When producer Arthur Jacobs approached Charlton Heston about starring in a groundbreaking sci-fi film, the legendary actor didn’t hesitate. The concept? Playing an astronaut who crashes on a mysterious planet where apes rule the roost. "The idea of talking monkeys and an entirely different civilization really intrigued me," Heston later revealed, reflecting on his decision to join the 1968 masterpiece, Planet of the Apes.
Initially, no studio was jumping at the opportunity to fund this audacious idea. It wasn’t until producer Richard D. Zanuck and Jacobs convinced 20th Century Fox to take a chance that the project got off the ground. "It became one of their biggest hits," recalled Thomas R. Burman, a makeup technician on the film, speaking to Closer. "Second only to The Sound of Music!"
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This iconic movie sparked not just four sequels and a TV series but also a 2001 reboot that revitalized the franchise. Andy Serkis, who portrayed Caesar in the newer films, explained why the original film continues to resonate with audiences even 50 years later. "It felt prophetic and truthful," he said. "It's such an incredible metaphor for the human condition." Let's take a closer look at the classic film that made Hollywood—and audiences—go absolutely bananas.
A Visionary World: The Sets
Creating a world unlike anything audiences had ever seen required an extraordinary vision. Art director William J. Creber found his inspiration for Ape City in the ancient landscapes of Cappadocia, Turkey, known for its surreal cone-shaped rock formations. "We needed something completely different from Earth," Creber explained to Closer. "Something that would transport viewers to another realm entirely."
One of the most unforgettable moments in the film is the final shot, when the camera pans back to reveal the remnants of the Statue of Liberty. This revelation shatters the astronaut's—and the audience's—understanding of where they are. Creber reminisced about how this iconic ending came to life during a casual drink with director Franklin Schaffner. "I grabbed a bar napkin and sketched out a storyboard no bigger than a postage stamp," he recalled. "That tiny sketch became the legendary ending of the picture!"
