The reveal at the end will always be one of the most infamous and legendary reveals ever put to celluloid. The shock, rage and resignation in Taylor's voice is palpable.
I get that you're correcting their assumption that it was related to brain surgery, but ending the sentence with "it's not brain surgery" makes it sound like you're saying that gelding is super simple and that's hilarious.
Watching this as a young boy, the reveal was crazy. Charlton Heston has another great reveal in Soylent Green. Like you, I liked Cornelius and Zera the chimps, the Apes pissed me off, and the Orangutans were infuriating. Nova was fine eye candy for back in the day, lol. I'd watch this over the years every time it was on tv.
That end scene was a direct reaction to the nuclear/cold war threat that was hanging over the two sides, especially after the Cuban crisis. The anti-war feelings gradually strengthened among the young and this film certainly had a part to play.
TBR, your theory is actually how the book goes. The Ape Planet is actually highly advanced and building a spaceship. The chars steal the ship and return to earth to find the natural path of evolution is for the apes to rise and displace humans. This is one of the best movies ever. We have Rod Serling to thank for that ending as it was actually from a similar Twilight Zone episode (3 astronauts crash on Mars and one kills the others to maximize supplies only to find they were actually on Earth the whole time). Ultimately, his script wasn't fully used but they kept his ending.
This is one of the most thought-provoking sci-fi films in history. Science. Religion. Sociology. Psychology. Philosophy. All wrapped into one adventurous sci-fi thriller. An all-time classic.
An earlier draft of the script is credited to Serling. There are a lot of elements of his draft present in the final product, but his draft depicted the ape civilization as being much more advanced than what we see on screen (the apes had helicopters, etc). You can really feel the Serling influence throughout the film though. The existential questions, the twist ending revealing the true nature of the story. I've debated with myself whether Planet Of The Apes could be considered the best episode of The Twilight Zone, just by association and structure alone.
Pierre Boulle wrote the book. Sterling adapted it for screen. Apparently the producers felt the budget would be to high, so they did a rewrite and simplified the story.
That makes a lot of sense! I had no idea, but I get it - he was also a fierce proponent and early defender of human rights. His stories were thoughtful, and racism and bigotry were common themes in Twilight Zone, as in POTA. Thanks for sharing that info.
I remember an interview with one of the make-up artists who said as they made up hundreds of extras, they released them to a common area to wait. He said obviously the film included thinly veiled themes of racism, but he was shocked that all the gorillas sat together, as did the chimps and then the orangutans. No matter how they set it up, they always grouped together even though they were strangers.
I'll never forget seeing the ads for this in the spring of 1968. 2001: A Space Odyssey, Rosemary's Baby, and this were all released around the same time. What a time it was!
2001 and Planet Of The Apes went into general release THE SAME DAY. I always joke that Planet Of The Apes is the sequel. The monolith gives the planet back to the apes, 2000 years later, Taylor shows up, lol.
That year was every bit as much an _annus mirabilis_ in cinema as it was in society at large. It saw the advent not only of *2001* and *Apes* but also the sensitive and deeply humane *Charly* (which earned Cliff Robertson that year's "Best Actor" Oscar) and the comic-book surreality of *Barbarella* (as well as such borderline SF as the horrific *Night of the Living Dead* and the darkly hilarious political satire *Wild in the Streets* ). 😎
The original book is a great read. Also, Roddy McDowall (Cornelius) and Charlton Heston (Taylor) starred in two of the greatest and most stunning epics of all time - Cleopatra and Ben Hur, respectively.
I love this movie and I’m envious of anyone who is seeing the ending for the first time. It’s so iconic. Still the definitive version after all these years. Fantastic soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith.
Charlton Heston is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. He was in two other iconic sci-fi movies: “Soylent Green,” and “The Omega Man.” While dated, both are worth reactions. Heston also played Moses in “The Ten Commandments,” and was the lead in “Ben-Hur,” both also excellent and iconic movies. He has a part in the Tim Burton Apes movie. He’s the older ape that quotes the sacred scroll warning about men. This movie was huge when it came out. There are four sequels (unheard of in the 70’s), a cartoon series and a TV show and comic books. Planet of The Apes is pretty much the OG movie franchise. Tim Burton did his reboot with Mark Wahlberg and there was the second reboot trilogy a decade later. I believe the story is to continue in some new flicks in the future. These movies are actually prequels to the Heston movie (his ship’s disappearance is mentioned in a newspaper article in the first movie.)
Heston was also in a movie called The Awakening (1980). I remember seeing it around 1987 on USA network and have watched it many times since. Based on Bram Stoker's The Jewel of Seven Stars.
"Soylent Green" is better than it gets credit for. The ecological collapse theme may not have resonated in 1973, but it's much more relevant today. The Solomon Roth assisted suicide scene is fantastic.
I'll never forget seeing the Statue of Liberty. Watching this movie as a little kid, I was in shock. As an adult, the movie pretty much telegraphed where it was going but as a kid it blew me away. I've been a fan of Rod Serling ever since I watched the very first episode of The Twilight Zone.
Mankind destroyed itself via nuclear war in this film, hence Taylor's "You finally did it. You blew it up!' Jerry Goldsmith's beautifully dissonant and experimental score was nominated for an Oscar. Years later, he would go on to win Best Original Score for "The Omen."
Ohhh I love this timeless film as I put the original "Planet Of The Apes" with two other favorite films with Charlton Heston that's "Ben-Hur" and "The Ten Commandments".
Those are Heston's "classic" movies but in the same sci-fi vein as this, you have to check out The Omega Man and Soylent Green --Those are his real classics.
Hate to mention these, but don't forget The Omega Man or Soylent Green, not all his films were mainstream. He went thru a sci-fi phase around this time.
I saw this movie as a teenager in 1968. In the scene when the apes are capturing the humans and there was a cut to the gorilla on horseback, there was the biggest gasp from the audience I ever heard in a theatre. Bigger than "I am your father" in Star Wars. It was like getting punched in the face with 'the apes are in charge.' It stunned the entire audience. Charlton Heston has always been one of my favorite actors. I'm surprised at how few younger people know him. He made average movies good and good movies great. Ben Hur, Will Penney and The Agony and the Ecstasy are some of my favorites.
The Statue scene was supposed to be a massive reveal but the marketing people made it the poster The Director was furious; as it spoiled his big reveal
Great reaction! Your recognition of “See no evil, hear no evil…” was excellent. Others have not recognized it, so you both get an A+. Really enjoy your work, and look forward to the next.
The brief shot of the three orangutans doing the "See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil" pose was just the actors goofing off between takes, but the director loved it so much that he inserted it into the film as if to say "what Taylor is saying is heresy and evil".
I first saw this as an 8 year old watching the CBS Late Movie in 1972. The horn blare as the gorilla turns around on horseback still gets me. Omega Man and Soylent Green are fantastic Heston sci-fi movies too.
Fun fact: BTS during the making of this movie, the ape actors reportedly, perhaps unconsciously, self-segregated when not filming - the orangutans and the chimpanzees didn't fraternize and sat at different tables for lunch. Social programming around hierarchy/bias is a b***h to overcome sometimes!
The sequels from this series were also pretty great. "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" was the next movie and it actually addresses some of the points that you make at the end - and you won't know how that one ends! It picks up right where this one ends. It's worth the watch; the series eventually does go full circle and explain how it all unfolded.
One of the greatest endings of all time. I was born in 1960 and remember seeing this as an eight year old thinking, that was a cool 'monkey' movie. I did not understand the MANY messages in this film till my 20's.
It was so much fun watching you guys see the original. The music was good because it was another Jerry Goldsmith gem. You'll think this is weird, but I really had a crush on Dr. Zira. Kim Hunter really made her such an appealing character. :)
One of the classic film twists of all time. And one of the fun things about going through new generations is that the twist that was known to all general audiences is suddenly forgotten again, and new audiences get to experience it fresh. It makes these reactions so fun when it happens.
