Behind the Planet of the Apes (1998)

The story behind the making of the 5 "Planet of the Apes" movies.

Directors:

Kevin Burns, David Comtois

Writers:

Brian Anthony, David Comtois

Stars:

Roddy McDowall, Mort Abrahams, Charlton Heston

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roddy McDowall	...	Himself - Host
Mort Abrahams	...	Himself
Charlton Heston	...	Himself
Richard D. Zanuck	...	Himself (as Richard Zanuck)
Edward G. Robinson	...	Dr. Zaius (archive footage)
James Brolin	...	Dr. Cornelius (archive footage)
John Chambers	...	Himself
William J. Creber	...	Himself (as William Creber)
Kim Hunter	...	Herself
Maurice Evans	...	Himself (archive footage)
Eric Greene	...	Himself, film historian
Linda Harrison	...	Herself
Franklin J. Schaffner	...	Himself (archive footage)
Ted Post	...	Himself
Frank Capra Jr.	...	Himself

Storyline

This documentary was shown as part of the American Movie Classics (AMC) cable TV channel's celebration of the 30th anniversary of the release of Planet of the Apes (1968). We learn how the original French novel was transformed into the first film; the problems that the producers encountered during production of the entire series (often involving shrinking budgets); how the stories related to current events (e.g., the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement); and how the series became a pervasive part of American popular culture. The film includes interviews with virtually all of the people involved in the production of the film series, including all the main performers. Personal movies taken on the shooting sets and early ape makeup test footage (with Edward G. Robinson and James Brolin!) are also featured.

---

Plot Keywords:

ape | interview | planet of the apes | six word title | making of film | 

---

Taglines:

Journey Back To The Planet Of The Apes!

---

Genres:

Documentary

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 September 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Detrás del Planeta de los Simios

Filming Locations:

Malibu Creek State Park - 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Van Ness Films, Foxstar Productions, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby (as Dolby Surround)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Host Roddy McDowall died on October 3, 1998, less than a month after the broadcast of this special.

---

Alternate Versions

Originally issued as a bonus with DVD box sets of the Planet of the Apes movies, in 2001 it was reissued on its own with additional footage and interviews.

---

Connections

References The War Lord (1965)

User Reviews

Outstanding for Most Movie Lovers

A labor of love and a fine example of what a well done documentary should look like. AT LEAST watch the original 68' version first; watching the sequels before or after has its pros and cons (the insight of knowing the diminishing budgets of each successive sequel may increase an appreciation for them...even if you're not a POTA fan).

Some facts are condensed (and distorted) that was necessary for the sake of running time (POTA didn't get the green light till after the box office returns for 'Fantastic Voyage' proved favorable enough to convince Richard Zanuck to take a gamble on a then big budget for a sci fi outing). And the million dollar monkey masks budget was closer to half a million...but a million dollars is better publicity.

NOTE: The DVD versions have about 3 1/2 minutes more footage than the VHS & AMC broadcast versions...most notable is the religious comparisons of the ape and mutant cultures from 'Beneath...' and more summations from cast and crew toward the end.

An intelligent and well researched documentary that's filled to the brim. And thankfully, no mention of the 2001 remake as this was produced in 1998.