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Planet of the Apes (1968)
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johnnybear
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PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2019 8:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Boy, was Linda Harrison even more gorgeous in Beneath! I loved the way that they had let her costume rot a bit in all the right places!
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2019 1:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Yep, she's a sweetie all right. And this might sound nuts to you guys, but her knees are more attractive than those of many women. I dislike a set of hockey-puck knee caps that spoil a pretty pair of gams! Shocked



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Robert (Butch) Day
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 6:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mentor Huebner, the Disney animator who worked on Forbidden Planet (1956) was responsible for the look of "Ape City " in Planet of the Apes (1968.) Here are two of his sketches:





The tower in the right background looks as if it may have been inspired by Seattle's Space Needle!

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Pow
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 1:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

CBS must have saved a small fortune by being able to reuse the Ape City exterior sets from the films for their one season POTA TV show.

They are fortunate that MGM did not tear down the city right after the filming for the movie was finished, which is generally the standard operating procedure on most films.

And yes, Linda was a dish!


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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 3:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

I had trouble finding a picture of Linda Harris I liked, and the best one I could find seemed to be cropped unnecessarily narrow —

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— so by gum, I fixed it! Very Happy


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Krel
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 11:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pow wrote:
They are fortunate that MGM did not tear down the city right after the filming for the movie was finished, which is generally the standard operating procedure on most films.

It was a 20th Century Fox production, filmed at their Ranch, which is now a state park. I think they may have left the Ape City stand until the donation. Some bits and pieces are still there for souvenir hunters to find. I remember an episode of "Logan's Run" was filmed there.

David.
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 03, 2020 1:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

At a site called Archives of the Apes I found these nice examples of the pre-production artwork for the movie.














Some of the artwork shows technology not used in the film.

The first image below shows the three astronauts inside the ship while it's still in space. Nobody is inside the hibernation units the way we see them in the film's opening scene.






The next picture shows them in zero gravity, and a vehicle with tank treads is visible in the background.





The last two images show them leaving the ship (which is a nice-looking rocket) in the land rover, which also appears in the last picture.





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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 1:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Here's a few thoughts I had today about Planet of the Apes while watching it today. Some of them are questions about the plot and some are flaws in the logic which are typical of Rod Serling's lack of respect for true science fiction. Rolling Eyes

Question: What was the purpose of this space mission?

Three guys and one gal arrive at an unnamed star, 2,000 years in the future without even knowing if the star has planets . . . and then do what?

Taylor tells Nova that the woman was to be “the new Eve”. So, the guys were going to knock up the hot blond repeatedly to make babies for a small colony that could only expand significantly in 20 years . . . when the kids started having incest? Shocked






Question: What could possibly have cracked the glass that sealed the female astronaut’s suspended animation chamber? (The crack isn't visible in this photo, so perhaps the glass cover is up.)





Question: After the crash landing, one of the astronauts states that the ship was not programed for a "water landing".





That made me wonder just how this ship was actually designed to land! I guess it's aerodynamic enough to glide in like the space shuttle, but there would be nothing remotely like a runway, so the landing would be mighty rough.

Logical Flaw: Why did water start blasting into the damaged ship shortly after it crashed? It was just floating on the surface, so there certainly wouldn’t be enough pressure to create those fire-hose blasts of water. Rolling Eyes

Logical Flaw: Before it sank, the ship floated with about 60% of the fuselage above the water . . . and titled at a 40° angle. How could it float so high in the water, and why would it be at a steep angle? In the aerial shots, we can see that only a small portion of the ship was below the surface.








Question: Why did the Earth have no Moon, as stated by the astronauts during their desert journey.

Question: When the “mute humans” stole the men's clothes, they somehow managed to tear them up with their bare hands. The mute humans had no tools or weapons, so how could such sturdy garments have been ripped to shreds in under a minute? And why would people do such a strange thing, since they were shown to be extremely gentle?

Question: How did the Statue of Liberty, which was in the middle of New York harbor, end up next to cliff?






A Suggestion: How about a cartoon version of this movie with a story about a plane-load of monkey’s that jump out while they’re over Africa, just to escape being taken to a zoo and treated as badly as poor Taylor!

I made a poster for it. Very Happy




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Pow
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 5:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bud, these are all very good questions.

POTA is one of my favorite sci~fi films, but with that said, your questions are serious plot holes that were overlooked or purposely ignored by the producers. And that's a shame for such a fine film in other ways.

I guess one of the biggest critiques would be how the heck did intelligent apes arise after World War III?

They would have died during the nuclear attacks just as humans would have. And contrary to years of comic book origins for superheroes; ain't no way on Earth that massive amounts of radiation is going benefit any lifeforms.

Still a cool film though.


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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 7:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Thanks for the kind words, Pow! Very Happy

When I enjoyed the movie recently I watched for elements of the story that were obviously errors, not questionable concepts that could be defended.

