Planet of the Apes Revisited: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of the Classic Science Fiction Saga [Paperback]

Joe Russo (Author), Edward Gross (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2001

For the first time ever, the complete, provocative history behind the motion picture series that began a new tradition in science fiction film sagas.

Planet of the Apes Revisited is the colorful, factual account of the science fiction milestone Planet of the Apes and the series of movies and TV shows it inspired. Through exclusive interviews with cast and crew and access to the personal archives of Arthur P. Jacobs, the producer and originator of the first film and all its spin-offs, Joe Russo and Larry Landsman present a fascinating, in-depth look at the entire Apes canon, featuring:

Rare, behind-the-scenes photographs
Deails on special effects and makeup
Story and screenplay developments
On-the-set changes and post-production edits
Behind-the-scenes anecdotes
A chapter on Tim Burton's "reimagining" of the classic Planet of the Apes

The book also serves as an invaluable reference volume on Hollywood filmmaking and the many personalities who are part of the legend and lore of this outstanding adventure series. The most comprehensive guide available, Planet of the Apes Revisited vividly re-creates the history, the sticky studio politics, and the fascinating creative process that resulted in this unprecedented science fiction phenomenon.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Apes fans, this is it: aside from an early '70s article that appeared in Cinefantastique, nobody but nobody's paid much attention to the making of the groundbreaking Planet of the Apes saga. The wait is over, though--and how. Unapologetic fanboys Joe Russo and Larry Landsman (and, later, Edward Gross) have been laboring over this exhaustive, fact-packed, behind-the scenes record of all five movies, the TV show, and the cartoon for the better part of 17 years. The effort shows, with countless on-set pictures, unprecedented access to the estates of Rod Serling, Roddy McDowall, and producer Arthur P. Jacobs, and extensive quotes from virtually everyone associated with the project, from screenwriters to actors to makeup artists to the special effects crew. (To give you an idea of the devotion we're talking about, Russo actually wrote his first "making of" Apes book back in the fifth grade. It was hand stitched with a plastic cover.)

Deserving of special note is Charlton Heston, who contributed not only the foreword for this book but scores of entries from his swaggering personal journals. ("A helluva long day, in the course of which I was finally brought to earth as Taylor. Having evaded clubs, whips, horsemen, crowds, they tripped me ass over teakettle into a thrown net and hoisted me high.... Upside down in a net, a man isn't worth much.") But even more interesting are the minutiae that inevitably emerge in any close examination of a production this complicated: that Marlon Brando had been considered first for the lead, that there were racial casting concerns in the wake of the Watts riots, even the fact that Planet of the Apes hit the small screen in an attempt to knock off Sanford and Son. This account may sprawl a bit in spots, with some quotes that overlap overmuch and minutiae that's awfully minute, but any fan who has even an ounce of Russo and Landsman's enthusiasm will be hard-pressed to complain. --Paul Hughes

From Publishers Weekly

Fans of the 1968 sci-fi film classic Planet of the Apes and its four sequels (plus two short-lived TV shows) will be hard-pressed to find a more comprehensive, authoritative and entertaining guide to late producer Arthur P. Jacobs's ape empire. With access to Jacobs's files, the authors detail the several drafts of each screenplay, chronicle day-by-day shooting schedules and create an exhaustive behind-the-scenes history of the epic series. During the book's 15-year gestation, the authors were able to interview virtually every actor, director, producer, writer, production designer, makeup artist and composer on each film. (Some of the quotes could have been tightened to avoid repetition.) Even those who are familiar with the series (or saw the 1998 AMC documentary Behind the Planet of the Apes) will glean new knowledge from amusing firsthand recollections of Roddy McDowall (who starred in four of the films, as well as the live-action TV show) and Natalie Trundy (Jacobs's widow, who acted in four of the films). Apes star Charlton Heston, who wrote the book's introduction, proves a sharp interviewee and allowed the authors to quote liberally from his daily journals. Likewise, memos from Rod Sterling (who scripted the original film and helped with the TV show) are illuminating. Made on ever-decreasing budgets, each film in the series turned a profit and remains enjoyable, both as pop entertainment and for its political, social commentary and allegorical treatment of race relations (particularly the violent Conquest of the Planet of the Apes and its Watts riots reenactments). Rare b&w photos throughout, with a 16-page color insert. Agent, Christopher Schelling. (Aug. 6)Forecast: Tim Burton's big-budget Planet of the Apes remake invades theaters July 27; its release will provide great publicity for this book.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (August 11, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312252390
• ISBN-13: 978-0312252397
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #508,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well research overview of the evolution of the Apes, August 4, 2001