@@kpmac1 - It has been; plenty of reactions to prove it. I wanted to mention that specifically, but I wanted to avoid listing any number of spoilers I also wanted to mention, yet they are surprisingly unknown to many, so I refrained all the same.
That ending was, as you said, ‘devastating’ when this first came out. The non-CGI ape costumes were pretty damned good, but if you ever look in larger crowds of the apes you can notice that many of them had a cheaper, less impressive mask. And the soundtrack - I love it so much, I own the CD of it, and it’s pretty out there. Thanks for this review. The next 3 or 4 films in the series, in my opinion, are better than the recent ones.
@@Dacre1000 I don’t mind the Tim burton one. I like it more than escape, battle, conquest. It didn’t rehash the original. It put a nice spin on things. Was actually closer to the book.
Your theory about the ending is actually more accurate than you know. In Pierre Boulle's original novel, Ulysse Merou (Taylor) does manage to escape back to Earth and the first thing he sees is a gorilla in a military uniform!
It’s a shame that people who haven’t seen this movie still know the Statue of Liberty scene. That was the big movie twist, before Empire Strikes Back, The Usual Suspects or The Sixth Sense.
New subscriber here🙋♀️ you guys are one of my new favorite reactors! You don't talk excessively during the show/movie. Your commentary is meaningful and not just two people blathering away the whole time. I've been working my way through your content. I'm so glad I found your channel.
they are indeed amongst the best reactors out there. the discussions after the movie ends are what really sets them apart. often insightful and never just 'filler'. youre lucky to still have their entire content to look forwards to. welcome to the fan-club.
The Jerry Goldsmith score was among his most Avant Garde compositions filled with experimental instruments and tonalities. He was really hitting his stride about this time at the best part of his career. He would go on to score Patton (Oscar nominated), The Wind and the Lion (Oscar Nominated), The Omen (Oscar received for best score and nominated for Best Original Song), Logan's Run, Capricorn One, Alien and so on. The screenplay for this movie was written by noted Twilight Zone producer Rod Serling based on the French Novel by Pierre Boulle "Les Planete des Singes" and was adapted by Serling for the motion picture. The original was supposed to have a more technological Simian civilization but budgetary limitations killed to more technological Ape Civilization. This was the beginning of what became the Heston Sci-Fi trilogy as I like to term it. Heston would later go on to star in The Omega Man and Soylent Green completing the trilogy. They were among the three best Sci Fi films of that period
"Gelding" is another term for castration, or sometimes vasectomy. May also refer to a male horse who has undergone the procedure. The opening scenes were filmed in the vicinity of Glen Canyon as it was filling with Lake Powell behind the just-constructed Glen Canyon Dam. Ape City was built at the old 20th Century Fox "ranch" property that is now Malibu Creek State Park. The set deteriorated over the decades and was eventually demolished and hauled away.
IMHO this the original is the best of all (old and new) the planet of the apes movies. The best part of the reaction is Samantha calming TBR down at 19:36 😂
Great reaction guys!!! I saw this in theaters in 1968 when I was 10 with my father and brother, after the film we also discussed how deep it was. The first time the apes were actually on camera, which was when the gorillas were on their horses and turned back into the camera, caused a gasp in the audience, it was so thrilling seeing them , as you said the make up and costumes were so good and realistic. There are 5 of these early movies , from 68 to 73. I think the fifth one is the weakest of the series and my favorite is the 4th one which is Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. I think Escape from the Planet of the Apes is very clever and fun, and Beneath the Planet of the Apes, is a bit strange and different. the actor playing Cornelius is Roddy Mcdowell, he started as a child actor and worked for almost 60 years, getting roles right up to his death..
I still think the ending to Battle is great and a good way to end the original film run. The first 3 movies are all good and totally worth a watch for sure, Conquest and Battle get a bit meh and out there, but are still worth a watch as well. Personally Beneath is my favorite of the bunch because it's so different to the original and like, that whole weird story in the subway is just gloriously weird lol
@@LordLOC thank for your comments, I loved them all , I have read that with Battle, it was more of a moneygrab, without adequate budget, it still had some good scenes, if you are not aware, there is a tv series ,they made around 74-75, ,
@@kenpaden Yeah, I remember the show. Saw all 13 episodes back in the day. Some of the episodes were pretty decent, but against shows like Sandford and Son (which was on at the same time on another channel) it didn't stand a chance ratings wise. I do like how Roddy McDowell returned even if it was a different character though lol
Composer Jerry Goldsmith was prolific and also scored The Omen, ALIEN, Poltergeist, Capricorn One, Gremlins, The Satan Bug, Papillon, Outland, Logans Run, and The Man from Uncle, and the odd episode of the Twilight Zone, amongst many other classic film scores.
The opening scenes were filmed around Lake Powell, and Glen Canyon, which borders southern Utah & northern Arizona, and is north of the Grand Canyon. When I was a kid, I remember hearing that, originally, it took something crazy, like 8 hours, to apply the ape makeup on the main actors: the makeup artists were finally able to cut that down to 4-6 hours.
This movie touches on so many of the topics of the 60s, especially in the U.S.: nuclear war, civil rights, classes, animal rights, justice, evolution, questioning of authority, medical ethics and maybe more. Most movies pick one or two contemporary topics to comment on. This one includes as many as possible and incorporates them so cleverly and seamlessly and without feeling like it's hitting you over the head with them.
This series is classic. You guys should definitely react to the 4 sequels. Also Charlton Heston was the rancher that watched over Doc Holiday in tombstone.
This 1st movie is excellent, but imo, it's the only worthwhile movie of the Original "Planet of the Apes" franchise. The 4 sequels were just money grabs. And the last 2 of those sequels, SERIOUSLY UNDERCUT THE POWER AND POIGNANCY, AND MESSAGE OF THE ORIGINAL MOVIE'S ICONIC ENDING. AS FOR the more recent "Planet of the Apes movies", The Mark Wahlberg movie stinks, but as for the 2010's trilogy (which are completely different from the Charlton Heston Original) the 1st and 3rd movies are very good, but I didn't like the 2nd movie.
The sequels definitely have some corny aspects by todays standards but they were a big part of my early movie going life growing up. I’m old enough to have seen them at the theater. The franchise is also an earlier example of a time paradox than the one in the Terminator franchise. This happens in the 3rd movie.
Omg I am so happy you guys are watching all these planet of the apes movies I literally just did the first original 4 and remembered how much I loved them as a kid!! When u get to the fourth and see how they all link together it's kinda amazing I love it can't wait to join in with u guys on this journey
This movie is the definitive "Sunday afternoon, when sick, in your bed with a hot lemon tea" for me. By pure coincidence, it happened multiple times in my youth that this movie was on TV exactly when I was bedridden, which was very seldom. I love it.
Glad you are reacting to this, hopefully you continue the series! I remember as a kid one summer a theater did an Apes marathon and showed all 5 films in one day. Parents dropped us off with some money for snacks and a kid packed theater was entertained for the entire day! It was a fun time in a more innocent time. Fun Fact, This movie was written by the 60's TV Show, Twilight Zone, creator, Rod Serling, and has a Twilight Zone feel to it as well.
My theory is that since Charleton Heston went up the coastline and ran into the statue, that means he was running around New Jersey the whole movie and those weren't really apes.
Another thing, before Arnold Schwarzenegger, there was Charlton Heston making big action Sci fi movies, The Omega Man, Soylent Green, disaster movie like Earthquake and Airport '75, the 2 Ape movies, etc. He's one of the big stars before Schwarzenegger ever existed.
