Conquest of the Planet of the Apes

About Conquest of the Planet of the Apes

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, released in 1972, is the fourth of five films in the original Planet of the Apes series. The film presents a futuristic world in which apes have been domesticated and used for labor by humans. By presenting a society in which apes realize their true potential and rise in a revolt against the oppressive humans, the film touches on themes of slavery, revolution, and the will for freedom and justice. The narrative tracks the journey of Caesar, an ape who incites an uprising among his species.

Making / Production

The film was directed by J. Lee Thompson and produced by Arthur P. Jacobs. The film’s scripting was completed by Paul Dehn, who incorporated a social commentary into the plot, borrowing elements from real-world issues such as civil rights movements.

Actors

• Roddy McDowall as Caesar - Plays the role of the intelligent ape leader who inspires the rebellion. McDowall’s portrayal has been praised for its emotional depth and nuance.
• Don Murray as Breck - Plays the role of the antagonist with a chilling portrayal of a man devoid of empathy for the apes.
• Ricardo Montalban as Armando - Gives a memorable performance as the friendly human who raises Caesar.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film was notably darker than its predecessors, with a more serious take on its contemporaneous societal and political themes.
• It was the most financially successful of all the Apes films, despite being made on a lower budget.
• The character of Caesar was brought back in the series' reboot trilogy.

Quotes

• "Where there is fire, there is smoke. And in that smoke, from this day forward, my people will crouch and conspire and plot and plan for the inevitable day of Man's downfall - the day when he finally and self-destructively turns his weapons against his own kind."
• "Now we will put away our hatred. Now we will put down our weapons. We have passed through the night of the fires, and those who were our masters are now our servants."

Music, Soundtrack

• The film’s music score was composed by Tom Scott. His score is characterized by its striking use of percussion and wind instruments.
• The soundtrack was very unconventional and experimental for its time, which saliently amplified the suspense and tension throughout the film.