PLANET OF THE APES (1968) REVIEW!!!

Initial release date: April 3, 1968

Studio: 20th Century Fox/APJAC Productions

Plot: Complex sociological themes run through this sci-fi classic about three astronauts on a futuristic planet where apes rule and humans are slaves. The stunned trio discovers that these highly intellectual simians can both walk upright and talk. They have even established a class system and a political structure. The astronauts suddenly find themselves part of a devalued species, trapped and imprisoned by the apes.

Cast

Charlton Heston - George Taylor

Roddy McDowall - Cornelius

Kim Hunter - Zira

Maurice Evans - Dr. Zaius

James Whitmore - President of the Assembly

James Daly - Honorius

Linda Harrison - Nova

Robert Gunner - Landon

Lou Wagner - Lucius

Woodrow Parfey - Maximus

Jeff Burton - Dodge

Buck Kartalian - Julius

Writer(s): Michael Wilson (The Sandpiper; Lawrence of Arabia)

Rod Sterling (The Twilight Zone)

Pierre Boulle (based on the novel by)

Director: Franklin J. Schaffner (Patton; The Boys from Brazil)

Rated G (112 minutes)

Last week I had the chance to check out the highly anticipated Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (which you can see the review now). Initially I was just going to take another look at the reboot trilogy. Instead, I decided to give the entire series a look since I've only seen the OG classic and the recent trilogy.

Time to get this started with the 1968 classic Planet of the Apes. This film I've watched several times over the years and couldn't wait to watch it again. Planet of the Apes is one of those films that, no matter how many times you watch it, the film will never disappoint.

The classic is still captivating and as soon as you see the apes on horse back for the first time in the film, it can still be very surreal. The make up and costumes for the apes still look really incredible to this day!

And, of course, the ending of this film is STILL one of the best endings in cinematic history. You can currently find Planet of the Apes and the entire franchise on the STARZ add-on!

HERE ARE QUITE A FEW TIDBITS FOR THE 1968 CLASSIC!

• During breaks in filming, actors made up as different ape species tended to hang out together, gorillas with gorillas, orangutans with orangutans, chimps with chimps. It wasn't required, it just naturally happened.

• At one of the first test screenings,a woman walked up to Heston and asked how he was doing. Heston had no clue who she was until she revealed that she was Kim Hunter (Zira) - the actor had only ever seen her in full make up.

• There were three other endings suggested for the film's climax, but the one favored by Heston ultimately won out.

• All the ape actors and extras were required to wear their masks even during breaks and in between shots because it took so much time to make them up. Because of this, meals were liquefied and drunk through straws.

• The movie's line "Get your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape" was voted as the No. 66 movie quote in 2005 by the AFI (out of 100).

• Director Franklin J. Schaffner deliberately used off, skewed angles and hand held cameras to create a disorienting effect, much like what Heston's character experiences in this brave new world.

• Heston was first exposed to Planet of the Apes when producer Arthur P. Jacobs sent him a copy of the novel. Heston wasn't impressed with the book but nevertheless sensed that it had the potential for an interesting film.

• The success of this film launched a franchise, including four sequels, as well as a TV series, animated series, comic books and various merchandising. The original series was followed by Tim Burton's remake of the same name in 2001 and a reboot series, which began in 2011.

• Producer Arthur P. Jacobs bought the rights for the Pierre Boulle novel before its publication in 1963. Jacobs pitched the film to many studios and was initially announced as a Warner Bros. production.

• After Jacobs made a successful debut as a producer doing What A Way To Go! (1964) for Fox, and begun pre-production on another film for the studio (Doctor Dolittle), he managed to convince Fox VP Richard D. Zanuck green-lit the film.

• Planet of the Apes was met with critical acclaim and is widely regarded as a classic. It was rated one of the best films of 1968, applauded for its imagination and its commentary on a possible world turned upside down.

• According to Fox records the film required $12.8 million in theater rentals to break even and made $20.8 million - a large profit for the studio at the time.

• Among the 25 films included in the Library of Congress in 2001.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0-dUM_A-Cg