PLANET OF THE APES is a sci-fi thriller about astronaut Col. George Taylor (Charlton Heston) a misanthrope on a mission to the constellation Orion. His spaceship is caught in a time warp and lands on Earth two thousand years in the future. The film is based on the 1963 novel by Pierre Boulle, "La Planete des Singes" ("Monkey Planet").
(first lines)
George Taylor: "And that completes my final report until we reach touchdown. We're now on full automatic, in the hands of the computers. I have tucked my crew in for the long sleep and I'll be joining them soon. In less than an hour, we'll finish our sixth month out of Cape Kennedy. Six months in deep space - by our time, that is. According to Dr. Haslein's theory of time, in a vehicle travelling nearly the speed of light, the Earth has aged nearly 700 years since we left it, while we've aged hardly at all. Maybe so. This much is probably true - the men who sent us on this journey are long since dead and gone. You who are reading me now are a different breed - I hope a better one. I leave the 20th century with no regrets. But one more thing - if anybody's listening, that is. Nothing scientific. It's purely personal. But seen from out here everything seems different. Time bends. Space is boundless. It squashes a man's ego. I feel lonely. That's about it. Tell me, though. Does man, that marvel of the universe, that glorious paradox who sent me to the stars, still make war against his brother? Keep his neighbor's children starving?"
Spaceship Icarus crash lands in a lake on an unknown planet on November 25 in 3978. Taylor, Landon (Robert Gunner), and Dodge (Jeff Burton) are in deep hibernation and awaken to find that Stewart (Dianne Stanley) has died. The ship starts to sink and the crew use an inflatable raft to reach shore. Dodge tests the soil and says it is incapable of supporting life. The three travel through the desert, find vegetation, then an oasis where they have a swim. Their clothes are stolen, and the thieves turn out to be a group of mute and primitive humans. Then everybody is chased and captured by Gorillas on horseback. Dodge is shot and killed, and Taylor and Landon are taken to Ape City. Taylor is shot in the throat, but two chimpanzee scientists Zira (Kim Hunter) and Dr. Galen (Wright King), save him. Taylor is caged with beautiful Nova (Linda Harrison), but temporarily cannot speak because of his throat injury.
Taylor discovers the talking apes are divided into three classes: Gorillas (police, military, laborers), Orangutangs (administrators and politicians), and Chimpanzees (intellectuals and workers). Humans cannot speak and are considered inferior beasts of burden to be hunted and used in scientific experiments. Landon is lobotomized and Dodge is stuffed and exhibited in a museum.
Cornelius the chimp reads from the sacred scrolls of the apes: "Beware the beast man, for he is the Devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport or lust or greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death."
Zira and her fiance Cornelius (Roddy McDowall) take an interest in Taylor, especially when he begins to speak to them. He says, "Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!" Zira calls Taylor "Bright Eyes". Dr. Zaius (Maurice Evans) is the boss and puts Taylor on trial for attempting to escape. He says, "You are a menace. A walking pestilence." Zaius threatens to emasculate and lobotomize him if he does not reveal where he came from. He continues, "I have always known about man. From the evidence, I believe his wisdom must walk hand and hand with his idiocy. His emotions must rule his brain. He must be a warlike creature who gives battle to everything around him, even himself."
Dr. Zaius explains, "The Forbidden Zone was once a paradise. Your breed made a desert of it, ages ago." Cornelius and Zira free Taylor and Nova, travel to the Forbidden Zone and visit a cave with remains of human technology. Dr. Zaius and a band of Gorillas find them and there is a brief battle. Taylor and Nova are allowed to escape on horseback because Zaius thinks it's best if they just disappear.
The unforgettable ending is a plot twist that shows Taylor discovering the Statue of Liberty half buried in a sandy beach. He realizes that he is back on Earth in the future, mankind has destroyed its civilization, the Apes have taken over, and his misanthropy has ended.
Also in the cast are: James Whitmore (President of the Assembly), James Daly (Dr. Honorious), Lou Wagner (Lucius), Woodrow Parfrey (Dr. Maximus), Buck Kartalian (Julius), Norman Burton (Hunt leader), Paul Lambert (Minister), Frank Delfino, Jerry Maren, Harry Monty, Gene O'Donnell, Jane Ross, James Bacon, Priscilla Boyd, Eldon Burke, Dvid Chow, Billy Curtis, Irvin Koszewski, Robert Lombardo, Steve Merjanian, and Felix Silla. The script was written by Rod Serling then re-written by Michael Wilson from Pierre Boulle's novel. Jerry Goldsmith composed the strange and exotic music. Franklin J. Schaffner directed.
PLANET OF THE APES is a sci-fi classic, the first and best of a series of five "Ape" films. It is a stylish, thought-provoking, engrossing, innovative, and entertaining fantasy. Lots of action and adventure. Acting performances are excellent. The film is obviously allegorical with little subtlety and much of the social commentary is forced. Racism, class divisions, narrow-mindedness, and anti-nuclear sentiments are tackled. The self-conscious humour is unnecessary and perhaps out of place. It has a familiar plot, with a great start and finish--but it sags in the middle. The beginning and end of the film are different from Boulle's novel, probably due to Rod Serling.
As well as the five-part movie series there was a short-lived TV series and a TV cartoon series. Tim Burton's big budget PLANET OF THE APES (2001) starring Mark Wahlberg as Captain Leo Davidson is quite good with much more realistic apes. It's a remake, but as usual Burton says it is his version of the book, not a remake of the original movie. Of the six "Ape" movies it is the third or fourth best.
