filmandcinemapuritans

PLANET OF THE APES

The PLANET OF THE APES has its Fortieth birthday this year and the film’s impact stills holds up after all these years, and that the original film is undeniably one of the most important science fictions films ever produced. Based upon a novel by French author Pierre Boulle (who also wrote THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI), and a screenplay by Michael Wilson and the infamous Rod Serling, the film tells the story of a group of astronauts who wind up on a planet that is populated by walking, talking, hunting apes.

This film was an instant box-office smash and an instant classic, and started a huge franchise that led to four more films, a string of toys and board games, a short lived television and cartoon show and yes even a God Awful remake(made I’m sure regrettably by Tim Burton). If you haven’t yet seen the original film make the effort and watch the film, it has also one of the best endings ever! This is another franchise that was ruined by the sequels, which I would avoid at all costs. The sequels involve nuclear bombs, time traveling apes, a rebellion of apes against the world, and a final battle of epic proportions. Please, just watch the original and enjoy every second, this film was also one of Charlton Heston’s better (and later most spoofed) performances.