Planet of the Apes (1968) *First Time Watching Reaction!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 พ.ค. 2024
- Planet of the Apes (1968) *First Time Watching Reaction!
In this video we react to seeing 1968 "Planet of the Apes: for the first time. Planet of the Apes is a science-fiction story about 3 astronauts finding a planet which apes rule. Planet of the Apes 1968 stars Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Linda Harrison and Kim Hunter. Watch us watch and react to seeing Planet of the Apes 1968 for the first time. We also give our thoughts and rate Planet of the Apes at the end. For more first time watching reactions subscribe to Force of Light Entertainment today!
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❤the the sequels weren't not as great as this movie
@@mikesilva3868 - true, it is always hard to surpass an iconic classic BUT the sequels and the reboot films were all entertaining and profitable at the box office (otherwise their would be no sequels if they didn't make money).
@@MLJ7956 agreed 📼
Beneath is an important sequel to this as it continues the story. I'd say it's essential.
Thank youse for touching my life 💯❤️🙂✅️🧡
The three apes in the hearing doing the "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" gestures get me every time.
not apes, orangutans. Apes are soldiers, it's very class driven.
Orangutans are a species of ape. There are three species of apes represented in the movie. Dr. Zira and Cornelius are chimpanzees, Dr. Zaius is an orangutan, and the soldiers are gorillas. But all are apes.
@@chetstevensq orangutans are apes dude
@@chetstevensqOrangutans ARE apes. So are the Gorilla's and Chimpanzees. The Gorillas are the soldiers and muscle.
@@chetstevensq- They are ALL apes, as is man. The soldiers were gorillas, the scientists chimpanzees, and the civil/religious leaders orangutans.
This movie is a masterpiece, ladies. The ape makeup was invented for this film. It was a whole new take on latex appliances for the actor's face. All courtesy of John Chambers, a great makeup artist! 👏👏👏👏
I thought Rick Baker?
@@Tango_Elite Rick Baker was still relatively unknown at the time this was made. John Chambers mostly earned his living by making latex prosthetics for people wounded in battle. That's how he got the job to do Apes.
@@Tango_Elite You are thinking of the Tim Burton remake
Also, John Chambers worked as a contractor for the CIA, creating disguise kits for CIA personnel stationed in other countries.
@@Tango_Elite Chambers assist CIA in a mission named Canadian Caper in 1979 when Iranian Radicals took over US Embassy. Chambers helped 6 of the personnel escaped from the crisis with CIA and Canadian Embassy. CIA created a fake Hollywood crew scouting for locations in the area. Story of the caper in which movie named Argo based on with Ben Affleck. Chambers created Spock's ear for original series. Chambers did makeup for Blade Runner (1982)
This movie is deeper than people expect, with conversations about science versus religion, how governments deal with "truths" that threaten its legitimacy, whether people have a right to know dangerous things, racism, elitism, and a lot more. Dr. Zaius is the antagonist, but he's not evil, he's just doing what he thinks will preserve the peace and order of his society, especially once you learn what he knows: that humans had a chance to rule, and blew it all up.
Very good summary.
Well I think long ago "science & religion" actually went hand-in-hand, just look at figures like Plato, even the Atlanteans. Something happened where as "Religion" was confounded into the belief in One *God* that's when the Mysteries Schools and Secret Societies separated the two as a means of control.
If their is a "God" willing the behaviour of every subatomic particle, your science tells us there is also the "anti-particle". Anti-matter. Then look at what they're doing at Cern, very dangerous, supposedly trying to bring through "Anti-God", and every Religion has their name for that specific entity.
What Humanity especially Man needs to learn to do is return back to "Spirituality".
My parents were so cool! When I was nine years old, they packed me in the car and we watched Planet of the Apes at the drive in! Today’s generation has no idea what they have missed!
A drive in seems so fun and cute! ☺️
@@natalieforceoflightenterta8857 Seen a couple reactions of this movie 🍿🎥 and no one noticed the 3 Orangutans pose as the " SEE NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL 🙈🙊🙉
Exact same memory at Drive In 8yrs old
@@natalieforceoflightenterta8857I went to a few drive-ins when I was a kid.