Samantha and TBR, what a joy to re-watch this movie, to see you watching it for the first time and discussing it. I still very vividly remember my first time watching it, as a child, together with my family on TV in the early 80s. The time of Cold War, the dangers of arms race and nuclear threat always present. Can you imagine the very impact the last scene did have on us back then? Shock, pure shock. What started out to just be a fun sci-fi/adventure movie, suddenly turned into a scary look into a potential future.
Hey TBR and Samantha. First off, I want to tell you guys that I have absolutely enjoy your channel immensely. I've followed it for quite some time and I like the reactions to the movies and programs you have watched. And I look forward to seeing more reactions in the future. By the way, Samantha, you can let your husband know about his question at 5:50, they filmed the rocket ship crash landing in Lake Powell, Utah. And the desert walking scenes in northern Arizona. Also, the waterfall and apes village was filmed at Malibu Creek State Park in Calabasas, California. Also, the scenes in the final half hour were also filmed in Malibu at Westward and Zuma Beach. The indoor scenes were filmed at the 20th Century-Fox studios in Los Angeles.
TBR - your thoughts about Heston finding his ship, escaping, and getting back to Earth (in the book, they were actually on a different planet) was exactly the ending of the original novel. They make it back only to find out that on earth the same thing had happened as on the other planet, and apes are running everything.
Fun fact: When filming this movie in Southern California the cast was driving up to the location in full Ape costume. They told Heston to get down below the level of the windows. Could you imagine pulling up to a light on Pacific Coast Highway & seeing a minivan filled with people driving next to you dressed as Apes?
I have a lot of favorite reaction channels, but what I like most about yours is you don't allow the fact that you're being watched interfere with your enjoyment of the movie. Too often, reactors will cover their eyes, look away or blather on and miss important dialogue or a good joke. Thanks for another great video!
YES! OH MY GOD YES! THIS AND ITS SEQUELS DESERVE WAY MORE ATTENTION! Both of you have have barely seen any of them?! This is perfect! You gotta do the sequels and the prequel/reboot trilogy with Andy Serkis! Don’t worry about the Tim Burton Marky Mark one
As much I like watch the first two sequels with the first one, as they make a nice little package stroy-wise, they're of significantly lesser quality. Watch those if you're if you're super hungry for more ape make-up.
@@CalciumChief Escape from the Planet of the Apes is worth watching. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (the fourth movie in the series) is a '70s B-movie classic, on par with movies like The Omega Man (another Chuck Heston film, btw.) The other films in the series can be ignored without really missing anything, IMHO.
The Original 5 movies combine together to make one giant story. Individual movies vary in quality, but *the overall story is Science Fiction GOLD.* Every movie ends with a big reveal epilogue. Planet of the Apes (1968) Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) *IF LOOKED AT AS INDIVIDUAL MOVIES:* The 1st & 3rd are the best as stand alone movies. The 4th being acceptable in this regard, but it has a low budget that hurts it. The 2nd one - 'Beneath The Planet of the Apes' - is a real stinker. It is so poorly written it might be best to read a summary of the important points. The 5th - 'Battle for the Planet of the Apes - has the lowest of budgets that really hurt script choices & presentation. That makes this the 2nd worst if only looked at as a stand alone movie. With that said - as part of the overall story information reveals, the social commentary, and especially the Science Fiction depth presented are INCREDIBLE.
The novel was even more interesting. In the novel he is indeed on another planet and once the apes realized he could speak he was accepted and treated relatively well. When he came back to Earth the same thing had happened and apes were now the dominating species on Earth. What is even more interesting is that the whole story is written on paper found in a bottle floating in space and at the very end you realize that person reading was an ape and that she thought that was an amusing story... men who could speak :)
"He controls Science and Faith? Not a good combo." You nailed it and picked up on it so quick. 👍This is why POTA is such an awesome movie. Such great social commentary. I saw in the comments that Rod Serling helped write it, and I'm not surprised. The trial has such a pure Twilight Zone feel to it! ETA: Please watch the other movies, Escape (the 3rd I believe) is my favorite 🐵💜
All of the POTA movies are good imo, though some of the later ones get a bit, meh. Beneath and Escape are the best sequels though by far. Though I will admit the ending of Battle was terrific and a great way to end the original film series. Seeing that single tear on the statue of Ceasar while the Lawgiver is telling the story of the movie to a group of apes and humans, such a nice optimistic ending - while the tear signifies the strife some humans still face (great commentary on our current sociopolitical climate as well, sad huh?).
The ironic commentary on the more wretched traits of human nature in this film is so awesome. This is one of my favorite movies. Also Nova is such a major babe.
One of the judges is played by James Whitmore- Brooks in Shawshank. A story I heard about the movie involved the makeup the actors wore. 3 actors had their makeup applied at the studio and would be driven to the set. They told the driver to sit as low as possible so he wasn't seen. The actors told of all the looks they got from other cars sseing a vehicle full of gorillas going down the freeway.
Ohhh please keep Logan's Run on those polls. Another great great film. All the others except maybe Sunshine, they're all right. Logans on top of my list though with another Jerry Goldsmith score among this one to boot.
we also saw charlton heston as Henry Hooker in Tombstone (1993). catch him in The Omega man (1971). a retelling of The Last Man on Earth (1964). staring Vincent Price. remade in 2021. and another retelling is I Am Legend (2007). staring Will Smith.
The ending is one of the top 10 in science fiction ever done. Your breakdown was equally as fun as the reaction. Your wife nailed my thoughts on why it lasts til today and will last another 100 years.
I remember first watchin this on t.v as a kid that twist ending with the Statue of Liberty had me so messed up for weeks .Taylor thought he went to an alternate earth but he was on earth in the distant future the whole time
TRIVIA: This movie was adapted from a French novel, and the screenplay was written by The Twilight Zone's own Rod Serling, which is why it feels so much like an extended episode of that TV series. John Chambers received an honorary Academy Award for the make-up for this film. This is one of the greatest science-fiction movies of all time and one of the greatest twist endings in history. "Apes" became a popular franchise in movies and TV, all the way to present day. So happy that you guys are reacting to films that others don't!
Regarding the original French novel-It's my impression that the novel really did have the astronauts land on another planet (not Earth), making the iconic ending a surprise, even for those who knew the novel. Can somebody who's read the novel confirm?
Another priceless moment provided by this couple: twenty-three minutes in, one could tell from the expression on Samantha's face that she had divined the ending.
You should continue watching the classic Planet of the Apes franchise as it is a continuous story with a mix of both future Apes as well as showing 20th Century Earth and how the entire evolutionary circle started ending up in an alternate future by the last movie in the series. The next one is Beneath the Planet of the Apes, then Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes and ending with Battle for the Planet of the Apes.
The idea of getting into space again and returning ro Earth was actually the ending of the original novel. And yes, it happened there, too, when Taylor and Nova leave their ship, they are surrounded by ape police - just like in the Tim Burton version. More trivia: The author Pierre Boulle also wrote The Bridge over the River Kwai. The newer movies are actually made as prequels to this one, the first one ofe them even mentions the Icarus mission taking off in a news segment. That's the ship you see in this movie. The four sequels to this movie (and a TV show) go a slightly other route in telling the background to this world.
A true classic that will never get old...Saw this at 7 years old in 1968 and I'm still watching at 62 years old...Time flies, but I'm still loving this film.
Thanks for the great reaction! I'm so glad you liked this. Your discussion actually made me appreciate it more! The next two are great as well (Beneath is actually my favorite and Escape is so much fun). I'd love to see you continue with this series. Thanks again!
The *Planet of the Apes* series is what the Terminator franchise should have done. From what I read in the Wikipedia about the final film in the original series (Battle for the Planet of the Apes), its ending sets up the first film.
Interesting point you made about the class system of the apes; it apparently carried over when the cameras weren't rolling. Because it was so time-consuming to put on the makeup, extras would have to eat with it on during lunch, so they would sit with those wearing the same make-up. Gorillas ate with gorillas, chimps ate with chimps, etc. even though there wasn't assigned seating. Even some relatives didn't eat together if they were different apes. It just goes to show how strong the tribal mechanism can be, even on a movie set.
