Planet of the Apes
1968 · Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner
Original language: English
- science fiction
- adventure
- drama
- action
The story
Astronaut Taylor crash lands on a distant planet ruled by apes who use a primitive race of humans for experimentation and sport. Soon Taylor finds himself among the hunted, his life in the hands of a benevolent chimpanzee scientist.
What it’s like
Sun-bleached desert and rugged rock dominate the look of this 1968 film, shot in wide, dusty landscapes under harsh, unfiltered daylight, with a handful of gorgeously lit interiors where simian faces sit under heavy latex and soft lamplight. Framing leans on long, deliberate takes and stark, open compositions that let the vastness press in on small human figures. The score is brassy and percussive in places but often drops to eerie, sparse silence, and the ape society's rituals and courtrooms are staged with formal, theatrical stillness. The vibe is bleak, wry and sun-scorched, with an undercurrent of dread that slowly curdles into outrage; the sense of injustice gives it a sharp edge. Pacing is measured, with long stretches of wandering and talk before sudden bursts of chase and confrontation. Its emotional arc follows a cynical, proud man stripped of his assumptions as he is forced into a world that treats him as an animal. Violence is present and sometimes hard-hitting, including hunts, beatings and gunfire, but it is more startling than gory. Suits anyone wanting a thoughtful, old-school sci-fi adventure for a weekend afternoon or a late-night watch, especially those drawn to allegory about power, prejudice and cruelty.
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