I was 9 y/o as well at the drive-in. That dead woman on the ship scarred the crap out of me then.
This was the big franchise before Star Wars. I was born in 1971 and grew up with the toys, comic books, tv series, animated Saturday morning cartoon and the movies had a heavy rotation on tv. I had a Planet of the Apes birthday cake when I was 4.
Love this series.
Born in 71 also. We had the best of the old world and the new tech breaking though! Cool time to be alive!
"Its a Madhouse!
A MADHOUSE!!" In other words it's 2,000 years later and nothing's changed.
Hosing patients down with cold water was a Thing in insane asylums (madhouses) back in the day.
Live & Use That QUOTE!! 😂
I first watched this as an 8-yr old on the CBS Late Movie in 1972. I'll never forget the horn blare as the apes appear on horseback. I was hooked. This movie is absolutely fantastic.
I also saw it when I was 8 yrs old but in 1968 when it was released.
I remember being about 10 years old, reading the Marvel comic book adaptation. At that moment Taylor cries, "APES! Apes on horseback!"
I still get the same chills at that ape horn blast as I did when I first saw this back in the early '70s.
I was 11. I had sprained my ankle and went to the hospital. The nurse asked if I was going to watch the movie. I was so excited to see it.
When Taylor said 'Get you stinking paws off me...', after being caught in the net. When I saw it in the theaters in the early 1970's, the entire theater erupted in cheers.
I understand he wasn't exactly well doing those scenes. He had a minor illness that affected his voice I think.
Oh, I hadn't seen your post before I responded PE4Doers. Same reaction in both our theaters.
Fun Fact: Roddy McDowell (Who played the Ape scientist Cornelius) would sometimes drive home from work with his Ape Mask still on just to screw with people who saw him in intersections.
Also, if you liked Charlton Heston you guys should check out "Soylent Green" and "Ben Hur", I'm not a religious person but Ben Hur is an epic in every sense of the word.
The "Get your filthy hands off me..." line had the entire theater erupting in a cheer. Up to that point, we were frustrated that Taylor could not defend himself.
"Stinking paws," not "filthy hands."
Ironically Stewart, the woman astronaut probably had the best fate, dying peacefully in her sleep.
I seen it in theaters in 1968. Still my favorite of all the ape films. When we were in the theater when the show the statue of liberty! You heard a huge gasp from the audience!
When this was originally released, people left the theaters in tears because the ending was so disturbing at the time. Keep in mind, we were in the middle of the Cold War at the time and the threat of blowing ourselves up was very prevalent in society.
How come no-one ever seems to notice the crack in the glass of Stewart’s suspended animation capsule? It’s pretty obvious. 🤷🏻♂️
Planet Of The Apes (1968) is not only an exceptional film "for its time", this film reinvented a genre that was completely discredited at that time (most saw science fiction as a genre of B films, given the immense number of low-budget films made in the 50s!), and long before Star Wars, it was the first to become a successful franchise!! John Chambers won an Oscar for best makeup for his impeccable work in this film!! This is not a dated film by any means!! Back then, special effects served the script, and since the advent of CGI, it's been exactly the opposite!! I hope you can make a video reaction of the sequel: "Beneath The Planet of The Apes" (1970)!! I love your channel, I never miss anything!!☝🏼😎
Thank you!! ❤
even as a kid, i thought that it had to be earth all along. There were apes talking english, horses, guns, maple trees , etc. Hey, and what about the moon at night?
I don't think the moon appears. They work to ensure the moon doesn't appear but there are tides so there is some orbitting body. I think horses were the biggest clue. Convergent evolution might produce something similar to a horse but not that similar.
I was brought to watch it when I was 9. I was head over heels. They had Planet of the Apes bubble gum cards at the time, and I collected them all that summer.
Remember the TV series from the 70's?
@@gregsteele806 Very vaguely, but by then I had moved on to my next enthusiasm, Star Trek, followed by Space: 1999.
Saw this as a kid my uncle was so into it. Carlton Heston was such a classic actor and talent!
Charlton.