The Statue of Liberty twist has been parodied in everything from Family Guy, The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live, Mad TV, the Ben Stiller show, In Living Color, multiple music videos by multiple bands, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, and even TV shows like "Seinfeld," "Friends," and "Ally McBeal" made references to it. Which really tells you how much impact this movie had back in its day, because parodies only work if you're confident that everyone watching will understand the reference. But as you guys mentioned, it's still a great movie even if you know the twist.
There is a Harvey's comic book story in the Horror genre from the 1950's that ends showing a half blown up Statue of Liberty after a nuclear war! When I saw that comic AFTER having seen the original movie, I was convinced that Pierre Boulle, The Planet of the Apes novelist had seen that story before writing his book (1963).
For many children my age growing up in the UK in the late seventies Star Wars was THE most impactful film but for me it was this one. My family was so poor i never watched Star Wars in the cinema but i did watch Planet Of The Apes numerous times on television. It really did make me think about thought, belief and religion at a young age. I love this movie and i am glad you liked it.
Lifelong POTA (original series) fan here! I wouldn't be surprised if I've watched it a hundred times! I just love the adult gravitas of the dialogue during the beach scene and the ominous music with the sound of the crashing waves. And that classic reveal! Just brilliant! By-the-way, to be gelded means to be castrated! Next up the sequel - Beneath the Planet of the Apes!
Even as a kid I found Battle for the Planet of the Apes dull. I have affection for the others, though, I think that is nostalgia from childhood. There are problems with those movies on a filmmaking level. That said, I think it's a lot easier to enjoy the Andy Serkis era films if you are familiar with the originals.
The sequels suck and are nowhere near as great as this movie. As usual the sequel geeks (suckers, actually) are going to hold up them watching more masterpieces so they can waste time watching the crappy sequels. "Franchises" are almost always for suckers too stupid to tell the difference between cash grabs and great work.
"Oh my God! I was wrong! It was Earth! All along! Yes you finally made a monkey (Yes you finally made a monkey) Yes you Finally made a Mon! Key! Out Of Meeeeeeeee!" Troy's singing summary is all you really need to watch.
I was 12 in 1968 and we were all blown away seeing this for the first time . There is a short that shows just how involved the makeup was to do. For speaking parts it would take up to 6 hrs. Zera is Kim Hunter who won an Oscar for a Street car Named Desire
Oh man I'm so glad you reviewed this! Saw it when it first came out and I was eleven years old. Never seen anything like it before. Set a new standard for science-fi films. Also it's a real hoot if you look at it as satire which was obviously part of the intention. The critic for Life magazine put it well when he said how thrilling it was to see these Masters of the Universe (which astronauts were seen as back then) ended up being treated with the casual cruelty humans are used to treating animals with.
The twist ending was already in the original book, only it was the Eiffel Tower, not the Statue of Liberty. Obviously, the film Americanised the story. But otherwise, this is right there in Rod Serlings alley.
The film was nominated an Oscar for make up. It was quite innovative for the time. Correction: It was nominated for 2 Oscars. Best Costume Design and Best Music. John Chambers, the makeup artist, was given an honorary Oscar for for his outstanding make-up achievement in the movie. The award was honorary because they didn't have a category for it at that time.
The funny thing is, the infamous 1967 Bigfoot footage Patterson Gimlin Film feature an object known as Patty looking a lot more complicated than any of Chambers' make-up work, he even said himself if Patty was a suit he'd love to know who made it and give the guy a job because even Chambers at the time couldn't do details and motion that realistic.
Hello, I really enjoyed watching this with you! You're commentary throughout this had me chuckling the whole time. This was my best watch with you so far!
The reveal at the end will always be one of the most infamous and legendary reveals ever put to celluloid. The shock, rage and resignation in Taylor's voice is palpable.
I prefer the end of Spaceballs.
She didn't seem shocked at the end at all. Weird.
*It's an unwritten rule that we don't tease about the end.*
Rod Serling from The Twilight Zone did a lot of the screenplay. The Statue of Liberty twist was his idea.
A work of depressing, existential devastating art in every way.
The make-up was considered so good, this movie was awarded an honorary Oscar by the Academy.
A "gelding" is a castrated horse, it's not brain surgery. This has always been my favorite Planet of the Apes ever since I saw it at the drive-in.
Right. To "geld" means to castrate a male animal; AFAIK, its specifically a horse-related term.
I get that you're correcting their assumption that it was related to brain surgery, but ending the sentence with "it's not brain surgery" makes it sound like you're saying that gelding is super simple and that's hilarious.
Dr zaius definitely doesn’t want Taylor to breed more brainy humans !😛
Liesmith Castrating an animal isn't rocket science. Literally they're very different things.
@WVR Spence IKR! He heard it and fought, as I would.
Watching this as a young boy, the reveal was crazy. Charlton Heston has another great reveal in Soylent Green.
Like you, I liked Cornelius and Zera the chimps, the Apes pissed me off, and the Orangutans were infuriating.
Nova was fine eye candy for back in the day, lol.
I'd watch this over the years every time it was on tv.
That end scene was a direct reaction to the nuclear/cold war threat that was hanging over the two sides, especially after the Cuban crisis. The anti-war feelings gradually strengthened among the young and this film certainly had a part to play.
TBR, your theory is actually how the book goes. The Ape Planet is actually highly advanced and building a spaceship. The chars steal the ship and return to earth to find the natural path of evolution is for the apes to rise and displace humans. This is one of the best movies ever. We have Rod Serling to thank for that ending as it was actually from a similar Twilight Zone episode (3 astronauts crash on Mars and one kills the others to maximize supplies only to find they were actually on Earth the whole time). Ultimately, his script wasn't fully used but they kept his ending.
"BEN-HUR" is a must see for Charlton Heston. Great movie!
YES!! A MUST SEE
yes , good movie
And Ten Commandments!
Ben hur is one of the greatest movies ever made!
@@bbwng54 In my opinion, Soylent Green is a must watch. And it's set in the "Future" 50 years. Quotations because the future is now in the movie.
This is one of the most thought-provoking sci-fi films in history. Science. Religion. Sociology. Psychology. Philosophy. All wrapped into one adventurous sci-fi thriller. An all-time classic.
The script was co-written by Rod Serling, creator and host of The Twilight Zone. I love this original series just as much as the latest trilogy.
An earlier draft of the script is credited to Serling. There are a lot of elements of his draft present in the final product, but his draft depicted the ape civilization as being much more advanced than what we see on screen (the apes had helicopters, etc). You can really feel the Serling influence throughout the film though. The existential questions, the twist ending revealing the true nature of the story. I've debated with myself whether Planet Of The Apes could be considered the best episode of The Twilight Zone, just by association and structure alone.
@@EJHaviland Serling's original script was turned into a graphic novel some year's back if you're interested!
Even Battle? 😜
Pierre Boulle wrote the book. Sterling adapted it for screen. Apparently the producers felt the budget would be to high, so they did a rewrite and simplified the story.
That makes a lot of sense! I had no idea, but I get it - he was also a fierce proponent and early defender of human rights. His stories were thoughtful, and racism and bigotry were common themes in Twilight Zone, as in POTA. Thanks for sharing that info.
I remember an interview with one of the make-up artists who said as they made up hundreds of extras, they released them to a common area to wait. He said obviously the film included thinly veiled themes of racism, but he was shocked that all the gorillas sat together, as did the chimps and then the orangutans. No matter how they set it up, they always grouped together even though they were strangers.
I'll never forget seeing the ads for this in the spring of 1968. 2001: A Space Odyssey, Rosemary's Baby, and this were all released around the same time. What a time it was!
