Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33747 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-04-26
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Box set, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 108 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
A genuine genre classic whose impact remains undimmed either by time, increasingly dire sequels, or Tim Burton's lacklustre 2001 "reimagining", the original Planet of the Apes richly deserves this 35th Anniversary special edition. Here you'll find a glorious anamorphic presentation of Franklin J Schaffner's painterly CinemaScope framing, accompanied by a new DTS 5.1 soundtrack that makes the movie seem even more vibrant and immediate than ever before. On disc one the film is accompanied by two audio commentaries: one from composer Jerry Goldsmith, and another with Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Natalie Trundy and make-up artist John Chambers. These are reasonably interesting, though with a few too many gaps. Better is Eric Greene's exhaustive text commentary. Better still are the features on the second disc.

Disc two contains the exhaustive two-hour Behind the Planet of the Apes documentary (also to be found in the six-disc box set) as well as a host of other behind-the-scenes nuggets for die-hard fans: dailies and outtakes, make-up tests and Roddy McDowall's home movies. There's some overlap between a 1967 NATO presentation of the movie hosted by Charlton Heston and other featurettes from 1968 and 1972. Sequel directors Don Taylor and J Lee Thompson are seen in action, and there are trailers, film reviews from 1968 and picture galleries. --Mark Walker

Special Features

Disc 1:
Anamorphic widescreen
English Dolby Surround
English DTS 5.1
Commentary by composer Jerry Goldsmith
Commentary by actors Roddy McDowall, Natalie Trundy, Kim Hunter and make-up artist John Chambers
Text commentary by Eric Greene, author of "Planet of the Apes as American Myth"
Subtitles: English hearing impaired, English composer commentary, English cast commentary, English text commentary

Disc 2:
Behind the Planet of the Apes Documentary
Planet of the Apes Make-up Test with Edward G. Robinson
Roddy McDowall Home Movies
Planet of the Apes Dailies and Outtakes (no audio)
Planet of the Apes NATO presentation (1967)
Planet of the Apes featurettes (1968)
A Look Behind the Planet of the Apes (1972)
Don Taylor directs Escape from the Planet of the Apes
J. Lee Thompson directs Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Original Theatrical Trailers
Film Reviews (1968)
Theatrical Posters
Picture Galleries
Ape Merchandise
Ape Collections

Synopsis
Complex sociological themes run through this science-fiction classic about three astronauts marooned on a planet where highly intelligent apes rule and humans are slaves.The astronauts suddenly find themselves part of a devalued species, trapped and imprisoned by the simians. But one, the defiant Taylor (Charlton Heston), manages to break out and, aided by a pair of compassionate chimps, makes his escape to an uninhabited section of land. However, during the trek he makes a very unsettling discovery about the planet.
The film, based on the novel by Pierre Boulle with a screenplay co-written by Rod Serling, led to four sequels, a TV series, and remake in 2001 by Tim Burton. "Get your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!"

Customer Reviews

Sends shivers down the spine
I've seen this film five times now since 2001 and it gets better every time. It's a brilliant film in so many respects - in terms of cinematography and striking imagery, set design and, make-up, score, acting (Charlton Heston's finest performance), as a relentllessly exciting action film - but most impressively for its brilliant ideas, delivered through a lyrical, immensely quotable script.

The film uses a truly bizarre conceit - the world as we know it turned "upside down" so that apes run the show and humans are mere animails - to deliver scathing attacks and portentious warnings to mankind and our uncertain future.

The final, famous image of the Statue of Liberty is not just cool and iconic. It uses the medium of film in a masterly way to express a huge amount of ideas in an extremely efficient and effective way. It sends shivers down my spine.

THE BEST
Charlton Heston and his crew crash on a strange planet where humans are the lowest form of life used for sport and dissection. Heston finds himself hunted, his life in the hand of a sympathetic chimpanzee.

Based on Pierre Boulle`s novel Planet Of The Apes is a sci-fi classic which over thirty years has spawned four sequels and a TV series. Witty and brutal the 1968 original puts the limp Tim Burton remake to shame and stands its ground against todays crop of wannabe blockbusters.

The two-disc set contains a two-hour 1998 documentary and numerous Period features. Sadly lacks a commentary from Heston.

a great movie given the treatment it deserves
while i really dislike the way the original pierre boulle story was americanised with a statue of liberty ending, and i detest gun toting nra heston.. i cant help liking this wonderful movie

the make up is still celebrated today and was way ahead of its time. if you're into that, you'll love this dvd as there is a feature included on this special edition showing it being put on start to finish. it should be a part of every make-up students curriculum

the musical score is absolutely amazing and fits the visuals like a glove. some great space age effects, thumping drums, and moments of complete desolate silence. you'd be hard pushed to find a composer these days who can appreciate that less is more

the costumes are also amazing. from the slick space suits straight down to the simian outfits which give the film a thoroughly western feel. and some of the visuals are memorable, especially the scene with the crashed spacecraft and the bright yellow life raft contrasting against the lifeless desert

plus you have to like the way the story was used to turn the tables on our own primitive ways of looking at other races and species. the notion that apes just because they are at the top of the food chain, must therefore be the most intelligent species, and closest to god seems like a laughable idea

heston was well cast really as he plays a thoroughly cynical and dislikable character. and for the guys, you have... NOVA. wow!

dvd presentation: a very nice looking and slick dvd menu

if you're going to buy planet of the apes, make sure you get this version. a sci fi classic given the proper anniversary treatment