The script by Rod Serling — a writer who doesn't care that much for true science fiction, a fact demonstrated by the few episodes of The Twilight Zone that even pretend to be sci-fi — blatantly ignores many of his film's hard science errors, choosing instead to pack the movie with dramatic moments which audiences would enjoy . . . but hopefully not question.

For example, during their desert trek, the astronauts are threatened by boulders that suddenly roll down a hill for no apparent reason, and later by a sudden lightning storm from a clear sky which ends in seconds.

Those scenes are just tossed in to keep the audience from getting bored. They have no connection with the plot. Frankly, the movie is filled with questionable moments like that!
Sad
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


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Pow
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 5:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've always admired writer/producer Gene Roddenberry for being one of the first — if not THE first — to have consulted experts in the field of science during his creation of Star Trek: TOS.

Once the show was filming he'd continue to have the scripts for each episode read by scientific experts for any errors.

Harvey Lynn was a physicist from the RAND Corporation who was a technical consultant for ST.

De Forest Research would search through story outlines and scripts to discover anything that was incorrect technically.

And I believe that the Jet Propulsion Laboratory was also consulted on certain scientific issues.

That's not to say that these experts were always listened to regarding their advice for the show.

Sometimes, drama trumped scientific accuracy. That's a truism for both sci~fi film and television productions.

At least Gene made an attempt to get the science right.

Producers such as Irwin Allen didn't give a hoot about such accuracy, and he was hardly alone in that regards.

I recall noted s-f writer Isaac Asimov picking apart the scientific ignorance in such s-f TV shows as "Lost In Space," and "Space: 1999."

And here's the sad fact about it, Bud. Asimov would correct the deplorable science with accurate science in these columns and the respective shows could have still been dramatic and visually exciting. So nothing would have been sacrificed.

I just feel that if a TV series is going to call itself science fiction, then it is obligated to try to create as accurate an anchor scientifically as possible for their show.

In other words, don't insult the audience's intelligence and constantly play to the lowest common denominator.

Yeah, it's called science FICTION, so there does have to be a willing suspension of disbelief for the viewer.

However, if the science is poor, or non-existent, then lets just call it what it is: a fantasy.

Just don't tell me its s-f and then proceed to make my eyes roll because the producers aren't interested in making any efforts in portraying the technical aspects at least somewhat correct.

The audiences are smarter these days than producers and can do research online to see what you got right, as well as what you mangled.


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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

You are 100% correct, Mike. Very Happy

Here's another way to look at how foolish it is for sci-fi movies or series to screw up the science.

The success or failure of any production is heavily dependent on the producers understanding their target audience. If you make a comedy, it's supposed to make people laugh. If you make an action adventure, it needs fast-paced situations that thrill the audience. Et cetera, et cetera . . .

So, making a science fiction movie or series that doesn't include solid, interesting science is like making a porno movie . . . with ugly girls. Rolling Eyes

The prosecution rests.

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johnnybear
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 2020 8:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've always thought the nuclear war which destroyed the planet was not man vs man but Man vs Ape! In other words the countries of the world had heard of the Ape uprising and feared the same happening to them launched a pre-emptive strike on America to prevent it! Now the computers were still in operation and retaliated against the rest of the world wiping out all human and animal life except that which had found refuge in the forests near to what would become Ape city!

It's a good theory if you think about it and God protected the innocent Apes and humans who also looked for a better life with the Lawgiver taking the community to a peace loving era in the twenty sixth century! Whatever happened between the Apes and the humans in the next thirteen centuries is also open to debate!
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 2020 3:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pow wrote:
I've always admired writer/producer Gene Roddenberry for being one of the first — if not THE first — to have consulted experts in the field of science during his creation of Star Trek:TOS.

Actually he was not anywhere near the first.

Space Patrol" had science consultants, "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet" had Willy Ley, who also consulted on Disney's "Man In Space". "Forbidden Planet" had Cal Tech as the science consultant. I read once that "Men Into Space" had the U.S. Air Force as a consultant. Ivan Tors was big on science consultants on his science fiction productions. Even Irwin Allen used science consultants when designing the Seaview on VTTBOTS. The U.S. Navy wasn't big on giving consultation on the design of their Atomic Submarines. Laughing Of course once the TV show started, it slowly became a free for all. Laughing

I'm sure I missing some shows, but I not really that familiar with the late 50s SF shows.

David.
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Pow
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 22, 2021 11:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interesting Trivia for TPOTA

Rod Serling said that he spent well over a year adapting the novel to the silver screen and did 30 or 40 drafts.

Blacklisted writer Michael Wilson was brought in to complete the script when Serling's version was found too expensive with the special effects.

Charleton Heston was quite ill with the flu during the shooting of the film.

Author Pierre Boulee felt that his novel, TPOTA, was unimpressive and felt that the movie would fail.

Hints that Taylor is really back on Earth pop up in the movie. The scene where Zira shows Taylor the Forbidden Zone map show coastlines that could be identified as New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Producer Arthur P. Jacobs & Blake Edwards (director of the Pink Panther films, The Great Race) were having lunch at a deli when they came up with the shocking ending for the movie. On the wall of the deli was a picture of the Statue of Liberty.