How I envy you. Planet and Odyssey particularly must’ve been Mind blowing at the cinema in the sixties.
I saw all three when first released too.
2001 and Planet Of The Apes went into general release THE SAME DAY. I always joke that Planet Of The Apes is the sequel. The monolith gives the planet back to the apes, 2000 years later, Taylor shows up, lol.
That year was every bit as much an _annus mirabilis_ in cinema as it was in society at large. It saw the advent not only of *2001* and *Apes* but also the sensitive and deeply humane *Charly* (which earned Cliff Robertson that year's "Best Actor" Oscar) and the comic-book surreality of *Barbarella* (as well as such borderline SF as the horrific *Night of the Living Dead* and the darkly hilarious political satire *Wild in the Streets* ). 😎
😯...😦...🤯!!!
P.S. What party, and which state? (Mere curiosity; don't feel obliged to respond.) 🙂
The original book is a great read. Also, Roddy McDowall (Cornelius) and Charlton Heston (Taylor) starred in two of the greatest and most stunning epics of all time - Cleopatra and Ben Hur, respectively.
I love this movie and I’m envious of anyone who is seeing the ending for the first time. It’s so iconic. Still the definitive version after all these years. Fantastic soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith.
The first time I watched the original series of movies was on an overnight marathon on some channel like TNT. I stayed up all night watching them.
We have Rod Sterling (creator of The Twilight Zone) to thank for that iconic ending....
Cowboys and Aliens. This movie always draws me back to that!
Goldsmith got an academy award I think for it too.
I saw the movie in the theater in '68 and that ending was absolutely SHOCKING!! (to say the least)
Yeah you’re right about this classic film. 1968 was a time when man needed to see it. We questioned faith, war, religion & other people.
Still do.
One of the best of all time.
Charlton Heston is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. He was in two other iconic sci-fi movies: “Soylent Green,” and “The Omega Man.” While dated, both are worth reactions. Heston also played Moses in “The Ten Commandments,” and was the lead in “Ben-Hur,” both also excellent and iconic movies. He has a part in the Tim Burton Apes movie. He’s the older ape that quotes the sacred scroll warning about men.
This movie was huge when it came out. There are four sequels (unheard of in the 70’s), a cartoon series and a TV show and comic books. Planet of The Apes is pretty much the OG movie franchise. Tim Burton did his reboot with Mark Wahlberg and there was the second reboot trilogy a decade later. I believe the story is to continue in some new flicks in the future. These movies are actually prequels to the Heston movie (his ship’s disappearance is mentioned in a newspaper article in the first movie.)
Heston was also in a movie called The Awakening (1980). I remember seeing it around 1987 on USA network and have watched it many times since. Based on Bram Stoker's The Jewel of Seven Stars.
Soylent Green takes place in 2022
He's no Eastwood
"Soylent Green" is better than it gets credit for. The ecological collapse theme may not have resonated in 1973, but it's much more relevant today. The Solomon Roth assisted suicide scene is fantastic.
You need to see Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments
I'll never forget seeing the Statue of Liberty. Watching this movie as a little kid, I was in shock. As an adult, the movie pretty much telegraphed where it was going but as a kid it blew me away. I've been a fan of Rod Serling ever since I watched the very first episode of The Twilight Zone.
5:04 "charlton heston laughing gif" - It makes me laugh every time. 🤣
Mankind destroyed itself via nuclear war in this film, hence Taylor's "You finally did it. You blew it up!' Jerry Goldsmith's beautifully dissonant and experimental score was nominated for an Oscar. Years later, he would go on to win Best Original Score for "The Omen."
It was Heston in True Lies as Arnold’s boss. He also had a small role in The last third of Tombstone.
Ohhh I love this timeless film as I put the original "Planet Of The Apes" with two other favorite films with Charlton Heston that's "Ben-Hur" and "The Ten Commandments".
My church would always show The Ten Commandments on Easter.
Those are Heston's "classic" movies but in the same sci-fi vein as this, you have to check out The Omega Man and Soylent Green --Those are his real classics.
@@brucecsnell Agreed,Soylent Green is definitely a good watch, especially for the reveal at the end 🙂
@@brucecsnell Yes, both excellent movies.
Hate to mention these, but don't forget The Omega Man or Soylent Green, not all his films were mainstream. He went thru a sci-fi phase around this time.
I saw this movie as a teenager in 1968. In the scene when the apes are capturing the humans and there was a cut to the gorilla on horseback, there was the biggest gasp from the audience I ever heard in a theatre. Bigger than "I am your father" in Star Wars. It was like getting punched in the face with 'the apes are in charge.' It stunned the entire audience. Charlton Heston has always been one of my favorite actors. I'm surprised at how few younger people know him. He made average movies good and good movies great. Ben Hur, Will Penney and The Agony and the Ecstasy are some of my favorites.
what was the audience reaction during the final line at the end ?
I like Omega Man and Soylent Green ☮️
@@hadassah179 Dead quiet. Only sound was the waves lapping.
In my opinion this movie holds up spectacularly
CGI-free! I love it!
@@lewstone5430 the make-up for the apes' faces .... Chef's kiss.
It's one of the best-paced movies I can think of.
Yeah honestly. The most poorly aged thing is those crazy zoom ins with the camera.
The Statue scene was supposed to be a massive reveal but the marketing people made it the poster
The Director was furious; as it spoiled his big reveal
It was so ridiculous that they did that!
Great reaction! Your recognition of “See no evil, hear no evil…” was excellent. Others have not recognized it, so you both get an A+. Really enjoy your work, and look forward to the next.
The brief shot of the three orangutans doing the "See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil" pose was just the actors goofing off between takes, but the director loved it so much that he inserted it into the film as if to say "what Taylor is saying is heresy and evil".
I first saw this as an 8 year old watching the CBS Late Movie in 1972. The horn blare as the gorilla turns around on horseback still gets me. Omega Man and Soylent Green are fantastic Heston sci-fi movies too.
Fun fact: BTS during the making of this movie, the ape actors reportedly, perhaps unconsciously, self-segregated when not filming - the orangutans and the chimpanzees didn't fraternize and sat at different tables for lunch. Social programming around hierarchy/bias is a b***h to overcome sometimes!
The original is overwhelmingly the best. Absolute classic. So glad you guys are doing this reaction.
Indeed the social commentary is very stripped down in the newer apes movies.
Charlton Heston also has a small role on "Tombstone." He owns the house that Wyatt Earp took Doc Holiday to towards the end.
Yes!!
You beat me to it!
@@nevetszinodas6654 they were quicker on the draw, huckleberry!
Is this Henry Hooker's ranch?
That's right! And I'm Hooker.
The sequels from this series were also pretty great. "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" was the next movie and it actually addresses some of the points that you make at the end - and you won't know how that one ends! It picks up right where this one ends.
It's worth the watch; the series eventually does go full circle and explain how it all unfolded.
One of the greatest endings of all time. I was born in 1960 and remember seeing this as an eight year old thinking, that was a cool 'monkey' movie. I did not understand the MANY messages in this film till my 20's.
It was so much fun watching you guys see the original. The music was good because it was another Jerry Goldsmith gem. You'll think this is weird, but I really had a crush on Dr. Zira. Kim Hunter really made her such an appealing character. :)
Lol, yeah, Dr. Zira was a sweetheart. But she'd think you are so damned ugly! 😂
@@catherinelw9365 HA!!! :)
She looks like Rocky's wife.
One of the classic film twists of all time. And one of the fun things about going through new generations is that the twist that was known to all general audiences is suddenly forgotten again, and new audiences get to experience it fresh. It makes these reactions so fun when it happens.
In what universe does it take 2,000 years to travel from earth 🌎 to earth 🌎?
@@ckobo84 you know that time is relative, don’t you?