One of the greatest
@@MikePhillips-pl6ovCarl
She says.... "JUDO CHOP" 🤣... both looking good as always 😍🥰😍🥰😍🥰
I saw this at age seven, with my eight year old brother, when it first came out. We walked about two miles, on our own, to the local picture theatre screening it. I still have memories of much of the movie from that day, as it had quite an impact on my young mind. It was the first sci-fi movie I had seen, but not the first sci-fi, as Lost in Space had already been on TV here before this movie came out.
Movies with a great story and characters are timeless. I saw this when I was 9 in the theater in1968.
It is said that during filming when they would go to the commissary for lunch, the apes would sit together and the humans would sit together. Nothing planed. They were just naturally drawn to their own species.
Even more than that. I saw an interview with Charlton Heston about the movie and he said after a few days on location, during lunch, the actors, no matter their race, would segregate by species - chimps, gorilla and orang-u-tang. Its just programed into us.
More than that. The Apes segregated themselves by type of ape too.
@@AARONANKRUM 'Birds of a feather flock together'.
I definitely recommend watching the entire cycle of Planet of the Apes films. Both this original one and the current one as well.
The main special effect that I like is the beautiful natural scenery which makes films timeless. You can't beat that backdrop.
Michelle: Oh they shot him. That's a tough wound to overcome.
Natalie: Yeah it's more than a scratch.
This was a great reaction!
😂😂 thank you!
"It's merely a flesh wound!"
Films dominated by CGI are little more than glorified cartoons. This film is Sci-Fi royalty. A absolute classic by any measure.
Never heard that expression before but I agree 100%
Science fiction royalty indeed 👏
Why are they glorified cartoons? The reboot trilogy is incredible. Calling them cartoons for using modern technology...
@@kuhpunkt What I did.....was call a film that is DOMINATED by CGI a glorified cartoon. Far different that labeling a film a cartoon for "using" modern technology.
@@geneticrex And why is a film that's dominated by CGI a cartoon? The new Plant of the Apes movies rarely feature a single scene without CGI and yet they are gritty dramas with very serious topics... and you call that a cartoon?
@@geneticrex And why? Tons of modern films are using a ton of CGI that you don't even notice and they are serious movies. What about other animated movies? Are they all cartoon just because they aren't "real"?
hard to believe the practical effects still stand the test of time. Great reaction , Ladies
Thank you!!
The President of the Assembly, at Taylor's hearing was played by actor James Whitmore, who played Brooks in the Shawshank Redemption
Also narrator of the 1981 Space Shuttle movie.
Dr. Zaius was Maurice Evan’s, who played Samantha’s father on “Bewitched.”
I first saw this one at a Drive-in Theater around 1969-70, they used to have a 'double feature' night every week. I enjoyed watching it again with you guys, thanks.
I can't believe that his spaceship didn't even have a non-smoking section.
First film I saw as a child still love the Franchise today loads of memorabilia still being released to this day
I saw this movie when I was a kid on TV. The scene where they find the dead female crewmate scared me. I think the practical effects hold up great to this day.
I still have my Planet of the Apes belt buckle from grade school! Before Star Wars, this was THE franchise! Thanks, ladies!✌️❤️
Saw these movies as a kid and they scared me, I was about 7 years old. Our downtown had about 5 movie theaters within walking distance. When the next to came out I was of course older and sometimes the theater would show all 3 of the series. Me and my siblings would be at the theater all day it seemed. I miss those days!
I saw this movie, aged around 11/12, at school film club as a special treat at Christmas 1968 or Christmas 1969. The movie had a profound effect on me and on later viewings I found so much detail to explore. I own most of the 'Apes' franchise movies and TV spin-off's, plus a few books ... nothing really comes close to the 1968 original as it is a masterpiece.
The award nominations were well deserved, but I feel it should maybe have won more (but that's history).
This was a classic. Charlton Heston played Taylor perfectly. The make-up for the simian was next level in the 1960's. The 3 movies that followed are also excellent. Please watch them. Oh, and on a funny note, i never knew what Roddy McDowell actually looked like because i had only seen him in costume.
