Planet of the Apes - The Complete TV Series

Rating:
Summary: A Great Series That Was Cancelled Much Too Early!
Review: After the success of five Planet of The Apes motion pictures, it was decided to try Television next, casting Roddy McDowall in the lead role as the sympathetic chimpanzee, Galen (the ape role to which McDowall professed as his favorite in later interviews). Ron Harper & James Naughton were cast as astronaut's Alan Virdon and Peter J. Burke who's spaceship gets caught in a time warp, transporting them 2000 years into the future...a world ruled by apes. Unlike the film series, humans in this time period were able to speak. The TV series had a very unique way of discussing very important topics such as racism, loyalty, honor, as well as the value of ape/human friendship, and many more. Unfortunately the series was cancelled after only 13 broadcasts (having something to do with the fact that CBS put the show up against "Sanford and Son" & "Cheecho and The Man", two of the most popular shows on television at that time..very unwise indeed). It was only many years later that the show found new life when many episodes were cut and spliced together to form a sort of "Movie Length" that began airing along with TV broadcasts of the theatrical films. Many people began to realize just how good a show Planet of The Apes truly was. Now, for the very first time (with the exception of Australia), the complete series is available for home viewing..on DVD no less, with the added bonus of an additional episode that never aired originally ("The Liberator"). I have viewed all 14 episodes in this DVD box set and all I can say is "BRAVO! Fox has done it again!" Now don't expect the picture and sound quality to be tremendous, although the picture is very decent and the sound, though presented in Mono, isn't bad either. But considering it's only a TV series, I really wasn't expecting any heavy duty remastering to take place here. There are four episodes per disc, except for #4 which has two episodes, plus 2 bonus trailers (not indicated on the back of the box) for Planet of The Apes The Evolution Box Set & Planet of The Apes The Tim Burton Film Version. See for yourself why many consider this show a cult classic. There were only a few things I never understood about it. In the first episode ("Escape From Tomorrow") Virdon (Ron Harper) goes back to the wrecked ship to obtain a small disc that supposedly contains vital information that can only be accessed by a computer, which they begin to search for. But after episode two, this whole idea was forgotten & abandoned, which never really made sense to me because in episode five ("The Legacy") a computer is found underground in a city of ruins. The other thing that bothered me was all the times we see Virdon & Burke surprise attack an ape and then never bother to take his rifle from him. You'll notice it many times in the show (though sometimes they do take one now and then). But this is small potatoes...the series is wonderful. The only sad thing is we'll never see how it would've truly ended: Would Virdon & Burke ever get back home? Would Galen come too? Or would they revolutionize the ape ruled world so that apes and humans would live as equals? There were so many ways the series could've gone. But don't let these original 14 episodes pass you by. The set may be short on extra features, but considering the price you pay for 14 episodes (think about how much Paramount charges for the Star Trek Original TV Series and they only give you two episodes per disc), you more than get your money's worth.

Planet Of The Apes The TV Series - A Cult Classic!

Now if only Fox would release the animated series :-)

Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST TV SERIES EVER!!!
Review: It is about time this series was released. What a wonderful series. Ron Harper and James Naughton were perfect as the (blond and brunette a la Starsky and Hutch ) astronaut duo. I wish they would bring the series back and put Mr. Harper and Mr. Naughton back to work as the astronauts. They are plenty young enough! How great that Roddy Mcdowell (Galen) chose to do the series. Booth Coleman (Zaius) and Mark Lenard (General Urko) were marvelous, also. Some of the guest stars (William Smith, Marc Singer, Sandra Locke, etc.) were fantastic to watch. There was great action and a great plot on every show. There was also a moral message with each show which was nice to see. The wonderful series is everything I remember as a child. This series should have lasted at least several seasons. The DVD quality is great and 20th Century Fox is to be commended for bringing this series to all past, present, and future Apes fans. My children love it. Now if Hasbro would only make action figures based on the series like Mego did in the 1970's. I recommend this series to everyone.