I wonder if the Darth Vader twist in ESB will ever be forgotten.
@@kpmac1 - It has been; plenty of reactions to prove it. I wanted to mention that specifically, but I wanted to avoid listing any number of spoilers I also wanted to mention, yet they are surprisingly unknown to many, so I refrained all the same.
@@ckobo84 In the relativistic universe of Einstein! It is a version of the twin paradox!
There is often a reason why the classics are considered classics.. they really ARE that good
That ending was, as you said, ‘devastating’ when this first came out. The non-CGI ape costumes were pretty damned good, but if you ever look in larger crowds of the apes you can notice that many of them had a cheaper, less impressive mask. And the soundtrack - I love it so much, I own the CD of it, and it’s pretty out there. Thanks for this review. The next 3 or 4 films in the series, in my opinion, are better than the recent ones.
That’s beneath the planet of the apes. Where they cut the budget and had to use monkey masks from a Halloween shop. For crowd shots
I love Tim Burton´s one too, but I am in the minority. The satire in that worked much better than the action, tough.
@@Dacre1000 I don’t mind the Tim burton one. I like it more than escape, battle, conquest. It didn’t rehash the original. It put a nice spin on things. Was actually closer to the book.
Your theory about the ending is actually more accurate than you know. In Pierre Boulle's original novel, Ulysse Merou (Taylor) does manage to escape back to Earth and the first thing he sees is a gorilla in a military uniform!
That ending is similar to the ending of Tim Burton's Apes film, which TBR said he'd seen, so that's probably where he got the idea from.
It’s a shame that people who haven’t seen this movie still know the Statue of Liberty scene. That was the big movie twist, before Empire Strikes Back, The Usual Suspects or The Sixth Sense.
New subscriber here🙋♀️ you guys are one of my new favorite reactors! You don't talk excessively during the show/movie. Your commentary is meaningful and not just two people blathering away the whole time. I've been working my way through your content. I'm so glad I found your channel.
they are indeed amongst the best reactors out there. the discussions after the movie ends are what really sets them apart. often insightful and never just 'filler'. youre lucky to still have their entire content to look forwards to. welcome to the fan-club.
Great reaction as usual. Soylent Green is another great Heston movie.
Soylent Green's ending easily ranks with this ending!
The Jerry Goldsmith score was among his most Avant Garde compositions filled with experimental instruments and tonalities. He was really hitting his stride about this time at the best part of his career. He would go on to score Patton (Oscar nominated), The Wind and the Lion (Oscar Nominated), The Omen (Oscar received for best score and nominated for Best Original Song), Logan's Run, Capricorn One, Alien and so on. The screenplay for this movie was written by noted Twilight Zone producer Rod Serling based on the French Novel by Pierre Boulle "Les Planete des Singes" and was adapted by Serling for the motion picture. The original was supposed to have a more technological Simian civilization but budgetary limitations killed to more technological Ape Civilization. This was the beginning of what became the Heston Sci-Fi trilogy as I like to term it. Heston would later go on to star in The Omega Man and Soylent Green completing the trilogy. They were among the three best Sci Fi films of that period
Planet (A), Beneath (B), Escape (A+), Conquest (A), Battle (B).
It's a madhouse!!
"Is gelding brain surgery?"
"Depends where you keep your brains." 😂
"Gelding" is another term for castration, or sometimes vasectomy. May also refer to a male horse who has undergone the procedure. The opening scenes were filmed in the vicinity of Glen Canyon as it was filling with Lake Powell behind the just-constructed Glen Canyon Dam. Ape City was built at the old 20th Century Fox "ranch" property that is now Malibu Creek State Park. The set deteriorated over the decades and was eventually demolished and hauled away.
IMHO this the original is the best of all (old and new) the planet of the apes movies. The best part of the reaction is Samantha calming TBR down at 19:36 😂
Great reaction guys!!! I saw this in theaters in 1968 when I was 10 with my father and brother, after the film we also discussed how deep it was. The first time the apes were actually on camera, which was when the gorillas were on their horses and turned back into the camera, caused a gasp in the audience, it was so thrilling seeing them , as you said the make up and costumes were so good and realistic. There are 5 of these early movies , from 68 to 73. I think the fifth one is the weakest of the series and my favorite is the 4th one which is Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. I think Escape from the Planet of the Apes is very clever and fun, and Beneath the Planet of the Apes, is a bit strange and different. the actor playing Cornelius is Roddy Mcdowell, he started as a child actor and worked for almost 60 years, getting roles right up to his death..
Younger generation will remember Roddy McDowell as the fearless vampire hunter in "Fright Night"!
I still think the ending to Battle is great and a good way to end the original film run. The first 3 movies are all good and totally worth a watch for sure, Conquest and Battle get a bit meh and out there, but are still worth a watch as well. Personally Beneath is my favorite of the bunch because it's so different to the original and like, that whole weird story in the subway is just gloriously weird lol
@@LordLOC thank for your comments, I loved them all , I have read that with Battle, it was more of a moneygrab, without adequate budget, it still had some good scenes, if you are not aware, there is a tv series ,they made around 74-75, ,
@@kenpaden Yeah, I remember the show. Saw all 13 episodes back in the day. Some of the episodes were pretty decent, but against shows like Sandford and Son (which was on at the same time on another channel) it didn't stand a chance ratings wise. I do like how Roddy McDowell returned even if it was a different character though lol
Composer Jerry Goldsmith was prolific and also scored The Omen, ALIEN, Poltergeist, Capricorn One, Gremlins, The Satan Bug, Papillon, Outland, Logans Run, and The Man from Uncle, and the odd episode of the Twilight Zone, amongst many other classic film scores.
Patton, 5 Star Trek films, Total Recall
Always loved the set design of Ape City.
Hand built sets and real practical effects still look nice.
The opening scenes were filmed around Lake Powell, and Glen Canyon, which borders southern Utah & northern Arizona, and is north of the Grand Canyon.
When I was a kid, I remember hearing that, originally, it took something crazy, like 8 hours, to apply the ape makeup on the main actors: the makeup artists were finally able to cut that down to 4-6 hours.
Charlton Heston is Long John Silver in Treasure Island. Film also stars a very young C.Bale.
This movie touches on so many of the topics of the 60s, especially in the U.S.: nuclear war, civil rights, classes, animal rights, justice, evolution, questioning of authority, medical ethics and maybe more. Most movies pick one or two contemporary topics to comment on. This one includes as many as possible and incorporates them so cleverly and seamlessly and without feeling like it's hitting you over the head with them.
This series is classic. You guys should definitely react to the 4 sequels. Also Charlton Heston was the rancher that watched over Doc Holiday in tombstone.
The 4 sequels suck, don't waste your time.
This 1st movie is excellent, but imo, it's the only worthwhile movie of the Original "Planet of the Apes" franchise. The 4 sequels were just money grabs. And the last 2 of those sequels, SERIOUSLY UNDERCUT THE POWER AND POIGNANCY, AND MESSAGE OF THE ORIGINAL MOVIE'S ICONIC ENDING.
AS FOR the more recent "Planet of the Apes movies", The Mark Wahlberg movie stinks, but as for the 2010's trilogy (which are completely different from the Charlton Heston Original) the 1st and 3rd movies are very good, but I didn't like the 2nd movie.
Don't waste your time with those 70's sequels. They're corny and not as deep.
Go straight to the "rise of the planet of the apes" movies.
@@TTM9691 Still masterpieces compared to what Holywood sh|ts out for last 10 years.
The sequels definitely have some corny aspects by todays standards but they were a big part of my early movie going life growing up. I’m old enough to have seen them at the theater. The franchise is also an earlier example of a time paradox than the one in the Terminator franchise. This happens in the 3rd movie.
