Results: Planet of the Apes

Pierre Boulle - was a French author also known for The Bridge on the River Kwai. In 1963, his La Planète des singes was published. While the film uses the basic premise, plot and some characters, there are differences. Ulysse Mérou is the main character, invited on a journey to the star Betelgeuse. The apes have a 1960's era technological society. There's a frame story and different end. Would you want to see an adaptation closer to Boulle, the apes having a technological society?

One of the hurdles in the film being made was make-up, how to make it realistic and not have audiences laugh. At the time, apes in films were typically for humor. Enter John Chambers, who worked on prosthetics for war victims before getting into film make-up (he designed Mr. Spock's ears among others). Below is a rarely seen test of the make-up, which proved it would work. The more recent Planet of the Apes films use a body capture CGI for tge apes, which looks good, but not quite the same feeling in my opinion this in coming off as 'real'. Do you prefer one over the other?

The music - Jerry Goldsmith did the soundtrack for Planet of the Apes which is eerie and unnerving at times using things like mixing bowls, a ram horn. A Brazilian cuíca created ape-like sounds. Planet of the Apes was rated 'G' when first released which today would not be the case considering this scene and other elements. Ever watch a movie you felt wouldn't be considered 'general audience' material today?

The themes - while Planet of the Apes can be viewed as a sci-fi adventure tale, there is a lot going on thematically holding up a dark mirror to human society. This will continue though most the series. Below are a few from the original, any you noticed on first viewing or later?