Rating:
Summary: Owning this set is like finding a long lost friend
Review: Anyone who loved the original POTA movie series from the late 1960s and early 1970s will love the TV series. Unfortunately I had only seen one or two episodes when this first came out in 1974 because I was starting my first year of college back then. I did watch a couple of the syndicated movies (two episodes blocked together into a TV movie) in the 1980s but never really got into it. Having rediscovered the ape movies recently, I was eager to look at the entire TV series, but hesitant to spend the money to buy the set.

It turns out that my money was well spent. In fact, this is the single best DVD purchase I've ever made. To say that I was stunned when I saw the episodes in all of their wonderful crispness and glory would be an understatement. The film transfer is mint. Sure, there's a few specs, but so what? It's as near to perfect as anyone could expect. Watching these episodes is sheer joy, and I would say without hesitation that these episodes are even better than the movie sequels.

All of the above seems to contradict what some reviewers have said about this series using phrases like "low budget" and not having the kind of location shooting that the films had. Nothing could be further from the truth! Every episode is filmed, more or less, exactly like the movies were. You see mountains, ocean, crisp blue skies, forests, elaborate set pieces...if this isn't shooting on location, then what is? The TV series also takes advantage of the creative costumes, makeup work, and even stock footage that was created for the original film. But there is enough new sets and location filming here for the series to make its own mark. No other science fiction TV series had the kind of budget that the POTA TV series did. For example, both Lost in Space and Star Trek both primarily filmed on stage with a bunch of cardboard props. Not POTA. I felt like I bought 14 mini-movies, most of which I've never seen. Don't make the mistake of assuming this is some kind failed crackerbox low grade exploitation of the film series. This series of films really do justice to the film series and to Pierre Boulle. They successfully transfered the zany and elaborate world of the apes onto the small screen.

Roddy McDowell, who played Cornelius and Caesar in the movie series, plays Galen in the TV series. This fine actor is what brings the whole series together. He is imminently watchable in this series. Ron Harper and James Naughton both do fine work as the two astronauts who crash landed on the simian-ruled planet. By the middle part of the series, you can see the simian Galen and the humans bonding. And the series really takes off with "The Legacy" (where a matte is expertly used to create the impression of a bombed out city) and all episodes following.

It simply isn't fair to compare the POTA TV series to any other science fiction series because of the high production values. You see more apes in this series than you do in "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" which resorted to using cheap masks for all the extras. No such short-cuts were made here. They may have streamlined the makeup process for the series, but it looks just as good as it did in the 1968 original.

I still have a few episodes to watch before I write a more elaborate review, but I'm just too excited to wait. I've been a big fan of POTA for a long, long time. I've read "Monkey Planet" by Pierre Boulle several times. I was able to see all 5 ape films on the big screen in a single night (in addition to seeing them all on the big screen when first released). I was disappointed by Timothy Burton's "revisioning" (though the film is still worth watching). Watching the POTA TV series on crisp DVD with no commercials is a real treat...it's to a POTA fan what a Star Wars TV series would be to a Star Wars fan if done right. The POTA TV series was done very true to the spirit of the original films and to the book as well. I was also impressed that each episode had a moral or message, and was socially relevant.

BRAVO! This DVD set is a must have, and the price is just right. It's bittersweet that there were only 14 episodes filmed. After watching them, you'll understand why. They were really making mini POTA movies, not episodes. This series was simply too good for television.

Rating:
Summary: A Time Warp Back To Childhood!
Review: BRAVO!! It is about time that FOX released this very under-rated series on DVD. I remember watching the cut "movies" (made from spliced episodes of this series) on TV at a very young age. They were great then, and they've lost none of their potency!

I highly recommend this set to anyone who truly appreciates the Scfi genere of the classic Planet Of The Apes films........in many ways it's even much better than all of the "Apes" movies (save for the original with C. Heston of course). All of the characters are spectacular, and very very "fun". In fact, I feel that it's superior to most of the nonsense they are pitching on the Scfi channel today.

Truly, my only regret is that there are only 14 shows to view....

Rating:
Summary: FINALLY THE TV SERIES HAS ARRIVED!! BUY IT!!
Review: I saw the series when I was in 7th grade and never forgot it. Like many Sci Fi series, it never went past the first season, which was unfortunate since I felt the series was excellent.

I purchased the VHS set(with all 14 episodes just like the DVD set) in PAL format when FOX released it in Australia only(not sure why) almost a year ago. This PAL VHS set is now Out Of Print according to FOX.

