Gene Wilder becomes depressed when everyone in town begins to turn into rhinoceroses.
It is, of course, based on the Eugen Ionesco play, and top-billed Zero Mostel recreates his Tony-winning performance from the 1961 Broadway version. Although it's still clearly a one-set play, largely placed in Wilder's shabby apartment, it's been opened up competently at the beginning and end, and with enough varying camera set-ups to keep it visually interesting.
I've had problems with the play, since I first read it in high school. In large part, it always struck me as a gloss on Kafka's THE METAMORPHOSIS, an uneasy mixture of absurd comedy and existential dread. Wilder brings some of his nebbish comedy from THE PRODUCERS into the mix; he was reportedly cast because of his work with Mostel in that movie. However, the central issue - what would you do if everyone started to turn into a rhinoceros? - elicits a shrug and "I'll worry about that when it happens" from me. Wilder's performance, as well as that of Karen Black as his sometimes girlfriend, annoys me.
Maybe it plays better in French. I suppose the performances are good, and technically it's well produced, but it leaves as cold as the run of zombie movies, bereft of any symbolic content.
It is, of course, based on the Eugen Ionesco play, and top-billed Zero Mostel recreates his Tony-winning performance from the 1961 Broadway version. Although it's still clearly a one-set play, largely placed in Wilder's shabby apartment, it's been opened up competently at the beginning and end, and with enough varying camera set-ups to keep it visually interesting.
I've had problems with the play, since I first read it in high school. In large part, it always struck me as a gloss on Kafka's THE METAMORPHOSIS, an uneasy mixture of absurd comedy and existential dread. Wilder brings some of his nebbish comedy from THE PRODUCERS into the mix; he was reportedly cast because of his work with Mostel in that movie. However, the central issue - what would you do if everyone started to turn into a rhinoceros? - elicits a shrug and "I'll worry about that when it happens" from me. Wilder's performance, as well as that of Karen Black as his sometimes girlfriend, annoys me.
Maybe it plays better in French. I suppose the performances are good, and technically it's well produced, but it leaves as cold as the run of zombie movies, bereft of any symbolic content.