Omg I am so happy you guys are watching all these planet of the apes movies I literally just did the first original 4 and remembered how much I loved them as a kid!! When u get to the fourth and see how they all link together it's kinda amazing I love it can't wait to join in with u guys on this journey
Another classic...awesome reaction, glad y'all liked it.
This movie is the definitive "Sunday afternoon, when sick, in your bed with a hot lemon tea" for me. By pure coincidence, it happened multiple times in my youth that this movie was on TV exactly when I was bedridden, which was very seldom. I love it.
Glad you are reacting to this, hopefully you continue the series! I remember as a kid one summer a theater did an Apes marathon and showed all 5 films in one day. Parents dropped us off with some money for snacks and a kid packed theater was entertained for the entire day! It was a fun time in a more innocent time. Fun Fact, This movie was written by the 60's TV Show, Twilight Zone, creator, Rod Serling, and has a Twilight Zone feel to it as well.
Some tv stations still do this. Comet TV just did the Ape marathon 2 weeks ago.
@@BlazeInjun but a marathon on the big screen is truly something else!
I remember a theater in downtown San Francisco (I think it was the Warfield) did a marathon like that.
@@chrisespinosa6999 Here! Here!
Actually Serling did a second draft and a 3rd team came in and altered his draft. But the ending is pure Serling.
My theory is that since Charleton Heston went up the coastline and ran into the statue, that means he was running around New Jersey the whole movie and those weren't really apes.
Another thing, before Arnold Schwarzenegger, there was Charlton Heston making big action Sci fi movies, The Omega Man, Soylent Green, disaster movie like Earthquake and Airport '75, the 2 Ape movies, etc. He's one of the big stars before Schwarzenegger ever existed.
Samantha and TBR, what a joy to re-watch this movie, to see you watching it for the first time and discussing it. I still very vividly remember my first time watching it, as a child, together with my family on TV in the early 80s. The time of Cold War, the dangers of arms race and nuclear threat always present. Can you imagine the very impact the last scene did have on us back then? Shock, pure shock. What started out to just be a fun sci-fi/adventure movie, suddenly turned into a scary look into a potential future.
Hey TBR and Samantha.
First off, I want to tell you guys that I have absolutely enjoy your channel immensely. I've followed it for quite some time and I like the reactions to the movies and programs you have watched.
And I look forward to seeing more reactions in the future. By the way, Samantha, you can let your husband know about his question at 5:50, they filmed the rocket ship crash landing in Lake Powell, Utah. And the desert walking scenes in northern Arizona.
Also, the waterfall and apes village was filmed at Malibu Creek State Park in Calabasas, California. Also, the scenes in the final half hour were also filmed in Malibu at Westward and Zuma Beach. The indoor scenes were filmed at the 20th Century-Fox studios in Los Angeles.
TBR - your thoughts about Heston finding his ship, escaping, and getting back to Earth (in the book, they were actually on a different planet) was exactly the ending of the original novel. They make it back only to find out that on earth the same thing had happened as on the other planet, and apes are running everything.
Fun fact: When filming this movie in Southern California the cast was driving up to the location in full Ape costume. They told Heston to get down below the level of the windows. Could you imagine pulling up to a light on Pacific Coast Highway & seeing a minivan filled with people driving next to you dressed as Apes?
I have a lot of favorite reaction channels, but what I like most about yours is you don't allow the fact that you're being watched interfere with your enjoyment of the movie. Too often, reactors will cover their eyes, look away or blather on and miss important dialogue or a good joke. Thanks for another great video!
YES! OH MY GOD YES! THIS AND ITS SEQUELS DESERVE WAY MORE ATTENTION!
Both of you have have barely seen any of them?! This is perfect! You gotta do the sequels and the prequel/reboot trilogy with Andy Serkis! Don’t worry about the Tim Burton Marky Mark one
As much I like watch the first two sequels with the first one, as they make a nice little package stroy-wise, they're of significantly lesser quality. Watch those if you're if you're super hungry for more ape make-up.
@@williamshelton4318yeah but he doesn’t need to see it again
@@CalciumChief Escape from the Planet of the Apes is worth watching. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (the fourth movie in the series) is a '70s B-movie classic, on par with movies like The Omega Man (another Chuck Heston film, btw.) The other films in the series can be ignored without really missing anything, IMHO.
The Original 5 movies combine together to make one giant story. Individual movies vary in quality, but *the overall story is Science Fiction GOLD.* Every movie ends with a big reveal epilogue.
Planet of the Apes (1968)
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
*IF LOOKED AT AS INDIVIDUAL MOVIES:*
The 1st & 3rd are the best as stand alone movies. The 4th being acceptable in this regard, but it has a low budget that hurts it.
The 2nd one - 'Beneath The Planet of the Apes' - is a real stinker. It is so poorly written it might be best to read a summary of the important points.
The 5th - 'Battle for the Planet of the Apes - has the lowest of budgets that really hurt script choices & presentation. That makes this the 2nd worst if only looked at as a stand alone movie. With that said - as part of the overall story information reveals, the social commentary, and especially the Science Fiction depth presented are INCREDIBLE.
@@Dave-hb7lx Nonsense, they're fine movies in their own right.
The novel was even more interesting. In the novel he is indeed on another planet and once the apes realized he could speak he was accepted and treated relatively well. When he came back to Earth the same thing had happened and apes were now the dominating species on Earth. What is even more interesting is that the whole story is written on paper found in a bottle floating in space and at the very end you realize that person reading was an ape and that she thought that was an amusing story... men who could speak :)
"He controls Science and Faith? Not a good combo."
You nailed it and picked up on it so quick. 👍This is why POTA is such an awesome movie. Such great social commentary. I saw in the comments that Rod Serling helped write it, and I'm not surprised. The trial has such a pure Twilight Zone feel to it! ETA: Please watch the other movies, Escape (the 3rd I believe) is my favorite 🐵💜
All of the POTA movies are good imo, though some of the later ones get a bit, meh. Beneath and Escape are the best sequels though by far. Though I will admit the ending of Battle was terrific and a great way to end the original film series. Seeing that single tear on the statue of Ceasar while the Lawgiver is telling the story of the movie to a group of apes and humans, such a nice optimistic ending - while the tear signifies the strife some humans still face (great commentary on our current sociopolitical climate as well, sad huh?).
The ironic commentary on the more wretched traits of human nature in this film is so awesome. This is one of my favorite movies. Also Nova is such a major babe.
One of the judges is played by James Whitmore- Brooks in Shawshank.
A story I heard about the movie involved the makeup the actors wore. 3 actors had their makeup applied at the studio and would be driven to the set. They told the driver to sit as low as possible so he wasn't seen. The actors told of all the looks they got from other cars sseing a vehicle full of gorillas going down the freeway.
55th anniversary of this film, cool reaction as always Schmitt & Samantha, you both take care
Ohhh please keep Logan's Run on those polls. Another great great film. All the others except maybe Sunshine, they're all right. Logans on top of my list though with another Jerry Goldsmith score among this one to boot.
we also saw charlton heston as Henry Hooker in Tombstone (1993). catch him in The Omega man (1971). a retelling of The Last Man on Earth (1964). staring Vincent Price. remade in 2021. and another retelling is I Am Legend (2007). staring Will Smith.
this Movie is to Charlton Heston what "The Thing" for Kurt Russell. absolute sci-fi classic deserving of high praise.
The ending is one of the top 10 in science fiction ever done. Your breakdown was equally as fun as the reaction. Your wife nailed my thoughts on why it lasts til today and will last another 100 years.
I remember first watchin this on t.v as a kid that twist ending with the Statue of Liberty had me so messed up for weeks .Taylor thought he went to an alternate earth but he was on earth in the distant future the whole time
Charlton Heston was one of the greatest actor in the movie industry, no doubt about this !!!!! ''Ben Hur'' is THE Charlton Heston movie to watch !!!!
