Planet Of The Apes (1968)

Review: written Feb 2012

Go Ape with this classic sci-fi

It’s perhaps not so easy for everyone to remember that before Star Wars and the era of the blockbuster, this was the franchise that led the way with merchandise and tie-ins.. and what a unique franchise it is, starting with this classic from 1968.

Charlton Heston plays the astronaut who is happy to go on a long term space mission, since he is cynical about Earth's chances of survival anyway, only to find himself crashed on a world where the social order is upside down - apes are the intelligent species.. mankind (and not forgetting Linda Harrison as woman) is mute and the subordinate species. The eventual discovery that he can talk exposes friction and division between the society of apes, between those that believe man is no more than an animal and to be ‘used’ and exterminated, whereas others, such as Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter’s scientists, are convinced they are capable of more. Heston soon realises he must try and escape.

Although entertaining simply on an adventure level as a simple chase movie, this truly is an example of science fiction doing what it does best – using a fantasy or future scenario, to explore meaningful issues, in this case issues of race and civil unrest. If you’ve never seen it, the 1960’s pace might leave you wondering what all the fuss is about – but the prosthetics and make up are still extraordinary now, somehow allowing actors in monkey costumes the ability to emote and act. And of course, that devastating ending still has the power to shock. Most of all – its issues of distrust and hate over that which is “different’ still resonate, never mind the more obvious anti-nuclear rhetoric.

Essential viewing.

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