The Making of Planet of the Apes

526 Pages·2018·117.44 MB·English

by  Jonathan Rinzler

Crew members prepare the life-size spaceship mock-up for principal
photography on location in Lake Powell, May 1967.
On March 4, 1967 (followed by revisions on April 12 and 13), production artist
L. G. Paull executed technical drawings for “EXT. Spaceship.” The craft would
be constructed in sections for delivery to the Lake Powell location. Production
designer William Creber’s concept, approved by director Franklin J. Schaff ner,
included a hatch that could be blown open with a door that could float.
Stabilized by anchors, the ship’s hull had to keep six men afloat and provide for
steam eff ects. Its sheet-metal surface had to be smooth enough that actors could
slide on it. Reflecting changes in the script calling for “Spaceship to sink below
surface on cue,” a note read, “as fast as possible—include method of ‘blowing’
ballasts to bring hull to surface as required.” Additional drawings indicated the
design and use of its telescope.
Between takes, the star of Planet of the Apes, Charlton Heston, reads industry
paper Variety with a gorilla extra on location at the Fox Ranch, where Apetown
was constructed, summer 1967.
Taylor (Heston) observes one of the planet’s primitive humans climbing the bars
of the exercise yard built on the grounds of Fox Ranch.
Dedication
To the people of the United States of America, who in the late nineteenth century
offered sanctuary to my paternal great-grandparents and, a half century later, to
my maternal grandparents, all of whom were fleeing the racist and oppressive
policies of broken nations.
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset
gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor
that twin cities frame.
“Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “Give me
your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The
wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden
door!”
—EMMA LAZARUS 1883*
A concept illustration by Don Peters of the spaceship after landing on what its
occupants believe to be alien ground, based on an early Rod Serling script for
Planet of the Apes, circa 1964.
Courtesy of the Arthur P. Jacobs Collection, Coll. 023, Department of Archives
and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount
University.
Director Franklin Schaffner explains what he wants gorilla actors to do while
posing with the corpses of humans they have hunted down, on location at Fox
Ranch.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Dedication
Foreword by Fraser C. Heston
Introduction
Chapter One: Mystery Planet (1939–1963)
Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle—Summary of the Novel
Chapter Two: Twilight of the Apes (1963–1964)
Planet of the Apes by Rod Serling, May 25, 1964—Summary of First Draft
Screenplay
Chapter Three: The Death of Humans (1964–1965)
Planet of the Apes by Rod Serling, December 17, 1964 & January 7, 1965—
Summaries of Second Draft and Revised Second Draft
Chapter Four: Simian Siren Songs (1965–March 1966)
Chapter Five: The Fox and the Monkey (April–December 1966)
Chapter Six: Saving Astronaut Thomas (December 1966–April 1967)
Planet of the Apes by Michael Wilson, April 3, 1967—Summary of Final
Draft Screenplay
Chapter Seven: Anthropoid Alchemy (April–May 1967)
Chapter Eight: Filming the Forbidden Zone (May–June 1967)
Chapter Nine: Of Subhuman Bondage (June 1967)
Chapter Ten: The Hunt (June–July 1967)
Chapter Eleven: Desperate Dreams (July–August 1967)
Chapter Twelve: Post Evolution (August–December 1967)
Chapter Thirteen: Revelation of the Apes (January 1968–April 1969)
Epilogue: Legacy of the Apes
Acknowledgments
Appendix: Complete Cast & Crew
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
Copyright
About the Publisher