This date in 1968 saw the premiere of Planet of the Apes starring Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, and Maurice Evans. 10 Planet of the Apes facts:
It was based on a novel called La Planète des singes, or Planet of the Apes in the US and Monkey Planet in the UK, by Pierre Boulle, published in 1963. Boulle, however, wasn’t a great fan of the books himself; allegedly he thought it the worst of the novels he’d written.
When adjusted for inflation, Planet of the Apes holds the world record for the highest make-up budget (then $345,542), about 17% of the total budget of $2 million. The make-up team consisted of over 80 make-up artists. John Chambers' make-up effects were based on a technique he'd used during World War II to give disfigured veterans a normal appearance. Chambers spent many hours watching the apes at Los Angeles Zoo, studying their facial expressions. He wasn’t the only one. Both Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter spent a lot of time at zoos studying the apes, too, McDowell at the San Diego Zoo and Hunter at the Bronx Zoo.
The make up was gruelling for the actors. Because the application took several hours, they had to wear the ape masks all day, including during lunch breaks. Because of this, meals were liquefied and drunk through straws, and actors who smoked had to use cigarette holders.
Some actors found it more difficult than others. Kim Hunter gave up eating when in full make-up because it was all such a faff. Her claustrophobia meant she’d have to take Valium before going to make up. One day she thought she’d manage without, but the make up artist told her to start taking them again as it was much harder to make her up without the calming effect of the drugs. Hunter also suffered a reaction to the glue that was used so she could only work in full make up for four days at a time and had to wear Vaseline on her face at night so she wouldn’t get a rash. Roddy McDowall, however, used to drive home with his make-up still on, shocking other drivers on the freeway.
The apes' village is modelled on the work of legendary Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí and the Göreme Valley in Cappadocia, Turkey.
The spacecraft is never actually named in the film. However, for the 40th anniversary release of the Blu-ray edition, in the short film created for the release called A Public Service Announcement from ANSA, the ship is called Liberty 1. The sound effects when it crashes are the sound of the Batmobile starting up from the television series Batman and the sound of the engines of the Jupiter 2 from the original television series Lost in Space.
There are no female Gorillas or Orangutans in the film.
During breaks in filming, actors made up as different ape species tended to hang out together. This happened naturally rather than because they were required to do so.
Charlton Heston was always producer Arthur P. Jacobs' first choice for the part of Taylor. Marlon Brando was considered as a back-up possibility. Rock Hudson was considered for the role of Cornelius, but it was decided he was too big a star and that Charlton Heston might be overshadowed. Ingrid Bergman regretted turning down the part of Zira, as it would have given her the opportunity to act without relying on her beauty, as well as the chance to work with Charlton Heston.
An oppressed race of baboons were originally written into the script, but they were removed, possibly because the make up would have been too complicated, or possibly because baboons are actually Monkeys, not apes.
Beta
(Combat Team Series #2)
Steff was abducted by an evil alien race, the Orbs, at fourteen. Used as a weapon for years, he eventually escapes, but his problems are just beginning. How does a man support himself when his only work experience is a paper round and using an Orb bio-integrated gun?
Warlord is an alien soldier who knows little but war. When the centuries-old conflict which ravaged his planet ends, he seeks out another world where his skills are still relevant. There are always wars on Earth, it seems. However, none of Earth's powerful armies want him.
Natalie has always wanted to visit England and sees a chance to do so while using her martial arts skills, but there are sacrifices she must make in order to fulfil her dream.
Maggie resorted to crime to fund her sister's medical care. She uses her genetic variant abilities to gain access to the rooms of wealthy hotel guests. The Ballards look like rich pickings, but they are not what they seem. When Maggie targets them, little does she know that she is walking into a trap.
Hotel owner Hamilton Lonsdale puts together a combat team to pit against those of other multi-millionaires. He recruits Warlord, Natalie, Maggie and Steff along with a trained gorilla, a probability-altering alien, a stockbroker whose work of art proved to be much more than he'd bargained for, a marketing officer who can create psionic forcefields, a teleporting member of the landed gentry, and a socially awkward fixer. This is Combat Team Beta.
Steff never talks about his time with the Orbs, until he finds a woman who lived through it, too. Steff believes he has finally found happiness, but it is destined to be short-lived. He is left with an unusual legacy which he and Team Beta struggle to comprehend; including why something out there seems determined to destroy it.
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