Highest grossing film the year it was released; it made 32 million dollars over its 5.8 million budget.

John Wayne & Burt Lancaster were considered for the role of Taylor. John Wayne!?! Seriously!?!

20th Century Fox delayed the release of TPOTA in order to see how their other big budget science-fiction movie, "Fantastic Voyage," would do at the box office. Once FV proved to be a big smash Fox went forward with releasing TPOTA.

Make-up legend John Chambers who created the ape make-up also created Mr. Spock's Vulcan ears for Star Trek.

Ingrid Bergman regretted turning down the role of Zira. She felt that wearing the ape make-up would have hid her natural beauty and allowed her to show how good an actress she was. She also was sorry not to work with Heston.

Julie Harris was also offered the role of Zira. She felt it was an intriguing part but did not think she would be able to handle the serious make-up demands required.

Original Ending: Taylor is killed by an ape assassin; Nova escapes to the Forbidden Zone carrying their child.

Ape make-up cost $500,000 but for P.R. purposes it was reported to be $1,000,000. Yeah, we call that lying.

The spaceship crash took place on the Colorado River at a location known as The Crossing of the Fathers.

Not enough film footage was shot for the spaceship crash. Special effects artists & film editors reversed, inverted, and repeated the footage in order to make the scene work properly.

The harsh conditions for the desert scenes caused cast & crew to faint, including the film's director Franklin Schaffner.

Writer Michael Wilson added the humor and witty dialogue to the script.

The demands for the huge make-up crews created a disruption in other Hollywood productions and forced them to delay.

In 1969 John Chambers won the Honorary Award for Outstanding Achievement in Makeup. A chimpanzee in a tux gave him the award.

Two scenes that were almost cut: (1.) Heston's nude scene. (2.) Courtroom scene where they parodied See No Evil, Hear No Evil, and Speak No Evil.

In the movie the spaceship has no name. Suggested names were Immigrant One, Liberty One, Air Force One.

Air Force One? Isn't that the name of the POTUS aircraft?

Leftover make-up supplies found their way to Lost In Space in the episode "Fugitives in Space." Guest star Michael Conrad (Hill Street Blues) played an ape-like alien.

Producer Arthur P. Jacobs enlisted several journalists to play background apes knowing they would write about the movie and give it publicity.

Linda Harrison (Nova) was pregnant from her affair with producer Richard D. Zanuck. She started to show at the end of the shoot and careful poses were selected for her so as not to appear pregnant.

I wonder if that's why the script had Nova pregnant at one point and they were writing her condition into the movie?

Originally the Ape City was a high tech one. The premise was altered by director Franklin J. Schaffner (Patton) in order to reduce cost on the budget.

The make-up team for the movie was reported to be over 80 artists.

No female gorillas or orangutans are in this movie.
Wouldn't be politically correct to do that nowadays.

During the hunt scene, Tony Epper who was Heston's stunt double, ran through poison oak in the undergrowth of the FOX Ranch.

The spaceship was re-used in the movie adaptation of Ray Bradburry's "The Illustrated Man," (1969).

Coincidentally, Roddy McDowall (Cornelius) was the guest star on an episode of The Twilight Zone. The 1960 episode was "People Are Alike All Over" and found Roddy as an Earth astronaut who goes to another planet where the aliens place him in their zoo as a specimen.

Marlon Brando was considered for the Taylor role, but producer Arthur P. Jacobs had always wanted Heston as first choice. This would have been one of Brando's rare forays into the science-fiction genre.

Other than Superman, I cannot think of his participation in any other sci-fi movies off the top of my head.

Ursula Andress & Raquel Welsh both turned down the role of Nova.

The natural pool that the astronauts take a dip in was built on the 20th Fox Ranch for the movie Doctor Doolittle movie (1967).

TPOTA was released the day before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Early make-up took 6-hours to apply, and then the ape masks were found too rigid. Improvements allowed the masks to have movement and the application was reduced to 3-hours.

Rock Hudson was considered for the role of Cornelius. Producers were afraid that his star power and height might overshadow Charleton Heston. It was decided to use shorter actors in the parts of the chimpanzees & orangutans.

I don't believe that Hudson would have overshadowed Heston from an acting perspective. But yeah, he was a tall gent.

Considered for Dr. Zaius: Yul Brynner, Jose Ferrer, Alec Guiness, Edmond O'Brien, Laurence Olivier, Peter Ustinov, and Orson Welles.

Well, they certainly are all superb actors and could have performed the Zaius part.

Brynner & Welles were such powerhouse actors that they might have stolen their scenes with Heston . . . and pretty much anyone else.

Ustinov was also a marvelous actor & could also steal scenes with the best of 'em, as Kirk Douglas confirmed when they both worked together on Spartacus.


Last edited by Pow on Thu Aug 01, 2024 9:46 pm; edited 1 time in total
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