"Hopefully they're cute and friendly" - Oh sweet Summer child.
Cute and friendly apes…ha ha.
Seeing Dodge's taxidermized body in the museum was very disturbing and still sticks with me.
💯
@@ForceOfLightEntertainment That certainly didn't make this Brother happy as a kid.
The ape make-up allowed the actors to eat, drink (with a straw) and even smoke. During meal breaks the actors segregated themselves by species (Chimp, Gorilla, etc.). Not by design, it just kind of happened. The Statue of Liberty ending is courtesy of "Twilight Zone" creator Rod Serling.
1968 that ending was mind blowing
Your reaction was spot on. This original is the best. Forget any 'sequel' or 'prequel' that was made after this.
When the movie was being filmed, they promoted it by having an article in popular magazines, about the ape prosthetics and the concept of the movie (humans are submissive, apes are the dominant species). It had a description of the filming process, and it featured photo's that showed the looks of some of the apes. It spoiled nothing and worked to get us hyped up.
So, when we sat in the cinema a year later, when the movie was released, everything was a surprise. The ending was a total unknown and an utter reveal for the whole audience, we all believing we were on another planet. The secret plot twist was really respected. Not in personal conversation nor in the media was it spoiled. Thus all those fresh new audiences could experience it just like we did. Great times.
I loved this film and the tv series when I was young. I even joined the planet of the apes fan club, had all the figures, loved roddy mcdowell. great memories
Planet of the Apes is one of my two favorite franchises. Along with Star Trek. Seeing this first watch reaction is like a gift to me. The whole movie setup to keep Taylor from speaking as long as possible for the shock to the apes. The chase scene allows the viewer to see Ape City. I love the practical effects of the makeup. Finally the twist ending overshadows why Dr. Zauis allows Taylor to just leave . It’s still relevant today . Thank you ladies
Thanks for reacting to this classic movie. I love Charlton as Taylor xx
The newer Planet of the Apes movies rely mainly on CGI, and I think the late 60s/early 70s movies actually look more real.
incredible twist ending. arguably the best ever.
I turned 8 that year, but sadly, I didn't get to see it in the theater. My parents only took me to Disney movies back then. I did see it with a friend a few years later, when they first ran it on TV. It blew us away! It still works as a metaphor for how man too often behaves in unevolved, ape-like ways. That was the message. The apes are highlighting what's wrong with us. They represent the worst in us. WE are the unevolved APES. And we REALLY need to improve! The old band DEVO was stressing that message too. But with music! 🎶
The practical effects were also great for publicity. Roddy McDowall (Cornelius) sang with Carol Burnett on her show as an ape. Fans (particular kids) were fascinated reading about how they did it (it required taking molds of each actor's face and creating custom latex pieces).
Because it was simply makeup and not expensive digital effects, there was even briefly a Planet of the Apes TV series that followed the exploits of two astronauts sent after Taylor and the others.
I love this movie, its one of the best of all time.
This was the first adventure series I fell in love with. I was eleven when aii five movies came out. I never saw one in a theatre but when CBS would show one in primetime, I was there to watch it.
Absolute legend of a movie, still spoofed and homaged to this day. Almost makes you wish it wasn't, cause everyone loves to spoil the ending (including the cover of many re-releases) - one of the biggest twists in cinema history.
In the animated Justice League from the early 2000s there's an episode with intelligent apes, one of which announces "get your filthy hands off me you dirty human."
In the Mark Whalberg version, Charlten Heston does a cameo as an ape. The new trilogy is A+
Nice reaction gals! The golden age of sci fi started in the 1930s and continued through the 40s 50s and 60s. All the concepts that are well known today were seeded in classic sci fi writing for magazines and novels during that earlier period. There is literally nothing new under the sun. The idea of time travel goes back to The Time Machine written by H.G. Wells in 1895. Cinema and television just gave another outlet for these ideas.
This movie is great because it used current issues, like the Cold War, nuclear warfare, mankind's destructive tendencies, in a creative dramatic framework.
Mark Wahlberg’s version of The Planet of The Apes was my introduction to this series of movies, and Charlton Heston is probably my favorite classic actor.