I, like many Planet of the Apes fans, am glad that FOX has finally decided to release this to the US audiences in DVD format so fans can stop being forced to buy bootleg versions taped from the Sci Fi channel a few years ago or transfer copied from the only official VHS release(up to now) of the series which was in PAL format and not playable on American VCRs.

FYI, the SCI FI channel airings of the Planet Of The Apes TV Series were about 5 minutes shorter than the original aired length of the show. This was for additional commercial space, so those of you who have only seen the series there missed OVER 1 HOUR of the show during the course of the 14 episodes.

Bottom line is BUY THIS DVD SET!!!! In addition to the original 13 shows aired in the USA, you get the 14th episode "The Liberator" which never got aired here in the United States because the show got axed. It was aired in the UK, however.

It was very satisfying to see an original "never before aired in the US" episode of one of my favorite series 27 years after it went off the air.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent value
Review: I purchased this mainly out of a sense of nostalgia, but stand quite surprised. The quality Fox put into it is praise worthy. I was expecting some quick, cheap knock off to cash in on the DVD release of Tim Burton's version of Planet of the Apes, but the audio and visual quality are awesome. The whole set is handsomely packaged (though I have a sneaking suspicion the case may be susceptible to wear quite quickly if you're not careful). If I had any other criticism it would be they didn't take the time to put it into 5:1 surround, but the rest of it is so great and the price so reasonable I'm quite willing to let that go.
If you are an "Apes" fan, this is a must purchase. Prior to this there were only occasional bouts of it from the SciFi channel and reminiscing from certain web sites.
"Planet of the Apes - The Complete TV Series" is an excellent value. When I compare this to many other DVD box sets I have I am astonished at receiving so much for so (comparitively) so little.

Rating:
Summary: no ending! why not?
Review: This is great to see on DVD, but they did NOT include the ending to the TV series! In 1981, Roddy played Galen for about 8 minutes to do openings and closings to 5 tv-edited movies. In that 8 minutes, we learn that Galen lived to become an old chimp with grey hair; and that Burke & Virdon found a computer in a city, used their disc with it to build a new spaceship, and they returned home! Galen chose not to go with them. Why isn't this footage here? Why is the version of BATTLE that Fox puts out missing 10 minutes of footage? Why not show deleted scenes (like the aponauts watching the earth blow up in the beginning of ESCAPE)? Come on, Fox, put EVERYTHING out!

Rating:
Summary: ONE SMALL STEP FOR A MAN, ONE GIANT LEAP FOR APE-KIND!
Review: IT'S ABOUT A BUNCH OF APES AND HUMANS WHO CAN'T GET ALONG!!! WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN THAT? Yet, the Planet of the Apes Television is highly under rated as an asset to the POTA cult genre. In the series, Ron Harper and James Naughton play astronauts, Alan Virdon and Peter J. Burke from their Earth of the past, crashing on the Ape planet, not realizing at first that they have come home in much the same fashion POTA fans are accustomed to in the movies. There is an excellent attention to the teaser and intro for these episodes indicating that the writing and production were of superior quality for television studios in 1981. In fact, the attention to the music, costume, and set (mostly shot on location outside the studio) denote the meticulous quality of direction and editing that took place. A lot of work was done to reconcile the movies that predated the series, and a lot of changes were made in a good way. Differing from the movies, humans in the series talked and wore clothes (more similar to the humans in the Tim Burton version of the Planet of the Apes Movie, starring Mark Wahlberg). This was necessary to reduce the tension from apocalyptic themes to humankind struggles-you simply cannot have an explanation of the problems of humanity if the people cannot talk. It just doesn't work that way. The best news however, is that Roddy Mcdowell who played Cornelius in the movies is back as "Galen" in the series. Booth Coleman does a remarkable job of course as Zaius and the most excellent tid-bit of trivia for the cast is revealed with Mark Lenard who plays General Urko. Lenard is a recruit from the hit cult TV series, Star Trek, and is best known for his outstanding performance as Sarek of Vulcan.

