As a film enthusiast who has spent countless hours delving into the fascinating world of cinema, I must say that the resurfacing of the four made-for-TV Planet of the Apes movies is like finding a long-lost treasure from my childhood. The fact that these films have not been available for viewing since 2001 makes this discovery even more exhilarating!
Four television adaptations of “Planet of the Apes,” originally aired in 1980, can now be streamed online, marking the first time they have been accessible for viewing since a DVD collection was released over eighteen years ago. Interestingly, these four films are actually amalgamations of episodes from the 1974 CBS live-action “Planet of the Apes” television series. At present, you can enjoy watching these films free of charge on YouTube’s Movie Channel.
Many devoted followers of the 1968 “Planet of the Apes” movie might not realize that a CBS series or TV films were ever made, as they originated in September 1974, sharing the same timeline as the film featuring Charlton Heston. Interestingly, Roddy McDowall was the sole cast member from the original “Apes” movies to rejoin for this series, but he portrayed a new character named Galen, a chimpanzee who assists two astronauts (Ron Harper and James Naughton) who accidentally time-traveled and landed on their planet a millennium later.
The show was produced at Fox Ranch and relied heavily on the same Ape Village sets used in the movies. The makeup, costumes, and overall look were identical to those seen in the films. Despite this, ratings remained low, leading to its cancellation after just 14 episodes, which aired in December of 1974.
In 1980, some television episodes of certain series were combined by CBS and Fox to create five movies, with each movie consisting of two episodes. These films were initially broadcast on CBS and later offered for syndication. Roddy McDowall filmed additional scenes as Galen, serving as a narrator for the films. Regrettably, these specific scenes are not available in the streaming versions.
The following five movies have been adapted from episodes. Unfortunately, only four can be streamed right now; Goodbye Planet of the Apes is temporarily unavailable for streaming.
- Back to the Planet of the Apes (Episodes #1 “Escape from Tomorrow” & #3 “The Trap”)
- Forgotten City of the Planet of the Apes (Episodes #2 “Gladiators” & #5 “Legacy”)
- Treachery and Greed on the Planet of the Apes (Episodes #9 “Horse Race” & #11 “The Tyrant”)
- Life, Liberty and Pursuit on the Planet of the Apes (Episodes #7 “The Surgeon” & #10 “The Interrogation”)
- Farewell to the Planet of the Apes (Episodes #6 “Tomorrow’s Tide” & #14 “Up Above The World So High”)
The Cast of the Planet of the Apes TV Films
The success of the show largely stemmed from the presence of Roddy McDowall, an Emmy-winning actor who transitioned seamlessly from child roles to adult films such as “How Green Was My Valley,” “Cleopatra,” and “Fright Night.” He was backed by a talented ensemble of character actors.
- Ron Harper played Colonel Alan Virdon, the commander of the spacecraft that travels from the 20th Century to a future Earth where apes rule the planet. Harper also appeared in the original Land of the Lost series, Pearl Harbor, The West Wing, and Walker, Texas Ranger. He died in 2024.
- James Naughton played Major Peter J. Burke, an astronaut on the ship with Virdon, who also survived the crash. His other acting credits include The First Wives Club, Cat’s Eye, The Blacklist, and The Devil Wears Prada.
- Mark Lenard played Chief Urko, the leader of the gorilla army and the series’ main villain. He is best known for playing Sarek, the father of Mr. Spock, in the Star Trek TV series and films.
- Booth Colman played Zaius, the orangutan in charge of the High Council of Central City. It is the same character (theoretically) as the Zaius in the films.
The Planet of the Apes
TV films are currently streaming on YouTube Movies.
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2024-09-01 22:33