Me too.
I Love that 2001 version.
It's perfect to me. sublime Make up and costume, No Unnecessary CGI, Unlike the CGI soup They Made recently...
Me too. Nowadays, I prefer the classic film to the remake or reboots.
The Mark Whalberg version uses the ending twist from the original novel.
I'm a Charlton Heston fan too. Some years ago I purchased an autographed POTA's photo of a scene with Charlton Heston and Linda Harrison and it was signed by both actors.
When I saw it back in '68, I had a lot of trouble getting past the apes speaking American English. I remember saying, "The apes are speaking English to my sister, and her looking confused. After it was over, she said, "I didn't get what you meant by that until the end".
"I'd like to kiss you goodbye" was in Dunston Checks In long before I ever saw this movie. That was my only strange window into the movie and by the time I saw it in context it still feels kind of random.
I still prefer this series over the new ones.
Agreed. The original is a smart gift from the late Rod Serling. The modern series is just a depressing slow walk tour of mankind's extinction.
Ditto.
For locations, They landed in Lake Powell, walked Through Grand Canyon and Monument Valley, and Ape city was at the Fox Ranch where they also did M*A*S*H. The first of 5 movies, a cartoon series and a live action TV series, all in about 7 years. Taylor is called Bright Eyes as he's the only Blond and has Blue eyes. The book came out in 1963, early drafts were written by the great Rod Serling. Came out before man walked on the moon.
The Tim Burton version from 2001 is a lot of fun. Astonishing prosthetic/makeup effects with just a touch of CGI here and there.
I seem to remember seeing this projected on the wall in the gym in Junior High, so maybe 1969. Still one of my all time faves. When Charlton Heston finally gets his voice back, we went nuts. Of course, space travel was a big topic then and none of us were sophisticated enough to suspect the ending so that was a shocker
This was written by Rod "Twilight Zone" Serling, and the part in the beginning with the blonde aging in the glass chamber was used in a TZ episode, "The Rip Vanwinkle Caper."
Edward G.Robinson was suppose to play the role of Dr.Zauis,but he realized his health was not good so he passed on the role. Maurice Evans still did a good job with the role.
20:00......In the original draft of the screenplay, ladies, the apes had a very advanced society, comparable to ours. To save money on the budget, it was decided to make the ape culture primitive.
"mankind made a desert of it ages ago" - Dr. Zaeus
That crash landing is so clever. Neatly avoiding having to use an obvious model. Back in the 60's you could get away with these things in Space but model FX always looked fake when put against a real enviroment. Then of course the space ship prop on Earth was full size.
Still the best of the series.
You 2 are the cutest! 🤩😍🥰🙈🙉🙊
🥰☺️🤗
Thank you!!
All anyone knew about Planet of the Apes when they went to see this movie was the original novel where an inventor & a journalist land on a planet in orbit around Betelgeuse.this movie follows the novel's plot points that the ending shocked American audiences. Because The Planet of the Apes was the fate of golden skinned humanoids in orbit around Betelgeuse! It's easy to miss the "it also happened on Earth" epilogue in the book.
This movie came out during the Cold War, when everyone was expecting a nuclear war.
The safari at the beginning is missing only the lady apes admiring the corpses, & adding clips of hair to their hats. The novel is like Gulliver's Travels: a fantasy setting used to critique current society. Back in the 60s, safaris were held in Africa & India to kill animals for their pelts & stuffed heads. The apes stuff human corpses for their museum. (It's cheaper to instruct extras to stand still, rather than use realistic maniquins.)
Hey, ladies! I hope you watch all 5 of them from that era. This movie came out when I was 1 year old, and I remember being a small child when they aired on television in the early 1970s. I had most of the toys and games, and still have a few of them. There was also a short lived television show. I still have all of the Topps trading cards for that series, as well as all of the movies and the TV series on DVD.
