The pitch went like this...

A rocket ship flies through time and space to another planet. And this other planet is ruled by apes, and these apes wear clothes and speak English.

The response went like this...

Don't call us. And we won't call you.

Producers Arthur P. Jacobs and Mort Abrahams visited everystudio in Hollywood and it was always the same. When Twentieth Century Fox gave them the go-ahead for a film about talking animals it was for Doctor Dolittle. To realise their dreams, 'they needed the help of Charlton Heston and legendary tough guy Edward G. Robinson - who was prepared to dress up as an orang-utah to prove audiences would not laugh.

It was hugely popular as an adventure film with children, but.the idea of man destroying the world and apes taking over touched a nerve at a time when Earth was threatened by nuclear apocalypse, students were rioting, and established values were-being challenged as never before.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

THE END

THE FRENCH CONNECTION

ARTHUR

ROSEBUD

JOHN WAYNE VERSUS CHARLTON HESTON

THE SHAFTING OF EDWARD G.

HAS ANYBODY HERE SEEN KELLEY?

SHOOTING APES

RELEASING THE BEASTS

PLANET OF THE APES REVISITED

LIFE AFTER DEATH

THE LAST PICTURE SHOWS

BOOMERANGUTANG

-273 DEGREES OF COOL

HOMMAGE

COULD IT HAPPEN?

A NEW BEGINNING

FILMOGRAPHY

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX