Planet of the Apes (1968)
The 1968 film Planet of the
Apes, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and based on the novel by Pierre
Boulle, is a groundbreaking work of science fiction. With its provocative
themes, stellar performances, and unforgettable twist ending, the movie
explores issues of race, identity, and the human condition through the lens of
a dystopian future where apes rule and humans are treated as subservient
animals.
The Journey Begins: Crash Landing on an Unknown World
The film begins with
Colonel George Taylor (played by Charlton Heston), an astronaut on a space
mission with three other crew members. They are on an expedition traveling at
near-light speed, leaving Earth far behind. After a long journey, their ship
crash-lands on an unknown planet. The crash leaves one crew member dead and the
others stranded, as the ship sinks in a large body of water.
Taylor, along with Landon
(Robert Gunner) and Dodge (Jeff Burton), sets out to explore this mysterious
world. The planet they’ve landed on seems barren and harsh, with no signs of
intelligent life. As they traverse the desolate landscape, they discover plant
life, giving them hope that the planet is habitable.
However, their exploration
soon leads them to a shocking discovery: primitive, mute humans living in a
wild, animal-like state. The humans on this planet have no societal structure,
language, or advanced intelligence. They are hunted and captured like animals,
and Taylor and his crew quickly find themselves in grave danger.
Ape Civilization: Humanity Turned Upside Down
The explorers are suddenly
ambushed by a group of highly intelligent apes, who are fully evolved and live
in a structured society. The apes hunt the wild humans using guns and horses,
treating them like vermin to be captured or killed. Dodge is killed in the
attack, and Landon is knocked unconscious, leaving Taylor on his own.
Taylor is captured and
taken to a city run by apes, where the society is rigidly divided into three
classes: the gorillas, who serve as soldiers and law enforcement; the
orangutans, who are the political and religious leaders; and the chimpanzees,
who are the intellectuals and scientists. This inversion of human civilization
presents the central conceit of the film—apes, once thought of as lower
animals, are now the dominant species, while humans are treated as inferior
beings.
Taylor is treated as a mere
animal by his captors and is unable to speak due to an injury to his throat. He
is placed in a cage alongside other humans, subjected to experiments and brutal
treatment by the apes. The audience begins to see the deep-seated prejudices
and rigid class structures within ape society, as the humans are viewed as
mindless creatures incapable of higher thought or reason.
Zira and Cornelius: Taylor’s Allies Among the Apes
While imprisoned, Taylor is
observed by two chimpanzee scientists, Zira (Kim Hunter) and Cornelius (Roddy
McDowall), who are intrigued by his intelligence and behavior. Zira is an
animal psychologist who studies human behavior, and Cornelius is an
archaeologist interested in the origins of ape civilization. Both are more
open-minded than the majority of their ape peers and become Taylor’s allies,
recognizing that he is different from the other humans they have encountered.
Through gestures and
writing, Taylor manages to communicate with Zira and Cornelius, who are
astonished to learn that he is capable of intelligent thought. However, when
Taylor regains his ability to speak, he utters one of the most famous lines in
cinematic history: “Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!” This
shocking revelation—that a human can speak—upends the rigid belief system of
the apes.
Zira and Cornelius believe
that Taylor is proof that humans once had a more advanced civilization, which
challenges the dominant religious doctrine preached by Dr. Zaius (Maurice
Evans), an orangutan who serves as both a political leader and a defender of
the apes’ faith. Zaius is deeply opposed to any idea that could undermine the
apes' belief in their superiority, and he views Taylor as a threat.
The Trial: Taylor’s Fight
for Recognition
Taylor’s intelligence leads
to a trial where the ape leaders, including Dr. Zaius, debate whether Taylor is
an anomaly or a real threat to their society. The trial is a thinly veiled
allegory for human prejudice and closed-mindedness, as the apes refuse to
believe that a human could be as intelligent as an ape. Despite Zira and
Cornelius' defense, the court dismisses Taylor as an aberration and refuses to
accept any evidence that might challenge their established worldview.
Taylor's frustration grows
as he realizes that ape society, much like human society, is built on the
suppression of inconvenient truths. The trial also highlights the tension
between science and religion, with Dr. Zaius representing the religious and
political establishment that seeks to maintain control by denying evidence that
contradicts their dogma.
The Forbidden Zone: Secrets
of the Past
Taylor, Zira, and Cornelius
escape to the Forbidden Zone, a desolate area where Cornelius had previously
uncovered ancient human artifacts that suggest humans once ruled the planet.
Zira and Cornelius hope that these artifacts will prove Taylor's claims and
force the ape society to reconsider their beliefs about humans.
Dr. Zaius, however, is
aware of the truth hidden in the Forbidden Zone and is determined to prevent
Taylor from revealing it. Zaius admits that he has always known that humans
were once the dominant species on the planet, but he believes that humans are
inherently destructive and dangerous. He justifies the suppression of this
knowledge by claiming that apes are better off controlling the world, as humans
nearly destroyed it.
In the Forbidden Zone,
Taylor and the others discover the ruins of an ancient human city, further
confirming Taylor’s suspicions that this planet was once ruled by humans. The
climactic moment comes when Taylor uncovers the ultimate truth: the planet is
not some alien world, but Earth itself.
The Shocking Twist: A
Devastated Future
The film’s famous and
devastating twist comes in its final moments. As Taylor rides along the beach
with Nova (Linda Harrison), a mute human woman who has become his companion, he
encounters the shattered remains of the Statue of Liberty buried in the sand.
This revelation makes it clear that Taylor has been on Earth all along, but in
the distant future, long after humanity has destroyed itself through nuclear
war or environmental collapse.
In one of the most iconic
scenes in film history, Taylor falls to his knees in despair, shouting, “You
maniacs! You blew it up! Damn you! Damn you all to hell!” The film ends on this
bleak note, revealing that the apes’ rise to dominance came after the
self-destruction of human civilization, offering a stark commentary on
humanity's capacity for violence and self-destruction.
Themes and Legacy: A Mirror
for Humanity
Planet of the Apes is a
deeply philosophical film that explores themes of race, class, and the dangers
of authoritarianism. The apes' treatment of humans as inferior beings serves as
an allegory for racial discrimination and societal prejudice. The rigid caste
system of ape society also critiques the hierarchical nature of human
societies, where certain groups are often marginalized based on arbitrary
characteristics.
The film also examines the
relationship between science and religion, with Dr. Zaius representing the
authoritarian suppression of knowledge and inquiry in order to maintain
control. The conflict between Taylor and the apes reflects humanity’s own
struggles with ignorance, fear, and the refusal to accept inconvenient truths.
The film’s influence has
endured for decades, spawning numerous sequels, remakes, and reboots, as well
as becoming a touchstone for science fiction and social commentary. The
haunting twist ending remains one of the most memorable moments in film
history, leaving audiences to reflect on the destructive nature of humanity and
the fragile balance between civilization and chaos.
Conclusion: A Science
Fiction Classic with a Powerful Message
Planet of the Apes is much more than an action-packed science fiction film—it is a powerful exploration of societal issues that were relevant in the 1960s and remain so today. Its critique of racism, authoritarianism, and humanity’s capacity for self-destruction resonates as strongly now as it did over fifty years ago. Through its reversal of roles—where apes rule and humans are subjugated—the film holds up a mirror to human society, forcing viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and the world they live in.
