Haven't watched this movie in decades. It was like watching a movie with fresh eyes.
It's not a big budget film or high concept like some other movies that came out around this time. But it manages to balance a very original concept with solid acting and polishes it off with some wild art direction. There are virtually no special effects aside from the makeup the 'apes' wear.
Heston does a great job as the red meat eating, all American alpha male. He isn't overbearing or macho. But he puts across that kind of aura with aplomb.
The set decoration for the space ship they start the movie in is pretty bland. The ship design likewise is not memorable. So when you first encounter the 'Apes', their clothing and everything their civilization has built it is quite beguiling.
The clothes are outlandish but kind of play into a few contemporary fashion trends. Though in some cases, I would need to check the publish date on photos to be sure it wasn't the other way around. They are some hip threads. But we see this in other places. At first the cage they are stuffed in looks like any other jail cell. But on closer examination the bars of the cage are irregular. As if every one has been crudely made by hand. They even did a number on the rifles that the apes and Heston use. Apparently these are modified M1 Garand rifles. But no grunt would recognize the Monte Carlo stock and fully enclosed front hand guard.
The various sets all have a similar crude, foreign look as the first one.
The story is a little slow. But it's not a flaw of the storytelling. This wasn't an action packed blockbuster like the modern Apes films. This one leans heavily in the sci fi direction. Besides most other films of this era had a similar pace.
Underneath the sci fi there is another story. A conflict between inflexible ideological orthodoxy and the pursuit of empirical knowledge.
This was further elaborated in the book, but here it is presented across several scenes where scientists must appeal to higher ups who are the sole authority on matters of science AND faith.
I would say that while there is no nudity or graphic gore in this movie. The opening scenes on the planet are very violent. There are a few scenes that children or people with a weak stomach may not want to watch.
I certainly hope Beneath the Planet of the Apes holds up as well. I remember liking that one more.
It's not a big budget film or high concept like some other movies that came out around this time. But it manages to balance a very original concept with solid acting and polishes it off with some wild art direction. There are virtually no special effects aside from the makeup the 'apes' wear.
Heston does a great job as the red meat eating, all American alpha male. He isn't overbearing or macho. But he puts across that kind of aura with aplomb.
The set decoration for the space ship they start the movie in is pretty bland. The ship design likewise is not memorable. So when you first encounter the 'Apes', their clothing and everything their civilization has built it is quite beguiling.
The clothes are outlandish but kind of play into a few contemporary fashion trends. Though in some cases, I would need to check the publish date on photos to be sure it wasn't the other way around. They are some hip threads. But we see this in other places. At first the cage they are stuffed in looks like any other jail cell. But on closer examination the bars of the cage are irregular. As if every one has been crudely made by hand. They even did a number on the rifles that the apes and Heston use. Apparently these are modified M1 Garand rifles. But no grunt would recognize the Monte Carlo stock and fully enclosed front hand guard.
The various sets all have a similar crude, foreign look as the first one.
The story is a little slow. But it's not a flaw of the storytelling. This wasn't an action packed blockbuster like the modern Apes films. This one leans heavily in the sci fi direction. Besides most other films of this era had a similar pace.
Underneath the sci fi there is another story. A conflict between inflexible ideological orthodoxy and the pursuit of empirical knowledge.
This was further elaborated in the book, but here it is presented across several scenes where scientists must appeal to higher ups who are the sole authority on matters of science AND faith.
I would say that while there is no nudity or graphic gore in this movie. The opening scenes on the planet are very violent. There are a few scenes that children or people with a weak stomach may not want to watch.
I certainly hope Beneath the Planet of the Apes holds up as well. I remember liking that one more.
