film would be a total bore except McDowall and Trundy . The one who really stands out in this film is Virgil Paul Williams, Little Enos from "Smokey and the Bandit," which, suffice to say, is not one of my favorite films , a clever orangutan who speaks in terms of scientific poetry and is Caesar's most trusted adviser. Also good are Lew Ayres as Mandemus keeper of Caesar's armory and conscience and John Huston as the Lawgiver, who acts merely as a narrator for the film's opening and closing sequences. The story follows the conflict that arises when the underground humans and the ape society discover they each exist.The resulting battle is one of the greatest in science fiction history, a landmark thanks to the special effects people seem to loathe so much for their simplicity. And Leonard Rosenman composer for the second POTA film, as well provides a musical score that does this film justice-- a feat unheard of in the series since Jerry Goldsmith's riveting original.Overall, this is one of the best in the series, and a fitting conclusion. And for a series like this, that's good to know.

one link, and a big one. Too bad this series of five films will have no extra episode to explain the shift. There sure is a remake but that is for tomorrow. Why has that film, or those films had such a tremendous success since the Planet of the Apes has become a sibylline and enigmatic motto in the minds of those who believe in the regression of man and in the progress of all animal species? It probably has to do with the period when it was done, the last 7-8 years of the Vietnam war, the time of the near impeachment and final resignation of a President, the Watergate scandal, the doubt and the uncertainty of a giant that had let's say transit problems and could not find the proper coal to pacify it. The questions are serious but the treatment of them is simple, direct, understandable even by children. It is a series of film done for families and that could be enjoyed, including in its simple humane principles, without real heavy discussion or thinking. Simple principles of liberty, equality, pursuit of happiness, and life. Simple principles and objectives like education and science and trust. And those who did not like the symbolism of the apes could not even derisively laugh at it because then they would appear narrow minded and bigoted. So they can only make it into a motto that is at least double entendre and has at least double meaning. "That's like in the Planet of the Apes", with a sneer or a smile, a giggle or a laugh and a big slap in the back or a tap on the shoulder, and everyone gets the meaning they want in the catchphrase, punch line or rebuttal without ever really knowing what is the meaning the person who uttered the sentence actually wanted to mean. That's why it is interesting to watch these films again because they are the lasting testimony to a past period in history and because they are still rather arcane and inscrutable. Enjoy this last episode before the remake, and if you have patience get the DVD of extras and watch them all. 126 minutes of documentary.Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne, University Paris 8 Saint Denis, University Paris 12 Créteil, CEGID

seek out the Japanese release I have it on laserdisc and see for yourself just how different and better a decent film can become with only 10 minutes of added storyline.

against the theory, excellently. His portrayal of an anguished Ceasar is a memorable and haunting one. Singer Paul Williams turns up as a friend to Ceasar and the movie contains excellent make-up, matte work and Battle scenes. Battle for the Planet of the Apes would in turn inspire the future Ape adventures in the medium of television. The final shot of the statue of Ceasar crying is well handled, memorable and hopefull.

was very believable. And of course, it was probably the Ape movie with the most well-known actors in ape roles - Claude Akins, Lew Ayres, John Huston, Paul Williams. There's one thing I never completely thought about till the last time I saw it only days ago - practically the last moment of the story apart from the crying statue does something that almost "deflates" the "message" of these movies - after all the endless strife between the apes and humans in these stories, the last thing you see is the little ape jokingly pulling the hair of the little girl. So even in the sequels not just the original, which does get credit for this , the writers didn't really take the whole thing TOO seriously.