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» Columns » Reviews » Screenplays » Short Stories
| The Planet of the Apes
AGE RESTRICTION: All Ages Films come and go, and for the most part pass without notice. There are however films which burst onto the screen and leave a lasting impact on audiences the world over. The Planet of the Apes is such a film. Made in 1968 it tells the story of an ill-fated space mission that crashes on a desolate alien planet. The crew of the ship explore the deserts of this planet to find traces of life. Just like the colonialists of old they do, but unlike their forefathers, they are captured by the natives, in this case a race of intelligent and belligerent apes. Directed by Franklin J Schaffner the film is credited by some as the first sci-fi film to directly confront societal issues, forgetting Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1926) or Jean-Luc Godard’s Alphaville (1965). It may not be the first, but what Schaffner contributes to the genre is a film of grim scope and unique execution. Just like Alphaville the social commentary, in retrospect, is a touch naïve and forcibly illustrated. For its time though, the film would have been a revelation. 1968 was a period of naivety worldwide, no less so than in the United States where the fear of communist infection was still rife. A film like this, which questioned the self-destructive qualities in man, was making a bold and eloquent statement. The beauty of the genre, as Schaffner and others like him discovered, was that by taking a step outside and looking in, incredible truths could be illustrated. Just like the horror film, the genre found that by taking man and placing him in a foreign and hostile environment, his reactions to the situations presented, could be both entertaining and quite revealing. In terms of its ageing, the film is lacking: Heston is melodramatic, sexist, racist and bigoted, but human. This is possibly the most telling point about the film. He is entirely human, and his actions are honest, if not agreeable. It’s quite a radical departure from the normal iconoclastic heroes of film that typified the period. But despite its camp and comparatively simplistic technology, the ending is as chilling today, as I’m sure it was then. For those not familiar with the film it would be unfair to expand, although it isn’t difficult to guess. Irrespective of whether you regard it as an argument about racism, colonial oppression, or even an anti-vivisectionist line, The Planet of the Apes is as significant a contribution to science fiction cinema as 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Whether you’re revisiting the film, discovering it for the first time or watching it for want of something better to do, The Planet of the Apes is still an intriguing prospect, that tells us as much about our history and future as any text book (written by man that is).
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