Planet of the Apes (1968)

I’ve watched all of the different film versions and sequels and rebooks of Planet of the Apes over the decades, but I always return to this original film (based upon the novel by Pierre Boulle) as the best. It still has the power to surprise and entertain even after repeated viewings. The plot is simple yet intriguing. A team of American astronauts lands on a strange planet after being in suspended animation for a long period of time. The three who survive their long trip in space face a long, hard journey through some desolate land, but they finally encounter a group of primitive humans. The humans, unable to speak, are soon rounded up by a group of gorillas riding horses. We are almost half an hour into the film before it lives up to its title. The dominant species is apes, and even among the apes, there is a hierarchy. Orangutans lead the society with their control of science and faith, gorillas supply the physical strength to serve in the military or perform other hard labor, and chimpanzees are scientists and doctors. Two chimps, Zira (played by Kim Hunter) and Cornelius (Roddy McDowell), take a particular interest in one of the humans who has been captured, Charlton Heston’s Taylor. Zira studies human behavior, and Cornelius is an archaeologist who has found evidence of an earlier human civilization. However, Dr. Zaius (played by Maurice Evans, whose voice alone is enough to capture your attention) heads up the scientific community, and knowing already the truth about the connection between humans and apes, he plans to have Taylor castrated and/or lobotomized before other apes discover the secret. There’s a fake trial over Taylor’s fate, but an escape facilitated by Zira and Cornelius leads him to seek the source of human civilization in the so-called Forbidden Zone. It’s the end of the film before Heston’s Taylor realizes that he is actually back on Earth, just thousands of years in the future after humans have destroyed the land and their civilization. The haunting image of the Statue of Liberty in the final frames is justifiably famous. Heston is really the star here, and he must have loved having his body on display for much of the film. He was certainly in great shape, and the view from behind is definitely an enjoyable one that we get to witness a couple of times. Heston also gets some of the greatest lines in film history, such as when, during an attempted escape from captivity, he finally regains the use of his voice from an injury sustained in his capture. His immortal response to being recaptured? “Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!” Overall, the film raises some tricky questions about evolution and strongly condemns the violence and self-destruction humans were inflicting upon each other during the late 1960s. It might even be making some subtle comments on bigotry and prejudice and race relations. Planet of the Apes deserves special mention of its makeup. Artist John Chambers managed to allow the actors to have (limited) facial expressions while still appearing to resemble the various kinds of apes. This was before the days of CGI, so Chambers’ accomplishment is even more remarkable considering how much time the actors must have sat in the makeup chair each day.

Honorary Oscar: John Chambers for his outstanding makeup achievement

Oscar Nominations: Best Costume Design and Best Original Score for a Motion Picture (Not a Musical)