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Apes fans, this is it: aside from an early '70s article that appeared in Cinefantastique, nobody but nobody's paid much attention to the making of the groundbreaking Planet of the Apes saga. The wait is over, though--and how. Unapologetic fanboys Joe Russo and Larry Landsman (and, later, Edward Gross) have been laboring over this exhaustive, fact-packed, behind-the scenes record of all five movies, the TV show, and the cartoon for the better part of 17 years. The effort shows, with countless on-set pictures, unprecedented access to the estates of Rod Serling, Roddy McDowall, and producer Arthur P. Jacobs, and extensive quotes from virtually everyone associated with the project, from screenwriters to actors to makeup artists to the special effects crew. (To give you an idea of the devotion we're talking about, Russo actually wrote his first "making of" Apes book back in the fifth grade. It was hand stitched with a plastic cover.)
Deserving of special note is Charlton Heston, who contributed not only the foreword for this book but scores of entries from his swaggering personal journals. ("A helluva long day, in the course of which I was finally brought to earth as Taylor. Having evaded clubs, whips, horsemen, crowds, they tripped me ass over teakettle into a thrown net and hoisted me high.... Upside down in a net, a man isn't worth much.") But even more interesting are the minutiae that inevitably emerge in any close examination of a production this complicated: that Marlon Brando had been considered first for the lead, that there were racial casting concerns in the wake of the Watts riots, even the fact that Planet of the Apes hit the small screen in an attempt to knock off Sanford and Son. This account may sprawl a bit in spots, with some quotes that overlap overmuch and minutiae that's awfully minute, but any fan who has even an ounce of Russo and Landsman's enthusiasm will be hard-pressed to complain. --Paul Hughes
From Publishers Weekly
Fans of the 1968 sci-fi film classic Planet of the Apes and its four sequels (plus two short-lived TV shows) will be hard-pressed to find a more comprehensive, authoritative and entertaining guide to late producer Arthur P. Jacobs's ape empire. With access to Jacobs's files, the authors detail the several drafts of each screenplay, chronicle day-by-day shooting schedules and create an exhaustive behind-the-scenes history of the epic series. During the book's 15-year gestation, the authors were able to interview virtually every actor, director, producer, writer, production designer, makeup artist and composer on each film. (Some of the quotes could have been tightened to avoid repetition.) Even those who are familiar with the series (or saw the 1998 AMC documentary Behind the Planet of the Apes) will glean new knowledge from amusing firsthand recollections of Roddy McDowall (who starred in four of the films, as well as the live-action TV show) and Natalie Trundy (Jacobs's widow, who acted in four of the films). Apes star Charlton Heston, who wrote the book's introduction, proves a sharp interviewee and allowed the authors to quote liberally from his daily journals. Likewise, memos from Rod Sterling (who scripted the original film and helped with the TV show) are illuminating. Made on ever-decreasing budgets, each film in the series turned a profit and remains enjoyable, both as pop entertainment and for its political, social commentary and allegorical treatment of race relations (particularly the violent Conquest of the Planet of the Apes and its Watts riots reenactments). Rare b&w photos throughout, with a 16-page color insert. Agent, Christopher Schelling. (Aug. 6)Forecast: Tim Burton's big-budget Planet of the Apes remake invades theaters July 27; its release will provide great publicity for this book.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Timed to coincide with Tim Burton's remake of the popular film, this volume competes with similar efforts available over the summer: The Legend of the Planet of the Apes (Boxtree), The Planet of the Apes Chronicles (Plexus), Planet of the Apes: An Unofficial Companion (ECW), and Planet of the Apes: Re-Imagined by Tim Burton (Newmarket). Like its rivals, Revisited offers interviews with key figures from the original movies and television series, plus production anecdotes, information on makeup and special effects, reviews, and other contextual information. Russo and Landsman are freelance writers who have published articles on the Apes media in magazines like Starlog, and, unsurprisingly, their book is a solid behind-the-scenes account. Worlds removed from Eric Greene's more scholarly Planet of the Apes As American Myth (Wesleyan Univ., 1998), this volume should please fans and belongs in any public library trying to attract readers by means of Hollywood hype. Neal Baker, Earlham Coll., Richmond, IN Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
The Planet of the Apes movies are being revisited, if not exactly revived, this summer in anticipation of big-deal film fantasist Tim Burton's variation on their simian theme; hence, Russo and associates' chronicle of the cycle, published to ride the new flick's expected tidal wave of commercial viability. Apes challenged Hollywood's aversion to "sci-fi" at the time (1968) and arguably launched the sf boom that has continued to this day. The book limns the simian saga from producer Arthur P. Jacobs' purchase of the rights to Pierre Boulle's novel and through each of the subsequent films right up to Burton's, which the director insists isn't a remake. Russo and friends, dedicated aficionados, cite literary influences on the original story (Gulliver's Travels, Ape and Essence) and write up each of the live-action movies separately and the live and animated TV series based on them generally. The first film's star, Charlton Heston, contributes a ringing foreword--naturally. If the new movie tanks, series fans may regard this book as the real Apes hit. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Book Description
For the first time ever, the complete, provocative history behind the motion picture series that began a new tradition in science fiction film sagas.
Planet of the Apes Revisited is the colorful, factual account of the science fiction milestone Planet of the Apes and the series of movies and TV shows it inspired. Through exclusive interviews with cast and crew and access to the personal archives of Arthur P. Jacobs, the producer and originator of the first film and all its spin-offs, Joe Russo and Larry Landsman present a fascinating, in-depth look at the entire Apes canon, featuring:
Rare, behind-the-scenes photographs
Deails on special effects and makeup
Story and screenplay developments
On-the-set changes and post-production edits
Behind-the-scenes anecdotes
A chapter on Tim Burton's "reimagining" of the classic Planet of the Apes
The book also serves as an invaluable reference volume on Hollywood filmmaking and the many personalities who are part of the legend and lore of this outstanding adventure series. The most comprehensive guide available, Planet of the Apes Revisited vividly re-creates the history, the sticky studio politics, and the fascinating creative process that resulted in this unprecedented science fiction phenomenon.
About the Author
Joe Russo and Larry Landsman are freelance writers who met in 1974 through the enthusiasm they share for the Apes series. They began research for Planet of the Apes Revisited over fifteen years ago and have since gone on to write several pieces on the Apes saga, including features in Starlong and Sci-Fi Universe. In addition to being a devoted Apes fan, Mr. Russo enjoys a successful career as a musician. When is he not touring with his band, he resides in New Jersey. Mr. Landsman works in public relations for the entertainment industry. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, Alyson, and two sons, Jared and Justin.
Edward Gross is the author of numerous nonfiction books, including Captain's Logs: The Complete Trek Voyages, X Files: Confidential, and The Alien Nation Companion. He has also written for a variety of magazines, among them Cinefantastique, Fangoria, Comic Scenes and Premiere.
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