About Beneath the Planet of the Apes

Beneath the Planet of the Apes is a 1970 American science fiction film and the second installment in the original Planet of the Apes series. The movie charts a dystopian future where a breed of advanced, talking apes rule over humans. It follows astronaut Brent (James Franciscus), who crash lands on the Planet of the Apes whilst on a rescue mission for Taylor (Charlton Heston). Beneath the mutant human civilization, he encounters a group worshipping a nuclear bomb and must stop them from destroying the planet.

Making / Production

Directed by Ted Post and written by Paul Dehn, the production budget was significantly lower than the original film, which resulted in certain cost-saving measures, including use of cheaper makeup and effects. Despite these challenges, the film further built upon the ground-breaking visual effects and makeup of the preceding film.

Actors

• James Franciscus as Brent: An astronaut from the same time as Taylor. Franciscus portrayed Brent's confusion and desperation wonderfully, adding depth to the character.
• Charlton Heston as Taylor: An astronaut from the previous movie. Heston, in his reduced role, adds gravitas and continuity to the story.
• Kim Hunter as Zira: An empathetic ape scientist. Hunter continues to bring a touch of humanity to her ape character.
• Maurice Evans as Dr. Zaius: An orangutan who holds high office in the ape civilization. Evans effectively portrays the misguided arrogance of his character.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The original script did not include Charlton Heston, but he agreed to appear in a small role after some persuasion from the studio.
• Despite its lower budget, the film was a commercial success, grossing over $19 million at the box office.
• The dramatic ending of the movie was suggested by Heston himself, who wanted to ensure a definite end to the series.

Quotes

• "In one of the countless billions of galaxies in the universe, lies a medium-sized star, and one of its satellites, a green and insignificant planet, is now dead." - Narrator
• "There is no death. There is only a change of worlds." - Taylor

Music, Soundtrack

• Main Title - Sets the pace as the opening credit.
• The Hunt - Accompanies the unnerving scenes of human hunt.
• Ape Soldiers Advancing - A haunting piece that underscores the apes' march towards war.