Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter in the Franklin J. Schaffner movie ‘Planet of the Apes’

Science fiction meets space travel meets an unexpected turn in the power dynamics of mammals on its head withing a planet capable of sustaining human life. Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, Planet of the Apes (1968) launched not one but two franchises of movies, the first begun 33-years before the second. Pierre Boulle wrote the book Planet of the Apes. Michael Wilson and Rod Serling wrote the screenplay for the 1968-version of Planet of the Apes.

(From left, Charlton Heston as George Taylor, Robert Gunner as Landon and Jeff Burton as Dodge in the Franklin J. Schaffner movie Planet of the Apes).

The first of those franchises begins with a group of astronauts, including George Taylor, Landon and Dodge, awakening from a deep sleep space voyage. Taylor, Landon and Dodge were portrayed by Charlton Heston, Robert Gunner and Jeff Burton, respectively. A fourth member of the crew had died aboard ship, Stewart as portrayed by Dianne Stanley, before the three survivors had woken up from their voyage near the speed of light.

(From left, Norman Burton as Hunt Leader and Buck Kartalian as Julius in the Franklin J. Schaffner movie Planet of the Apes).

The time dilation effect of their speed leads the crew to estimate that in 2,606-years of travel that they had arrived in a solar system roughly 300 light years from Earth while aging roughly a year. The space ship for the surviving crew crash lands on the nearest planet to them, forcing Landon, Dodge and Taylor to take refuge and begin the process of making a new home. The three explore the terrain, encountering a set of mute humans being pursued in a by a set of non-human apes that have managed to enslave humans. The hunt leader is portrayed by Norman Burton, and all three astronauts are captured at separate points. The men experience different fates, with our direct attention on the captured Taylor and the subsequent enslaved inquisition that began at the hands of Dr. Zira, Dr. Cornelius her fiancé, Lucius and jailor Julius. Zira, Cornelius, Lucius and Julius were portrayed by Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Lou Wagner and Buck Kartalian.

(From left, Roddy McDowall as Dr. Cornelius, Lou Wagner as Lucius and Kim Hunter as Dr. Zira in the Franklin J. Schaffner movie Planet of the Apes).

Dr. Zira, a psychologist and chimpanzee, takes Taylor to the Ape City. While a throat injury during the hunt has rendered Taylor temporarily mute, the fix is clearly in as signs of intelligence are disregarded by orangutan Dr. Zaius, as portrayed by Maurice Evans. Zira advocates for Taylor, who regains his voice and takes romantic feelings for a mute human female he later names Nova, as portrayed by Linda Harrison. After Taylor attempts escape, only to be recaptured due to a hunting sophistication by the apes, the antagonism between ape and man leads to an inquisition that betrays an inability on behalf of the apes to trust humans. The theocracy and caste system of the different ape species at first appears to be at the root of the fate that Taylor seems destined to suffer.

(From left, Maurice Evans as Dr. Zaius, Charlton Heston as George Taylor and Linda Harrison as Nova in the Franklin J. Schaffner movie Planet of the Apes).

A truly powerful and unexpected climax to the movie sees Taylor and Nova encounter a truly epic turn of truth, beyond the righteousness of ape society or man’s experience atop the culture of Earth of the early 1970s, which is when the movie was due to have begun. The fate of Zira, Cornelius, and Lucius are sealed, with a shocking, shocking turn that gives the movie Planet of the Apes a stunning level of resonance that truly hits the mark.

(From left, Charlton Heston as George Taylor and Linda Harrison as Nova in the Franklin J. Schaffner movie Planet of the Apes).

The once lush forbidden zone of Planet of the Apes was a remarkable creation of this movie. In part owing to the dynamic turn in this space, I grant the movie Planet of the Apes as directed by Franklin J. Shaffner 4.0-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Paul Newman, George Kennedy and Strother Martin in the Stuart Rosenberg movie ‘Cool Hand Luke’

Set in central Florida of the 1950s, the Stuart Rosenberg directed movie Cool Hand Luke (1967) is a film adapted from the 1965 Donn Pearce novel named Cool Hand Luke. The central protagonist for this anti-establishment prison piece is Lucas ‘Luke’ Jackson, portrayed by Paul Newman.

(From left, Luke Askew as Boss Paul, Ralph Waite as Alibi, Warren Finnerty as Tattoo, Harry Dean Stanton as Tramp and Paul Newman as Lucas ‘Luke’ Jackson in the Stuart Rosenberg movie Cool Hand Luke).

We’re introduced to the character of Luke Jackson as he gets hauled off to a rural jail for a two-year sentence for cutting parking meters off their poles for what amounts to entertainment while drunk. We meet Alibi, Tattoo and Tramp brought into a chain gang prison camp by Boss Paul. Boss Paul, Alibi, Tattoo and Tramp are portrayed by Luke Askew, Ralph Waite, Warren Finnerty and Harry Dean Stanton, respectively.

(From left, Strother Martin as The Captain and Robert Donner as Boss Shorty in the Stuart Rosenberg movie Cool Hand Luke).

The audience meets stern warden, Captain, almost immediately in the prison camp. We meet Walking Boss Godfrey, ‘the man with no eyes’ and floorwalker Carr just as quickly, with Boss Higgins and Boss Shorty coming into the picture as the story moves into establishing the pecking order among the prison leaderships and guards, including Captain, Walking Boss Godfrey, Carr, Boss Higgins and Boss Shorty as portrayed by Strother Martin, Morgan Woodward, Clifton James, Charles Tyner and Robert Donner, respectively.

(From left, Anthony Zerbe as Dog Boy, Charles Tyner as Boss Higgins, Luke Askew as Boss Paul and Morgan Woodward as Walking Boss (aka Godfrey) in the Stuart Rosenberg movie Cool Hand Luke).

The notion of pecking order extends from the guards and into the inmates of the prison pretty quickly. George Kennedy won the Academy Award for role as Dragline in Cool Hand Luke. Luke runs afoul of Dragline immediately, as the top of the inmate pyramid for the chain gang prisoners is Kennedy’s character. It is when Luke is severely outmatched by Dragline in an impromptu boxing match of interest to the guards and inmates alike, followed by a bluffing himself to victory while gambling with a “real cool hand” that cements respect among the prisoners and attention from the guards.

(From left, Paul Newman as Lucas ‘Luke’ Jackson and George Kennedy as Dragline in the Stuart Rosenberg movie Cool Hand Luke).

An incident later with a rattle snake between Luke and Godfrey, aka Walking Boss, strikes a further note of anti-establishment for Luke Jackson the character. Adding the full-throated treatment of Luke’s relationship with his sick mother, Arletta, gave depth and resonance to the internal compassion and conflict that became so striking for the central character and themes explored through the movie. Jo Van Fleet portrayed Arletta.

(From left, Ralph Waite as Alibi and Dennis Hopper as Babalugats in the Stuart Rosenberg movie Cool Hand Luke).

Cool Hand Luke justifiably received much respect for a superior narrative, an indomitable will for a leading character, an ensemble cast of recognizable talent 55-years later, and a commendable anti-hero counterculture approach that fit the life and times of the period when the movie filmed in and portrayed. I grant Cool Hand Luke as directed by Stuart Rosenberg 4.5-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, March 12, 2022