Something to note, though: Back then, the MPAA rating system was VERY different than it is now. There was no PG-13, NC-17, or even "Unrated". There was G, PG, R, X, and XXX. Now, there was a big distance between G and PG, which is why you see violence and mild nudity (nekkid butts) in a G rated movie. The distance between PG and R was even wider, so you'll see some PG rated movies with "frontal nudity" (but in a non-sexual way). A "single" X rating was for movies with extremely graphic violence and/or (more than mild/quick) nudity. Y'all know what XXX was, I'm sure. Before PG-13 and NC-17 came to be, some horror movies got an X rating, but were later changed to either NC-17 or Unrated to avoid confusion.
The movies Gremlins and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom were the main reasons for the addition of PG-13. Also, Red Dawn was the first movie released with a PG-13 rating.
Thanks for the info!
@@ForceOfLightEntertainment well it was the 60s different time period like the movie barberella it was rated pg and it would be r rated now 👻
The 29th scroll was probably the truest thing ever written into a movie. It was proven early in the movie when the 3 men found a solitary plant in the desert and their 1st instinct was to dig it up for no reason and kill it.
Dear lord! All these years later & now I get it!
The singer , artist Paul Williams was in " Battle For The Planet Of The Apes ". He also did the soundtrack for the 1976 " Bugsy Malone " with Scott Baio , a very young Jody Foster . And also the lyrics on the first Muppet Movie from 1979. He writes many songs for many artist as well. For instance The Carpenters music " We Only Just Begun " he wrote that.
Watching all 5 makes a complete story.
Such a chilling ending to the film…didn’t see that coming.
A terrific movie.
Heston is my favourite actor
23:50 They’re doing see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil
Glad that you enjoyed it. I grew up on this one and the Tim Burton one, then discovered the sequels way later, not too long before the new ones started
The new ones are definitely worth it, but so are the original sequels. The latter walked for the new ones to run and run and run and run.
One of the best endings in the history of cinema.
It's also the first movie that spawned a franchise and a lot of merchandising, way before Jaws and Star Wars. It was not in Hollywood's tradition to make sequels back then. The exception being Universal Pictures' monster movies during the 30s and 40s.
I’m sure!
"Beneath the Planet of the Apes" is a must see .... It explains everything!
It develops the viewpoint, and the ending is more of a surprise for me (no spoilers).
With Victor Buono!
Saw this at the drive in theater in 68 as a kid. Classic Sci-fi with nuclear war as the underlying message. I've always been disappointed that the DVD covers show the Statue of Liberty, ruined the surprise ending for everyone, which was a classic ending in 68. I agree with you, practical effects give more interest than CGI.
Glad you both liked it and you're looking radiant as ever, especially the makeup game.
Love that vintage Star Wars T Michelle!
I loved watching the 4 original movies every Saturday morning growing up. Roddy McDowell (Ceaser) did and incredible job of acting. Did you miss the reference during the hearing of the see no evil speak no evil hear no evil?
DVD cover looks like it gives away the plot. Statue of Liberty was supposed to be a surprise. lol
It's the 2000s. Can't frighten the viewers!
Infuriating spoiler on the part of the jacket designers !
Did you notice how the religious panel during Dr.Zira & Dr. Cornelius's discussion about the Forbidden Zone they took the classic pose of "Hear No Evil, See No Evil & Speak No Evil" And Nova was the secretary of one the producers and he wanted her to give her a shot in film. But the director found she couldn't act and therefore gave her no lines.
She was in the Batman show.
I remember the first time i watched it i was so in shock in the end lol
I saw this in 1968. I was quite a spectacle on the big screen!
Ah the days of Omega man, Soylent green 2001 a space odyssey Let it be..
This is indeed a classic of sci-fi.
The sequels to this original are mixed, and probably not worth reacting to, but the contemporary prequel trilogy, starting with 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes', are VERY much worth reacting to for your channel. A great series.