Lenard's performance is in fact so good as General Urko, that when I think of Ape military, Urko is the character that stands out in my mind. General Urko is played sufficiently brutish, rash, and impatient, just as you would expect from watching the movies. However, every actor's performance was a testament to the quality of these episodes bringing shame to the many hi-tech, hi-cost jet set science fiction series that flop in the 21st century. I prefer to think of the TV series as a huge mini-series based on this point alone. Clearly, good writing played a large part in these episodes with complex themes coupled with exciting film work. Each episode is like a movie all its own, and with 14 episodes, you will never tire of them. It is sad that this series was cut short but it also creates a strong point for viewers. This series is obtainable, watchable, and learnable in a very short period of time. You can study the characters, experience their social messages and enjoy them without the cheesy special effects present in comparable sci-fi on TV or in movies for the series' time period. Not only do I recommend the Planet of the Apes TV series, but I would be so bold as to say that it is the best medicine for the entertainment blues of more than just sci-fi or POTA fanatics. I've personally introduced the series to women, youngsters, teens, and older people who always have something good to say or reflect upon.

In short, I'd also like to add that this wholesome family entertainment from a dying breed of TV show that respected family values and ideals. The show's handling of virtue and integrity are refreshing from the smut that generally ruins what was originally a great idea on television. Enrich yourself and others, buy this series before this world goes to the simians.

Rating:
Summary: Camp Ape by garrie keyman
Review: Recalling a fondness for a favorite show of my youth, it was with some surprise that I recently re-viewed it. Where I anticipated a rather sour slice of unmitigated camp - the type of television you or I would be loath to admit we once liked -- I was served, instead, a satisfying meal of mid-years science fiction. I say mid-years because we're not talking the dawn of televised Sci-Fi, as in the original Twilight Zone or re-runs of movie fare like The Blob or Day of the Triffids, yet neither were we up-to-snuff with the kind of digital special effects viewers often anticipate today.

Planet of the Apes, the TV show, strayed somewhat from the set of movies launched by Charlton Heston's well-known character, Taylor, but not in any way that's bad. The series follows the escapades of a trio of pals whose bond of friendship is forged at first by common desperation, to wit, the need to stay alive when, having been identified as enemies of the state, they are in perpetuity hunted by Chief Urko (aptly played by Mark Lenard who immortalized the character Sarek - Spock's father - of Star Trek fame).

The world, or rather time, into which astronauts Major Pete Burke, swimmingly played by -- yowsa! -- James Naughton (The Cosby Mysteries, Faraday & Co.) and Commander Alan Virdon, portrayed by Ron Harper (Garrison's Gorillas) find themselves cast is one of clearly defined social strata. Gorillas such as Urko are the brawn: the brutal if somewhat dimwitted police and local force of security. I'd be apt to cry stereotype were it not for the fact that I, too, once wore a badge - as the first female police officer in a certain PA township which shall remain nameless. While I had some hairy co-workers, none of them were dumb.

Burke and Virdon are aided, then joined, by a sympathetic chimpanzee named Galen, a keen portrayal by Roddy McDowall whose expressive eyes can make you forget you're looking at layers of latex. Chimpanzees are the future-world think-tank (and you thought I was talking about now) where the third caste of ape, the orangutan, represents the political - pretty much the long-long-arm of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government. The head orangutan, Dr. Zaius (Shakespearean-trained actor, Booth Colman), and his cohorts, while not as lacking in sympathy as Gorillas, live in fear that Burke and Virdon will infect the human slave-slash-poverty-line-wage-earner population with the dangerous knowledge that man is no mere dolt - or at least wasn't always - and either by accident or deliberation will incite revolt.

The union formed between Galen and the astronauts turns to genuine friendship as they travel from village to village, ever on the run and always a half-step ahead of Urko's troops. Determined to find a remnant of past civilization where software might be unearthed that can interpret the data stored on a flight recorder disk salvaged from their ship, Virdon keeps the others moving, always hoping that, somehow, he'll find a way home to the wife and son he left behind.

If two's company and three's a crowd, remember that the interplay of the tertiary role can work well. Think Kirk-Spock-McCoy, if you like. In that familiar trio we saw the inter-racial tension and potential for likable banter that can come of the odd-man-out-amid-peers character structure. In Planet of the Apes we have the same ingredients, but with a twist. This time, the odd-man-out is no man at all and rather than inter-racial we have inter-species. But both species being sentient, we are left with an apt framework in which to examine telling social issues without exactly picking on anyone we know.

