Review of Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) by Archibald T — 09 Jan 2013

Very rarely will a sequel ever surpass the original. This one does, but barely. At the time of the original Planet of the Apes, no one was talking of a sequel. I mean how could anyone go beyond the first film? It was a masterpiece and that ENDING! It would be blasphemy to even think of a sequel. Okay, maybe not blasphemy, but sequels can do harm to the original if they're not done right. But demand for a sequel was in fact bound to happen thanks to the worldwide phenomenon of the first film.

Arthur P. Jacobs, the producer of pretty much all the Apes films, was getting some pressure from the studio execs at 20th Century for another Apes picture. He wasn't sure where to start. He figured why not go back to Rod Serling and the author of the first film Pierre Boulle. Serling turned out a few drafts, but they weren't satisfactory. At least not to Jacobs. Mort Abrahams, who was an associate producer on the first film, met a man named Paul Dehn. Dehn was a screenwriter whose credits included Goldfinger and The Spy Who Came In From The Cold. He wrote mainly spy films and was approached by Abrahams with the dilemma of an Apes sequel.

Giving him a few days to figure it out, Dehn called up Abrahams to tell him that he may have found a way for sequel to happen. The story would pick up where the first left off. Ted Post would direct, but was threatening to walk off the project if Charlton Heston didn't return as Taylor. Heston decided he would do a sequel if Taylor would die in the first act, but instead the story takes a different approach to Taylor and instead includes him in the first act alive, but missing.

A new astronaunt team crash lands, looking for Taylor. Brent, the only survivor, stumbles upon Nova who has just witnessed Taylor vanishing into a cliff wall. Nova takes Brent to the Ape sanctuary where he's met with some old friends of Taylor's: Dr. Zaius, Cornelius & Zira. He also witnesses an Ape pep rally of sorts conducted by one of the Gorilla's, Colonel Urus played by James Gregory. The apes plan on heading to the Forbidden Zone. However, Brent and Nova get there first when hiding out. They accidentally stumble upon what use to be the Queensboro Plaza station. Just like seeing the statue of Liberty, Brent is sent into shock. It's not as devastating as what was depicted in the first film, but still disturbing to see New York City buried.

Underground they discover a group of gentically telepathic humans who worship the bomb. Underneath their skin is something more hideous than any simian creature: Mutation. Very creepy. John Chambers use of make up comes through once again on creating the mutated beings with telepathic powers.

As the apes declare war, a power of minds and muscle is underway leading to an apocalyptic finale. Just like the first film, the budget was reduced. Thanks to the let down of big budget musicals tanking at the box office, 20th Century had no choice but to cut costs. It didn't dampen the moderate success it turned out to be at the box office. It still included many humorous moments and brought back many of the original cast members with the exception of Roddy McDowell who played Cornelius. As it was at the time of it's release political commentary still seeped through the plot. Anti-war protests concerning the Apes going to war was a direct message concerning Vietnam (again). Also man being the evil of all things, but in this film the Apes themselves don't show much sympathy either (with the exception of Zira & Cornelius).

The ending to this film was originally thought up by Heston himself to blow up the Nuclear bomb and just end it. It did certainly put an end to everything, but four months later after the films release Paul Dehn receives a message from Jacobs saying: 'Apes exist, Sequel required'.