Planet of the Apes Movie Review

Astronaut Charleton Heston crashlands on a planet in the future (3978 A.D.) where apes are masters and humans are merely brute animals. Superior science fiction with sociological implications. Heston delivers one of his more plausible performances, and superb ape makeup creates realistic pseudo-simians of Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, James Whitmore, and James Daly. The story is slightly reminiscent of the Twilight Zone episode in which astronauts end up inhabitants in an alien zoo; in fact, Rod Serling co-wrote the screenplay for Planet of the Apes, adapted from Pierre Boulle's novel Monkey Planet. Followed by four sequels (some of which are pretty good), including Beneath…, Escape from…, Conquest of…, and Battle for…, and two television series.

1968 (G) 112m/C Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, Linda Harrison, James Whitmore, James Daly; D: Franklin J. Schaffner; W: Rod Serling, Michael G. Wilson; M: Jerry Goldsmith. National Board of Review Awards ‘68: 10 Best Films of the Year; Nominations: Academy Awards ‘68: Best Costume Design, Best Original Score. VHS, Beta, LV FOX, FUS