“Planet of the Apes” is a science fiction story about three astronauts stranded on a planet where apes rule and humans are slaves. They find themselves trapped and imprisoned by the apes within a complex hierarchal society. Director Franklin J. Schaffner (“Patton” 1970) and screenwriters Michael Wilson and Rod Serling put together a movie with good pacing, an engrossing storyline, good acting, and though-provoking themes. It was based on a 1963 science fiction novel of the same name by Pierre Boulle.
The cast includes Charlton Heston, Jeff Burton, and Robert Gunner as the astronauts, Roddy McDowell, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, James Whitmore, and James Daly in heavy makeup as the apes, and Linda Harrison as Heston’s girl friend. Lesser roles were filled by Lou Wagner, Woodrow Parfrey, Buck Kartalian, Norman Burton, Wright King, Paul Lambert, Dianne Stanley as a fourth astronaut, and columnist Army Archerd as one of the gorillas.
The very watchable “Planet of the Apes” was a big hit at the box office, the sixth highest grossing film of 1968, for producer Arthur P. Jacobs, APJAC Productions, and 20th Century Fox. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, winning an honorary Oscar for John Chambers for his groundbreaking prosthetic makeup techniques. The non-winners were Costume Design and Original Score (Jerry Goldsmith). The outstanding cinematography by Leon Shamroy was filmed in Utah, Arizona, and Malibu Beach in California.
“Planet of the Apes” spawned a long-lasting movie franchise with sequels, remakes, or reboots released in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 2001, 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2024. There were also several television series.
Planet of the Apes (1968)
cinema
My Review
“Planet of the Apes” is a science fiction story about three astronauts stranded on a planet where apes rule and humans are slaves. They find themselves trapped and imprisoned by the apes within a complex hierarchal society. Director Franklin J. Schaffner (“Patton” 1970) and screenwriters Michael Wilson and Rod Serling put together a movie with good pacing, an engrossing storyline, good acting, and though-provoking themes. It was based on a 1963 science fiction novel of the same name by Pierre Boulle.
The cast includes Charlton Heston, Jeff Burton, and Robert Gunner as the astronauts, Roddy McDowell, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, James Whitmore, and James Daly in heavy makeup as the apes, and Linda Harrison as Heston’s girl friend. Lesser roles were filled by Lou Wagner, Woodrow Parfrey, Buck Kartalian, Norman Burton, Wright King, Paul Lambert, Dianne Stanley as a fourth astronaut, and columnist Army Archerd as one of the gorillas.
The very watchable “Planet of the Apes” was a big hit at the box office, the sixth highest grossing film of 1968, for producer Arthur P. Jacobs, APJAC Productions, and 20th Century Fox. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, winning an honorary Oscar for John Chambers for his groundbreaking prosthetic makeup techniques. The non-winners were Costume Design and Original Score (Jerry Goldsmith). The outstanding cinematography by Leon Shamroy was filmed in Utah, Arizona, and Malibu Beach in California.
“Planet of the Apes” spawned a long-lasting movie franchise with sequels, remakes, or reboots released in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 2001, 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2024. There were also several television series.