In (almost) celebrating the 50th anniversary, why not review the movie that started it all? Science fiction movies and TV shows were starting to come into fruition with B-level science-fiction films, adaptations from novels and TV shows such as Star Trek. But, 1968 was the year when two kinds of science fiction movies came into play and believe it or not, they both came out the same weekend in the United States. 2001: A Space Odyssey is a movie that opened one chapter in history in which Stanley Kubrick created a film that showed us the evolution of humanity and in a way, if there is more life in the universe, which was symbolized by the monolith. Planet of the Apes opened another chapter in which what happens if humanity was crippling and had reversed. It is a weird concept but it is a terrifying revelation as we witness apes taking over for better and for worse.
Astronauts Taylor, Landon, Dodge (Charlton Heston, Robert Gunner and Jeff Burton) and Stewart are in deep hibernation in a space voyage. As they wake up and due to time dilation, all the crew members (except Stewart who dies of desiccation due to a crack in her pod) age 18 months. They crash land on a planet and depart from their sinking ship and board on an inflatable raft to coast onto the land. Before departing the ship, Taylor discovers that it is two millennia later in the year 3978. While having enough rations for three days, they set off through a desolate wasteland to find any other life on the planet.
While swimming naked in an oasis, the astronauts' clothes are stolen and ripped apart and their supplies are pillaged. However, they find a group of humans in a cornfield who are unable to speak and are in their primitive state. Taylor catches an eye to one of the humans, whom he later names Nova (Linda Harrison). But, suddenly, a flurry of armed and uniformed gorillas ride horseback onto the fields to collect the humans and during the raid, Taylor gets shot in the neck, Landon is wounded and unconscious and Dodge is killed. Taylor is taken to Ape City where a blood transfusion saves his life. He observes the city as gorillas are authoritative police officers and guards, orangutans are administrators, politicians and lawyers and chimpanzees are scientists. Humans are considered vermin as they should be killed, enslaved or be participants in scientific experiments. Taylor is taken under the care of Zira (Kim Hunter), a psychologist, and her fiancé, Cornelius (Roddy McDowall), an archaeologist.
This has been established as a science fiction classic as it not just reversed roles but gets you curious as to how it happened. Heston's character is us as we are observing the horror and "the madhouse" in Ape City as to how the ape authorities handle humans. We have never seen like that at the time or when we are introduced to the series for the first time ever. The whole film is an exploration. What the movie does brilliantly is not give away too many details but it shows us the landscape of a deserted planet and a wasteland of sand that tempts you to die.
Whoever says in today's world 50 years later in our sensitive times that this movie is about two cultures representing two races: one black, one white: they are mostly WRONG. The apes represent the good and disciplined nature that does not tear their society apart. They contribute themselves to the future in which they advance their research and data in science, agriculture and politics. Even though not everyone is in total agreement, the apes respect each other not as animals but almost people, in a way. As for the humans, their hatred and non-trust is what consumed them to become primitive species in the future. They do not care for other resources and habitats except for themselves and that is what drove them to the bottom of the pit.
Charlton Heston is quite capable of leading a movie quite well and he does for about 2/3rds of the movie whereas the last third is dedicated to the apes in this movie. He is a hothead astronaut in the beginning but develops into a complex character that solves the puzzle in the end and it is not a sight for sore eyes. He is good in this movie. But, for me, it is Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter that steal the movie because they represent the good of the apes' characters in which we view them as evil from our eyes because we follow the human characters as the protagonists. It is really Dr. Zaius, who is the antagonist, who wants the truth hidden. Plus, Cornelius and Zira offer some humor in their intellectual dialogue.
For me, is it a classic? Mmmm...about half of the movie is a classic. I felt its pacing towards the end dragged out a bit out as they want to fill more time to explore a cave in which there is not much substance to it except a doll. But, that revelation is what leads to the iconic ending. And, there is some weird editing that does not quite hold the movie together. But, this is a fantastic sci-fi movie that takes chances on its material and pulls it off that garners more movies (one and a half sequels of the old franchise are good). If you want to explore new realms of your standard science fiction genre full of the emptiness of space and time travel, watch the original Planet of the Apes movie because it holds up quite well.
***1/2
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