Throw a tomato at 'im! LOL 🍅
I love these.. got the dvd collectors box. 2nd not as thrilling but necessary for the 3rd which is my favourite
remember sitting in the kitchen as a young boy watching this on the little tv so the adults could watch their movie in the living room (it was just another rerun at the time in the 80s)
Dianne Stanley, the actress who played Lieutenant Stewart, was uncredited, so for many years, there was a erroneous rumor that the character was played by producer Arthur P. Jacobs' future wife Natalie Trundy who did go on to play other roles in the Planet of the Apes franchise. Also, a life mask of Dianne Stanley was taken and "aged" to make a dummy for the shot of Stewart's mummified corpse, but the make-up designer, John Chambers, thought the dummy's body looked too fake, so he auditioned a bunch of elderly extras until he found an 83 year old woman whom he finally cast to play the corpse.
The book was a lot different but the idea of apes dominating a planet was surreal to the lead character. In the book the astronaut was actually on another planet ruled by apes and did come back to earth a few years later. This movie was a big hit when it came out. The ape makeup made a big impression. I got to meet John Chambers, the makeup artist who created the makeup application for the movie.
They landed back on Earth on Nov 25, 3,978... a Saturday. All things considered, at least they have the weekend.
Like so many that have commented before, being 53 now, I saw this classic back in the early 70s. I know that it was quite important to my young fandom of films since I did have a Mego Dr. Zaius figure and loved it very much. I've never been a huge fan of the film, but still enjoy it nonetheless like all of those amazing good movies from back then. The ship sinking scenes were done in Lake Powell within Utah. I've been there back in the 80s, so it was immediately noticeable. Then you have the Grand Canyon shots of the Colorado River, which isn't too far away from Lake Powell. As for its latest heritage, it did a lot of first in story, characterization, make-up effects and overall concept. But one of the main things people remember is the various memorable quotes by Charlton Heston, especially the "Damn dirty apes" and the ending.
His fame seems to have faded now - I've watched a number of POTA reactions recently and no one says 'That's Charlton Heston!'. But that was one of the biggest movie stars ever, right there.
Wonderful reaction!
Favorites were the 3rd & 4th sequels Escape and Conquest despite the very 70s look of the films.
Thank you!!
Based on the novel by Pierre Boulle (Who also wrote "The Bridge over the River Kwai"). The screenplay was written by Rod Serling (Creator of "The Twilight Zone").
There’s a lot more going on in this film then initially may be gleaned on a surface level viewing.
And that was by design.
Rod Serling was no superficial writer.
He created The Twilight Zone. A show known for seemingly innocuous sci-fi adventure stories, but were actually loaded with heavy and philosophical themes.
This was Rod Serling’s method for working around the censorship of the day.
He said as much in multiple interviews.
You couldn’t be more off when you say the story is simple and straightforward.
But then Rod Serling writes to appear that way so I can’t blame you.
This movie is deeper than people expect, with conversations about science versus religion, how governments deal with "truths" that threaten its legitimacy, whether people have a right to know dangerous things, racism, elitism, and a lot more. Dr. Zaius is the antagonist, but he's not evil, he's just doing what he thinks will preserve the peace and order of his society, especially once you learn what he knows: that humans had a chance to rule, and blew it all up.
I saw this movie on TV (along with all the sequels) as a small child in the '70s and was enthralled. I think you could say it's a prototype '70s high‐concept blockbuster. It has a B-movie plot and an above-average budget that the filmmakers exploited to the fullest; also, if I'm not mistaken, it did well at the box office. My only complaint is that it is hopelessly anachronistic in ways that B-movies usually are. The post‐apocalypse history is compressed at least 100x, all Apes can still read and speak English after 2000 years (something that has never happened in the history of human language!), etc. The general quality of the movie largely makes up for these faults, though. I could never make a top five movie list, but this movie would surely be a contender.
I saw it in "The Forbidden Zone" (42nd and B'way) and left the theater a bit dazed about that fact. It was generally understood at that time that ground zero would be the Empire State Building, so it would have been unlikely that the Statue of Liberty wouldn't get melted in an attack, but it was considered a really good reveal anyway. BTW: Those dolls didn't have a string. I don't know what it's called but it was a small cylinder with a something like a slide whistle mechanism that was calibrated to make that sound when the doll was shifted. (They may still carry something larger that makes a sound like a cow mooing in a joke shop somewhere. ---- Wikipedia identifies it as a "Moo Box")
Always love the sweater puppies!