Hunted... haunted... wanted... like beasts of prey!

Starring: Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowell, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, James Whitmore, James Daly, Linda Harrison, Lou Wagner, Woodrow Parfrey

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #9 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Planet of the Apes

"Man is a nuisance. He eats up his food supply in the forest, then migrates to our green belts and ravages our crops. The sooner he is exterminated, the better." – Doctor Zaius

Why watch this? ... it's compelling through-out, but the last scene makes it a legend.

Plot Summary: After crash-landing on a seemingly alien planet, astronaut George Taylor and his crew discover a world where intelligent apes dominate, and humans are treated as primitive, mute beings. Taylor is captured and struggles to convince the ape society of his intelligence and humanity. With the help of sympathetic chimpanzee scientists, Zira and Cornelius, Taylor fights for his freedom and to uncover the truth about this mysterious planet.

Dad's Preview: This is the first science fiction film I remember watching, and what a primer!  It was certainly ahead of its time. I was so intrigued by the role reversal between ape and man. It's humbling to witness a planet where man is the lowest animal - being hunted, killed, enslaved and even domesticated. The film's extensive make-up and eerie, avant-garde soundtrack were nominated for Oscars. Like many of writer Rod Serling's Twilight Zone episodes, this masterwork of his is a real think-piece about humanity and our own pre-conceived, hubris-laden ideals.

APJAC Productions; 20th Century Fox