By 

WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Planet of the Apes Revisited: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of the Classic Science Fiction Saga (Paperback)

Clearly a labor of love, POAR is jam packed with interesting interviews and interesting tidbits about the production of the first classic film and the well made sequels. This fine book corrects a lot of "myths" about the films (such as the fact that screenwriter Michael Wilson came up with the "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" scene and the fact that Rod Serling's original screenplay was a mess)and reminds us how groundbreaking this first science fiction film series was.

Although memories occasinally differ as to who did what (most notably about the twist ending of the first film. There has been some debate as to who came up with it although it clearly has Serling's fingerprints all over it),the authors have put together a terrific volume that works both as film history and puts the films in their historical perspective. Sure they're all entertaining (some to a lesser degree than others) but the first film (and to a lesser extent the sequels)works both as allegory and social satire in the tradition of Swift's Gulliver's Travels.

The book is stocked with rare photos (including a series of stunning photos from Lydia Heston's private collection)and great interviews. If you're an Apes fan this terrific book is a perfect companion to the DVD re-release of the films (and the making of documentary that aired on cable a couple of years ago). My only complaint is I would have liked to see a bit more of the Apes memorabilia reproduced perhaps even in a separate section.

What's surprising is the impact these films have had over the past 30 years. Although some of the participants would go on to bigger things (director Schaffner's classic Patton and Serling's stint as creator/host/writer on the uneven Night Gallery series), none of their efforts has had the impact of this fine series of films. Although it's taken over 15 years to for this fine book to finally see the light of day it was well worth the wait!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Get Your Stinking Paws On This Book!, January 31, 2002

By 

Daniel V. Reilly (Upstate New York, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Planet of the Apes Revisited: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of the Classic Science Fiction Saga (Paperback)

Planet of the Apes revisited is a must for all fans of the classic film series. From the Introduction by Charleton Heston, right through to the final chapter on Tim Burton's "re-Imagining", the Authors manage to answer every question you could possibly have about the Ape Movies, TV series, and Cartoon series. This book was over 15 years in the making, so the Authors were able to interview just about everyone associated with the films, from the Stars to the Crew. Kim Hunter & the late Roddy McDowell provide great anecdotes, and the struggle of the late Arthur P. Jacobs (Producer of the original Series of Films) to get a Studio to MAKE the Movies is exhaustively documented.

Two small problems: 1)- Many of the pictures in the book aren't captioned, so you aren't sure who or what you're looking at; and 2)- The Authors briefly mention the Ape Comic Books, by Marvel and Malibu. I would have liked to see a chapter covering these books, as well as a chapter (or Two...), about other Ape ancillary products.

Ape fans will love this book, and when you're done reading it, you'll watch the Movies with a new appreciation.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating look at a pop culture phenomenon, July 16, 2003

By 

Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Planet of the Apes Revisited: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of the Classic Science Fiction Saga (Paperback)

"Planet of the Apes Revisited" is by Joe Russo and Larry Landsman, with Edward Gross. The authors chronicle the behind-the-scenes story of the making of the "Planet of the Apes" films and TV series. The book also includes a chapter on Tim Burton's reimagined "Apes" film.

The book's intro notes that the authors had "complete and total access" to the archives of late "Apes" producer Arthur P. Jacobs; furthermore, many actors and behind-the-scenes talents were interviewed for the project. This in-depth research really pays off in this engrossing, well-written narrative. The book is enriched with many quotes from cast and crew and a wealth of photographs.

The authors frankly discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each film, as well as controversies attached to them. A particularly interesting part of the book is the account of the test reel in which Edward G. Robinson played Dr. Zaius. The book also discusses the music of the films, and includes episode guides to both the live-action and animated TV series. This book is essential reading for true "Apes" fans. Funny, fascinating, and even poignant, it made me want to watch all of these marvelous films again.