Rhesus Play shows and analyses aggressive play--play fighting and play chasing--among free ranging rhesus monkeys of La Cueva Island, Puerto Rico. It confronts the question of why monkeys play by examining what they do when they play, and illustrates that the fundamental objective of play fighting is to bite without being bitten, a goal attained in part by climbing on top or getting behind the play partner. Sections illustrating development of aggressive play and play between mis-matched individuals elaborate the theme: play fighting functions to practice and perfect fighting skills.

Rhesus Play is 24 minutes, color, with optional chapter selection.

Screened at

Margaret Mead Film Festival New York(1977)
Robert Flaherty Seminar (1978)
Conference on Visual Anthropology Temple University (1978)
New York Visual Anthropology Center (1978)
American Society of Primatologists Emory University (1978)

Review of Rhesus Play by Suzanne Ripley in American Anthropologist