TRIVIA: This movie was adapted from a French novel, and the screenplay was written by The Twilight Zone's own Rod Serling, which is why it feels so much like an extended episode of that TV series. John Chambers received an honorary Academy Award for the make-up for this film.
This is one of the greatest science-fiction movies of all time and one of the greatest twist endings in history. "Apes" became a popular franchise in movies and TV, all the way to present day.
So happy that you guys are reacting to films that others don't!
I definitely didn't know that about Serling. :D
Regarding the original French novel-It's my impression that the novel really did have the astronauts land on another planet (not Earth), making the iconic ending a surprise, even for those who knew the novel.
Can somebody who's read the novel confirm?
Another priceless moment provided by this couple: twenty-three minutes in, one could tell from the expression on Samantha's face that she had divined the ending.
Fun Fact: Charlton Heston had a cameo in the Mar Wahlberg "Planet of the Apes" film.
One of Charlton Heston's last rolls was as an ape in the 2001 Walberg version.
You should continue watching the classic Planet of the Apes franchise as it is a continuous story with a mix of both future Apes as well as showing 20th Century Earth and how the entire evolutionary circle started ending up in an alternate future by the last movie in the series. The next one is Beneath the Planet of the Apes, then Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes and ending with Battle for the Planet of the Apes.
The idea of getting into space again and returning ro Earth was actually the ending of the original novel.
And yes, it happened there, too, when Taylor and Nova leave their ship, they are surrounded by ape police - just like in the Tim Burton version.
More trivia: The author Pierre Boulle also wrote The Bridge over the River Kwai.
The newer movies are actually made as prequels to this one, the first one ofe them even mentions the Icarus mission taking off in a news segment.
That's the ship you see in this movie. The four sequels to this movie (and a TV show) go a slightly other route in telling the background to this world.
This was such a huge hit when it came out in a year with lots of memorable movies.
A true classic that will never get old...Saw this at 7 years old in 1968 and I'm still watching at 62 years old...Time flies, but I'm still loving this film.
Thanks for the great reaction! I'm so glad you liked this. Your discussion actually made me appreciate it more! The next two are great as well (Beneath is actually my favorite and Escape is so much fun). I'd love to see you continue with this series. Thanks again!
Most people dislike beneath the most. But me I love it. But I love them all.
Rod serling wrote that twist ending
The *Planet of the Apes* series is what the Terminator franchise should have done. From what I read in the Wikipedia about the final film in the original series (Battle for the Planet of the Apes), its ending sets up the first film.
Interesting point you made about the class system of the apes; it apparently carried over when the cameras weren't rolling. Because it was so time-consuming to put on the makeup, extras would have to eat with it on during lunch, so they would sit with those wearing the same make-up. Gorillas ate with gorillas, chimps ate with chimps, etc. even though there wasn't assigned seating. Even some relatives didn't eat together if they were different apes. It just goes to show how strong the tribal mechanism can be, even on a movie set.
The Statue of Liberty twist has been parodied in everything from Family Guy, The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live, Mad TV, the Ben Stiller show, In Living Color, multiple music videos by multiple bands, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, and even TV shows like "Seinfeld," "Friends," and "Ally McBeal" made references to it. Which really tells you how much impact this movie had back in its day, because parodies only work if you're confident that everyone watching will understand the reference. But as you guys mentioned, it's still a great movie even if you know the twist.
They also reacted to Spaceballs, and it's kinda hard to miss the POTA reference in that. It has been a while since they saw it though.
There is a Harvey's comic book story in the Horror genre from the 1950's that ends showing a half blown up Statue of Liberty after a nuclear war! When I saw that comic AFTER having seen the original movie, I was convinced that Pierre Boulle, The Planet of the Apes novelist had seen that story before writing his book (1963).
Not very likely, given that the ending of Boulle's book is different from that of the movie.
@@charlessperling7031 Then perhaps those who re-wrote the movie script read it (?).
He was also in "True Lies" as the head of the secret spy agency.
For many children my age growing up in the UK in the late seventies Star Wars was THE most impactful film but for me it was this one.
My family was so poor i never watched Star Wars in the cinema but i did watch Planet Of The Apes numerous times on television.
It really did make me think about thought, belief and religion at a young age.
I love this movie and i am glad you liked it.
Lifelong POTA (original series) fan here! I wouldn't be surprised if I've watched it a hundred times! I just love the adult gravitas of the dialogue during the beach scene and the ominous music with the sound of the crashing waves. And that classic reveal! Just brilliant! By-the-way, to be gelded means to be castrated! Next up the sequel - Beneath the Planet of the Apes!
Heston was in three great sci-fi flicks - planet of the apes, Soylent green and omega man
The original _Apes_ sequels - _Beneath,_ _Escape,_ & _Conquest_ - are 💯 worth watching. There's nothing like them. Keep going.
Even as a kid I found Battle for the Planet of the Apes dull. I have affection for the others, though, I think that is nostalgia from childhood. There are problems with those movies on a filmmaking level. That said, I think it's a lot easier to enjoy the Andy Serkis era films if you are familiar with the originals.
Fun tidbit with Battle for the Planet of the Apes there are versions with two different endings out there which stirs the time travel pot.
The sequels suck and are nowhere near as great as this movie. As usual the sequel geeks (suckers, actually) are going to hold up them watching more masterpieces so they can waste time watching the crappy sequels. "Franchises" are almost always for suckers too stupid to tell the difference between cash grabs and great work.
Conquest is my favorite.
@@Dave-hb7lx party pooper
"Oh my God! I was wrong! It was Earth! All along! Yes you finally made a monkey (Yes you finally made a monkey) Yes you Finally made a Mon! Key! Out Of Meeeeeeeee!" Troy's singing summary is all you really need to watch.
From chimpan-a to chimpan-z
I was 12 in 1968 and we were all blown away seeing this for the first time . There is a short that shows just how involved the makeup was to do. For speaking parts it would take up to 6 hrs.
Zera is Kim Hunter who won an Oscar for a Street car Named Desire
Zera
@@minnesotajones261 woops changed it,
Yes. I'm so amazed that they hired such a beautiful woman just to put her into an ape suit.
@@minnesotajones261 No it's Zira. Look it up.
@@catherinelw9365 Yeah, I was close thou... lol
Oh man I'm so glad you reviewed this! Saw it when it first came out and I was eleven years old. Never seen anything like it before. Set a new standard for science-fi films. Also it's a real hoot if you look at it as satire which was obviously part of the intention. The critic for Life magazine put it well when he said how thrilling it was to see these Masters of the Universe (which astronauts were seen as back then) ended up being treated with the casual cruelty humans are used to treating animals with.
Fun fact: the Twilight Zone-esque ending has merit. Rod Serling, the creator of The Twilight Zone tv series, was a screenwriter on this movie.
The twist ending was already in the original book, only it was the Eiffel Tower, not the Statue of Liberty. Obviously, the film Americanised the story. But otherwise, this is right there in Rod Serlings alley.
What an iconic line from the movie: 16:12 👈🏼🐵
The film was nominated an Oscar for make up. It was quite innovative for the time.
Correction: It was nominated for 2 Oscars. Best Costume Design and Best Music. John Chambers, the makeup artist, was given an honorary Oscar for for his outstanding make-up achievement in the movie. The award was honorary because they didn't have a category for it at that time.
The funny thing is, the infamous 1967 Bigfoot footage Patterson Gimlin Film feature an object known as Patty looking a lot more complicated than any of Chambers' make-up work, he even said himself if Patty was a suit he'd love to know who made it and give the guy a job because even Chambers at the time couldn't do details and motion that realistic.
Hello, I really enjoyed watching this with you! You're commentary throughout this had me chuckling the whole time. This was my best watch with you so far!
You need to watch the original sequels to this.
And Logans Run is a must.
I remember watching these as a kid when they were released on TV. I begged to stay up to watch them.