Planet of the Apes (1968)

Cast: Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, James Daly and Linda Harrison.

Director: Franklin J. Schaffner

Release Date: 1968

Running Time: 1hr 47 minutes

Genre: Action/Sci Fi

Rating: PG

Format: Sky Cinema

Synopsis:

*may contain spoilers* 

A space shuttle crew crash lands on a distant planet in the future where intelligent apes are the dominant species and humans are at the bottom of the food chain.

Based on the novel "La Planete des Singes" by French writer Pierre Boulle, shortly after it was translated into English by British writer Xan Fielding and named Monkey Planet. The idea that essentially our own species is living on a remote planet somewhere in the distant future is certainly an interesting prospect. US astronauts Taylor, Landon and Dodge have been travelling through space in hyper-sleep for eighteen months, they left Earth seven-hundred years ago, the year is now 3978. When their space shuttle crash lands on a remote planet they find themselves surrounded by intelligent apes who are now the dominant species.

Are they really on a remote planet? Or are they simply still on Earth? The theory is a pretty complex one. If they are to be on Earth, why were they travelling through space for over two thousands years? Did they reach a wormhole and comeback on themselves? Humans are treated like animals. The theory soon becomes confusing when we look at the recent "Planet of the Apes"franchise. Humans created a drug that caused the apes to become intelligent, so intelligent that the Apes took over Earth.  Human survivors in "War for the Planet of the Apes" were born mute, a characteristic that came with Simian Flu, a virus that wiped out humans. Is it possible that "Planet of the Apes" leads on from the latest hit "War for the Planet of the Apes"? The storyline is not only thought provoking but it's clearly been exceptionally well written.

Charlton Heston delivers a very interesting performance as astronaut George Taylor, stranded on the remote planet alone, he too finds himself a mute after being attacked by apes. The apes live within a community of doctors, psychologists and essentially zoo keepers. The idea that humans can talk and write baffles them. The relationships between the apes are very complex. Apes have become terrified of humans. The special effects are absolutely outstanding. The clever use of prosthetics are what really make the characters so fantastic, their mannerisms are excellent, allowing the actors to give an even more genuine performance. A terrific production design that falls audiences to the very end. Considering the time in which it was produced, this is exceptionally impressive.

A very disturbing and thought-provoking film, superb. A classic.

5/5 stars