Escape from the Planet of the Apes

MOVIE REVIEW OF Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) G

Cast
Director	Don Taylor	Runtime: 1hrs 38min ( 98min)
Cornelius	.....	roddy mcDowall
Zira	.....	kim hunter
dr. lewis dixon	.....	bradford dillman
dr. stephanie branton	.....	natalie trundy
dr. otto hesslein	.....	eric braeden
armando	.....	ricardo montalban
the president	.....	william windom
milo	.....	sal mineo
e-1	.....	albert salmi
e-2	.....	jason evers
commission chairman	.....	john randolph
general winthrop	.....	harry lauter
aide	.....	m. emmet walsh
lawyer	.....	roy e. glenn sr.
cardinal	.....	peter forster
army officer	.....	norman burton
naval officer	.....	william woodson
orderly	.....	tom lowell
marine captain	.....	gene whittington
curator	.....	donald elson
TV newscaster	.....	bill bonds
referee	.....	army archero
general faulkner	.....	james bacon

PLOT SUMMARY

In this installment of Planet of the Apes, there are only 2 ape characters (technically 4 in all...watch the movie and you'll understand). Cornelius (once again played by Roddy McDowall) and Zira (as always, Kim Hunter). They have traveled back in time to the 20^th century, as was the intent of both Taylor and Brent in Beneath the Planet of the Apes. They find it necessary to reveal just who they are and what they can do. There are two scientists (Bradford Dillman and Natalie Trundy) who try to help them and are sympathetic. However, in the spirit of the fact that you need conflict for a movie, there are those who don't want the end of the previous movie to become the reality. Those people propose that Cornelius and Zira be sterilized. On top of that, we discover that Zira is pregnant. Of course, the unborn child must be aborted.

This is the first of the POTA movies in which Charlton Heston does not make an appearance (except briefly in a flashback...about a half second).

TECH INSPECTION

So far, this is my favorite of the Planet of the Apes movies. Nonetheless, I still refrain from giving it a 10 meow rating. I do try to reserve those for my absolute favorite choices. None of the Planet of the Apes movies to this point have evolved to this level.

Watching this movie reminded me of a couple of different Star Trek episodes where Captain Kirk and his landing party beamed down to 20^th century Earth. Of course, most fish-out-of-water movies are somewhat amusing, and this movie does not disappoint. Whereas all POTA movies are intended to be rather serious dramas, this one has more humor-spots than the others so far in the series.

I guess I just have to find a flaw in everything, so here it is...although ever so minor.

The ship that the apes arrive in is intact. So much so as to have been capable of the return trip to the 20^th century. This ship is referred to as the one previously manned by Colonel Taylor. However, in the original movie, that particular ship was flooded, and the hatch was blown off...literally.

The ending to this one (don't worry, I'm not going to give anything away), as seems to be characteristic of these movies, lends itself undeniably to another follow-up sequel. A.k.a. a cliffhanger is involved. It would be criminal not to do so, and it would render this ending unworthy of the 9 meow rating I am awarding it.

So then...prepare yourself for Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, coming soon...

QUOTES
Finally, a short list of quotes I think are worth repeating. You may recognize some, but these are my own picks, not ones that are particularly famous:

• I did not call her mad. I merely ask her if she was. ~ Milo
• I like you. ~ Zira
• Does the other one talk? ~ Commission Chairman Only when she lets me. ~ Cornelius
• Your luggage, ma'am? ~ Redcap Of course it's mine! ~ Zira
• May I measure your inside leg, sir? ~ Shop Taylor NO! ~ Cornelius
• Would we have approved killing [Hitler] in babyhood when he was still innocent? Or killing his mother when he was still in her womb? Or slaughtering his remote ancestors? ~ The President
• [Man] might kill his brother, but he could not kill his dog. ~ Cornelius
• Well. It's sort of like grape juice plus. ~ Dr. Dixon
• Aren't we rude enough to each other without having to be rude to animals? ~ Armando
• Now I want them taken, yes...but taken alive. Is that clear? ~ The President

Here is my personal rating of this movie. This rating is out of ten meows.
⁹/₁₀

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