In its short span, this show did not shirk when it came to addressing conflicts of the human condition. From the evil of slavery and the irreversibly sinister efficacy of mass weaponry, to the need for tolerance across the lines that we draw in the sand between ourselves and others, Planet of the Apes availed itself of the opportunity to comment meaningfully while remaining an imaginative and entertaining vehicle of potentially epic quality. It is only to our loss that this show did not clear whatever hurdles the executives of CBS required of it, cut short of life -- like so many decent shows are -- in its prime.

I had the added perspective of viewing this show with my husband, Mike, who is himself no die-hard fan of anything SF&F. Mike refers to my favorite genre collectively as "men in tights," whether or not the characters are, indeed, so clad. Burke and Virdon aren't, but that's not to say there is any lack of opportunity to view this fit pair in burlap breechwear or toiling shirtless beneath a punishing sun while lashed to leather leashes. Perhaps his impetus was merely to scope out the competition, knowing James Naughton was the heartthrob of my teenage years.

My husband did comment at one point that these fellas seem to sweat on a regular basis - that, or be soaking wet (I told him this was merely a theatrical device intended to infuse the program with a sense of realism and returned to panting at the screen). My point -- likely all but entirely lost by now -- is that, despite his prevailing judgement of the genre at large, my husband liked the show. His observations were: not only could he fail to see why this show hadn't lasted longer, but he could easily see it airing today.

At an hour per episode, the series was comfortably paced with ample time to develop character as well as plot, which to my mind is a crucial characteristic of success. We get to know the players. We know their stats: Virdon the optomist, raised farm boy; Burke the sardonic street-brat of Jersey City who played running-back with Michigan State, pitched no-hitter baseball in high school and laments he should have bought that cozy corner bar instead of aspiring to the stars.

Planet of the Apes is family fare and food for budding minds if you want your kids to develop a rudimentary social consciousness when watching TV rather than just be anesthetized by grotesque aliens and gore. I know, because a new generation in my house has gotten hooked. Sorry Mike.

Rating:
Summary: Pleasing trip down Ape lane
Review: Lacking the budget to have the pyrotechnics, location shooting and opticals of the first two Apes films, the television series focused more on character development. Essentially, Planet of the Apes the t.v. series was The Fugitive set in a truly alien, yet oddly familar world. James Naughton (who returned primarily to the stage after the series was cancelled)and Ron Harper give very strong performances as the astronauts stranded in the future (the ship they used was the same one build for the second film in the series).

When they are found and befriended by Galen (Roddy McDowell), the trio become fugitives. Hunted by General Urko and Dr. Zaius (the marvelous late Mark Lenard of Star Trek fame), they are forced to endure a number of hardships together but develop a strong bond in the process. My favorite episodes involves Urko describing what he thinks "brainwashing" is (he literally thinks that you open the skull and wash the brain!)and also another where Naughton becomes stranded with another Ape in an underground cavern which is an old Bart station. Some of the episodes fell into the routine and predictable. Even these episodes have some nicely played character moments from the actors.

Like many television series from the era (this was made in 1974), Apes the series had budget limitations and tended to use standing sets to save money (the recreation of the Court Room from the first film clearly was done on a very tight budget as it isn't quite as convincing). Still, many of the standing sets from the film series (most notably Ape City)make a return cameo in the series giving it larger than life production values for television.

I'd snatch this up as quickly as possible as rumor has it that Fox will eventually be putting the series out of print. It's a pity that there really aren't any extras. Naughton is still around so Fox could have contacted him for commentary. Evidently, the market isn't large enough for the series to warrant the additional cost of commentaries or behind-the-scenes stuff (you know they had to make a couple of promo pieces for the series to sell it to advertisers!).

Like the recently released Lost in Space, Apes comes with all the episodes produced (and, yes, the 14th episode was, indeed, aired)but nothing to provided any context for the series. I'm happy that it's available though and that they didn't go back and artifically create a widescreen edition like they are planning for Kung Fu.