Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)

The world is shocked by the appearance of three talking chimpanzees, who arrived mysteriously in a U.S. spacecraft. They become the toast of society, but one man believes them to be a threat to the human race.

Director:

Don Taylor

Writers:

Paul Dehn, Pierre Boulle (based upon characters created by)

Stars:

Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Bradford Dillman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roddy McDowall	...	Cornelius
Kim Hunter	...	Zira
Bradford Dillman	...	Dr. Lewis Dixon
Natalie Trundy	...	Dr. Stephanie Branton
Eric Braeden	...	Dr. Otto Hasslein
William Windom	...	The President
Sal Mineo	...	Milo
Albert Salmi	...	E-1
Jason Evers	...	E-2
John Randolph	...	Chairman
Harry Lauter	...	General Winthrop
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Aide
Roy Glenn	...	Lawyer (as Roy E. Glenn Sr.)
Peter Forster	...	Cardinal
Norman Burton	...	Army Officer

Storyline

Following the events in "Beneath the Planet of the Apes", Cornelius and Zira flee back through time to 20th Century Los Angeles, where they face fear and persecution similar to what Taylor and Brent suffered in the future, and discover the origins of the stream of events that will shape their world.

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Plot Keywords:

ape | future | fear | spaceship | spacecraft | 

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Taglines:

A New Generation Of Incredible Apes In The Most Exciting Suspense Film Of Them All

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 July 1971 (UK)

Also Known As:

Secret of the Planet of the Apes

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$12,300,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, APJAC Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In a 2010 interview with the Archive of American Television, Eric Braeden admitted that he did not really like the role of Dr. Otto Hasslein as it considered it to be a caricature. Nevertheless, he added that he had a good time making the film as he enjoyed working with Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter and Don Taylor, whom he described as a very good director.

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Goofs

(at around 14 mins) During the intelligence test that Lewis conducts on Zira with the blocks, the position on the blocks shifts between shots, even when Lewis isn't jumbling them.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Helicopter pilot: Red Baron Control. Red Baron Five. Orbiting southeast corner of sector Alpha Charlie. We've spotted what appears to be a spacecraft just outside the surf line. Alert rescue. Advise we can remain on station for 45 minutes and we'll squawk 7700 for a radar fix.

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Crazy Credits

The 20th Century Fox logo does not appear on this film.

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Connections

Followed by Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)

User Reviews

Really amazing and fantastic!!

Despite a conclusion showing the planet's destruction, 20th Century Fox requested another sequel, turning the films into a franchise.

Arthur P. Jacobs recruited Paul Dehn to a new script with a brief telegram: "Apes exist. Sequel required." Dehn immediately started work on what became the third film titled Escape from the Planet of the Apes. The film would once again change directors, Don Taylor was hired to direct and had a greatly diminished budget of $2.5 million dollars, which required a tight production schedule.

In the film, Zira and Cornelius are initially accepted by American society, but human fears that their child will bring about the destruction they predict to lead to their dates.

Compared to it's predecessors, Escape dwelt more heavily on themes of racial conflict, which became a primary focus through the rest of the series. The film opened on May 21, 1971, less than a year after the previous film and was well received by critics. It also performed really well at the box office, though not as strongly as the first two. Fox ordered a third sequel.

The story is just great, especially after the second film's poor story and the writer did a great job with creating this sequel's story. The direction and action is just amazing and cool. The film is really quick and amazing, but I just ran along with it.

The acting is just amazing in this one and the actors are just amazing. Kim Hunter and Roddy McDowall are good in there roles. Natalie Trundy is really good and is fantastic in her role. Bradford Dillman, Ricardo Montalban and Eric Braeden are really good in their new roles and they are fantastic and amazing.

Overall, ESCAPE FROM THE PLANET of the APES is really amazing and fantastic and it is one movie that definitely makes up for the previous film.

8/10.