable channels today. The story description hooked me right off, leading me to schedule my day so I could catch it. I guess that could be a submission of sorts as well, but it was worth it to catch the principals in their prime in the sort of inspired lunacy that was considered their trademark.
My question would be - where did Zero Mostel get the energy to pull off that rhinoceros transformation? That was a pretty challenging and inspired piece of work. Can you just picture him over at the Bronx Zoo rhino pit evaluating the huge animal's every movement and idiosyncrasy? They were all incorporated into that magnificent characterization that had to go on for a significant portion of the story. It seemed that even Wilder was entranced by the performance.
As for Karen Black, I wonder whose idea it was for her to wear that front slit skirt to distract the audience? Herd mentality at work, right? It worked on me, along with those long, leggy shots in every imaginable contorted position. It's too bad she became a rhinoceros too, she had such promise.
I had never heard of this movie before until spying the title on one of the cable channels today. The story description hooked me right off, leading me to schedule my day so I could catch it. I guess that could be a submission of sorts as well, but it was worth it to catch the principals in their prime in the sort of inspired lunacy that was considered their trademark.