With the trailer for the newest Planet of the Apes film, Rise of the Planet of the Apes in theaters everywhere, awareness of the original is once again hitting an all time high.
There is no greater ape-based concept in Science Fiction (and comics) than the 1963 novel La Planete de Singes by the French writer Pierre Boulle. In 1963 the book was translated into English as Planet of the Apes. Boulle’s original featured gorillas, orangutans, monkeys and chimpanzees in roles throughout its narrative.
The novel opens with a couple out on a nice afternoon ride through space when they come upon a message in a bottle. The bottle holds the story of another traveler who is writing in the hopes that someone will read his adventure on the Planet of the Apes.
Since many only know Plant of the Apes from the 1968 film and its subsequent sequels, concepts that were introduced as part of Boulle's original novel may seem odd when first encountered. But they are fascinating and as equally disturbing, if not more so, as anything in the film.
Boulle created definite divisions within the society of Apes. Gorillas were seen as violent while chimpanzees formed the intellectual part of society. The orangutans were portrayed as conservative, which is actually how most of the society appeared to be. The creation of three separate strata of society adds deeper texture than the concept of a single species of apes featured in the film.
Also inside Boulle's novel is the idea that the Ape society never really evolved because they were incapable of innovation, preferring instead to rely on imitation as a way of moving forward from generation to new generation through time.
The original novel found fans quickly and was quickly translated fro foreign markets. In 1964 the title found success as a mass-market paperback in America when it was published by Signet. A paperback wasn't the only place to find Planet of the Apes in 1964.
At the time pulps were still a viable outlet for science fiction. The editors of Saga: the Magazine for Men published an abridged version of the work in their May 1964 issue (Vol. 28, No. 2) which contained the first illustration created specifically for the franchise.
Hollywood acted just as quickly as the publishing companies. Two different film companies made offers for the rights to the book. The rights were eventually won by Arthur P. Jacobs of APJAC Productions. For the script Rod Serling worked for two years at incorporating many of Boulle's original ideas, but eventually Michal Wilson was brought in to work on re-writes. Both men receive screen credit. Jacobs' patience and hard work were rewarded as the film was a huge hit when it premiered.
Boulle, despite his initial reservations, was happy with many of the changes to his original novel. He was particularly impressed that the ape make-up didn't make them look silly. Still, he found the ending to be out of step with what he would have wanted.
No one associated with the production thought that the film would have the impact it did. Some historians rank Planet of the Apes as the first real science-fiction success in films since serial films such as Buck Rogers had played themselves out.
Its star, Charlton Heston, was a solid name on the marquee and a star by anyone's standards. But by 1968 Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments were well behind him and even though 1965's The Agony and the Ecstasy was a hit, he was by no means a guarantee of success for the producers.
Expectations for the film were modest. But when it hit, it hit big. America went "Ape Crazy." Some felt it was the subtext of man being oppressed by another "race" because of who they were. This meaning certainly wasn't lost on a country still involved with a massive struggle for civil rights issues. Others felt that the film tied into the country's belief in the heroic quality of astronauts. But no matter how you looked at the film, the real reason for the film's massive success was that it was just a good adventure story. And who doesn't love a great surprise ending?
The success of the film demanded a sequel and Jacobs went back to the original author, Boole. Unsatisfied with what the author submitted, Jacobs brought at Paul Dehn and Mort Abrahams. Dehn was credited with the screenplay, but qualities that all three had brought to the screenplay were used.
The producers were anxious to bring back Heston's character but Heston wasn't interested in a sequel. While agreeing to appear, he asked that his salary be donated to charity. Even though he wasn't on the screen as long as they had hoped, he exerted a good amount of influence on the script and helped shape the final form of the film.
Beneath the Planet of the Apes opened in 1970 and was considered by many to being inferior to the first film. The concept was strong enough to still see three more Planet of the Apes films as the series became one of the first science fiction franchises of the modern era of film.
Following the second film a year later in 1971 was Escape from the Planet of the Apes. The film went a long way to re-establishing the credibility that the first film had initially established. In 1972 Jacobs released Conquest of the Planet of the Apes and in 973 his company released the final film in the series, Battle of the Planet of the Apes.
With the film series seemingly exhausted at the box office, 1974 saw a live action television series Planet of the Apes debut on CBS. The series saw thirteen episodes broadcast but it was brought to its knees by Chico and the Man and Sanford and Son over on NBC. A fourteenth episode was made and finally saw release on a DVD box set in 2006.
An animated version of Planet of the Apes was created by DePatie-Freleng who were famous for their work on The Pink Panther. Broadcast on NBC on Saturday morning, it also went for thirteen episodes before it was canceled.
Planet of the Apes has a long and very worthwhile history in comic books. The first film was adapted twice in manga, first in 1968 and than again in 1971. These still turn up on eBay and are well worth searching out.
Marvel Comics issued several attempts at a Planet of the Apes comic. The most important one was a black and white magazine that was put out by their Curtis Magazine arm which lasted 29 issues. The series adapted all five films and also added new stories to the cannon. Marvel wasn't the only company to develop the title. Other comic companies such as Gold Key who adapted the second film, kept their own name out there. The nineties started with a strong run from Malibu /Adventure Comics as they published Planet of the Apes titles.
In 2001Tim Burton, riding high on success of Batman and Edward Scissorhands as well as several other highly imaginative films took on a remake of the original film. Expectations were high and the film did well financially. Heston even returned for a well-received cameo. But Burton's version of Planet of the Apes suffered from among other things, criticism over what many felt was a forced and somewhat confusing ending. On the comic front, Dark Horse did an adaptation of the film as well as a mini-series. In 2005, Mr. Comics did a mini-series, but plans for a follow-up series never materialized.
This year will see the release of a new Planet of Apes film. Advertised as both a reboot and a prequel to what has gone on prior to its release, the film is expected to begin another successful run for the concept. Scheduled to be release on August 5, 2011, previews for Rise of the Planet of the Apes, have been met with positive feedback and audiences are responding well to the trailer. In tandem with the film's release Boom Studios! has picked up the comic license and plans to publish an on-going title.
Reading the book for the first time, or just returning to it after years away, is a rewarding thrill. Many consider Boulle's novel to be among the best ever in the history of Science Fiction. The original film series is still looked at as the template for a successful sci-fi franchise. Planet of the Apes stories found in comics are still thrilling fans in trades and are well worth seeking out in used comic bins. If the audience response to Rise of the Planet of the Apes is any indication, the series will be with us well over another forty years.