Product Description

Charlton Heston and Roddy McDowall star in this legendary science fiction masterpiece. Astronaut Taylor (Heston) 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 (McDowall).System Requirements:Running Time 112 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY Rating: Unknown UPC: 024543229742 Manufacturer No: 2232975

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12330 in DVD
• Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
• Released on: 2006-03-28
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 112 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
Many early science fiction films are now, quite inadvertently (and in most cases undeservedly), objects of camp attention: we laugh at the silly makeup, tin-can special effects, and the naive "high-tech" dialogue. Planet of the Apes is no such film. Its intelligent script, frightening costuming, and savagely effective conclusion (which needs no big-budget special effects to augment its impact) remain both potent and relevant. When Colonel George Taylor (the fabulous Charlton Heston) crash lands his spacecraft on what seems to be an unfamiliar planet, he is captured and held prisoner by a dominant race of hyperrational, articulate apes. However, the ape community is riven with internal dissention, centered in no small part on its policy toward humans, who, on this planet, are treated as mindless animals. Befriended and ultimately assisted by the more liberal simians, Taylor escapes--only to find a more terrifying obstacle confronting his return home. Heavy-handed object lessons abound--the ubiquity of generational warfare, the inflexibility of dogma, the cruelty of prejudice--and the didactic fingerprints of Rod Serling are very much in evidence here. But director Franklin Schaffner has a dark, pop-apocalyptic sci-fi vision all his own, and time has not dulled the monumental emotional impact of the film's climactic payoff shot. If you don't know what I'm talking about here, you owe it to yourself to check out this stone classic, and even if you do, see it with fresh eyes; and don't be surprised if you get the chills all over again... and again... and again. --Miles Bethany

Customer Reviews

Great movie for 1968!
Astronauts crash land onto a planet that is ruled by apes. A planet where the apes are at rule, and humans are the underdog. A planet where apes capture humans and use them for game.

I really loved this version of the Planet of the Apes. I actually liked this one better than the 2001 version. (even though it looks more realistic) If you are a planet of the apes fan and liked the 2001 version, you may think well I don't want to see the old version! But this version really isn't that bad!

The Great Charlton Heston Monkeys Around
In the wake of Charlton Heston's death, I decided to have a marathon viewing of his films. I rewatched many of my favorites and sought out some of those I had never seen.

"Planet of the Apes" is an iconic film and one of my longtime favorites. Heston stars as Taylor, an astronaut who crashes on a planet ruled by talking apes. Here humans are mute and primitive, treated like animals. Taylor is an anomaly that perplexes and frightens the apes (imagine us discovering an intelligent ape who could speak). The scientists want to study him, the superstitious leaders want to destroy him.

Although it may seem like a mindless sci-fi movie on the surface, "Apes" deals with heavy themes like prejudice, social class, and the nuclear threat. With one exception (see next paragraph), it is well written, beautifully shot, and artfully directed. The film is full of great scenes: the astronauts' journey across the hauntingly bleak landscape, the chilling "hunting party" attack, and of course the famous twist ending. The score by Jerry Goldsmith is discordant and clangy, but it creates the perfect mood of otherworldly menace. Heston turns in one of his best performances ("Get your stinking hands off me . . .").

However, for such an intelligent film, there is one ludicrous plot hole: though he believes he is on a planet far from earth, Taylor never once questions why the apes speak perfect English! It is inconceivable that he wouldn't wonder how this "alien" society speaks his language or uses remarkably familiar weapons like rifles.

If you can overlook this error, "Apes" is really an enjoyable film, certainly much better than the misguided 2003 remake. It is a classic of science fiction and a must-see for any Heston fan.

Planet Of The Apes
I bought this Movie for my Husband, I am not particularly a Planet of the ape fan. It was just what I wanted and I know he enjoyed the movie. For its time in history it was well made, has a good story line and takes you back to another time.