Exploring Politics in Planet of the Apes Part I -The Originals

Politics in the Original Planet of the Apes: An Overview

 

I have been aching to do some writing on Apes , particularly now that I am prepping my first convention presentation on this subject. So, my next few blogs will be focused on a series of Planet of the Apes discussions and the relevant social themes. This first part begins with the original films.

 

It was 1968 when Planet of the Apes was first released in theaters. It immediately captivated audiences across the United States. The film was hard hitting with political issues reflective of the times in which it was produced.  As Apes has evolved, so shall this multipart blog that will feature the social themes within each production and how each has been reflective of the times in which they were produced. I shall continue to look at how Apes represents a form of contemporary myth in that even the original text and film are still just as relevant today as they were in the 1950's or 1960's respectively, when each was created.  Many themes within those original works are still applicable to the world today, in 2014.  In this first part of a series of Apes blogs, reflection of those original times is covered. 

 

The original Planet of the Apes film was such a success in theaters that shortly after it's release, a Saturday morning cartoon series was launched, though short lived, it spawned great interest in an array of Apes merchandise.  Apes also had one of the most iconic images of any film, the rotting and partly buried Statue of Liberty in the end scene of the film.  The original film led to four additional sequels as well, each maintaining devotion to social and political issues of concern to the US at each given time of production. Primary issues center around "race" and social class structures.

 

Planet of the Apes held appeal to many because of the science fiction element that represented the human obsession with life on other planets.  In this original film that depicted such life, but not life as would be expected. This turn in primate evolution was captivating and a fine depiction of how humans have treated other life on their own world, including the treatment of other humans deemed of lower social class. All of this was rooted in the novel by Pierre Boulle in 1963 entitled "La Planete des Singas ( Monkey Planet ).  An interesting note regarding the first film, Rod Serling had done the original draft of the script, polished by Michael Wilson, and worked with to bring political concerns to light by Eric Greene ( film historian ). They wanted to use the apes to depict the human condition.

 

 

The film explored social and political themes of the times. The original and all that has followed have continued to be quite laden with political issues.  The original, of course, reflective of the Vietnam War and the dozens of social movements of the 1960's, but yet remains relevant to the overall idea of war and inequality today.  This may be one reason the Apes films have continued to be popular draws, as they remain powerful narratives of the human condition.  Much of what is dealt with in these original and remade films is reflective of the fragile nature of social class and Democracy.

 

An interesting note about the original film is that it has been said that the chimps , organs, and gorillas all sat together during off times or meal times, very reflective of the human habit to associate with those who are more like ourselves. In terms of the primate breakdown occupationally:  chimps were the scientists and intellectuals, orangs were the politicians, and gorillas were the military.  Humans were slave labor or lab specimens. 

 

In this alternate society, the chimps would handle all the scientific studies and the treatment of humans. However, just as the case in our own world, the chimps and their work did not gain the respect they sought.  Scientists were looked down upon, particularly by political figures such as Dr. Zaius.  Overall, science has not had the respect it perhaps has deserved over the decades, even over the centuries. In addition, the treatment of various primate classes in Apes, as well as the treatment of humans, is reflective of the hot bed racism searing through the 1950’s and 1960’s ,some of which still exists today in various forms.  There are always groups within the infrastructure to be looked down upon, and always groups within society to be looked down upon. 

 

In the original Apes, one of the more important scenes deals with politics and justice in a trial that was investigating the relationship between Zira and Cornelius and their association with Taylor.  The other apes were attempting to figure out why he spoke and felt he had been a mutant creation of  science to act against the other apes.  Despite the fact that it was said all apes were created to be equal, it is evident they are not.  This scene and the overall films also reflect McCarthyism.

The McCarthy era was ushered in via  a heightened fear of communism in the US. McCarthy blamed the increase in communism on subversives who had infiltrated the government at all levels to share secretive information.

 

Apes, in fine science fiction mythological fashion, does a fine job of presenting controversial materials without being attached as controversial since it has been disguised in a fictitious narrative, but a narrative of great cultural significance with respect to the human condition and the future of humanity.  This is especially true with how Apes has been reflective of how people in power have continued to view those who are not in power.  This aspect alone makes for timeless narrative. Have humans really changed in nearly 50 years? The messages of Apes are still relevant.

 

Not only the original, but each sequel, and even the short lived television series, held political messages within.  In Beneath the Planet of the Apes one storyline focused on the Forbidden Zone , where gorillas were headed in order to wage war against the mutant speaking humans and the strange on goings in that area.  They feared a revolt  uprising if the mutants were able to reach others.  Also, along the way, a  group of chimps is seen with protest signs protesting war, reflective of the political and social tides certainly of the 1960’s.

 

In Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Zira and Cornelius are escapees from their own world, one that was destroyed due to hate. They attempt to adapt to the humans in the time of 1972 in which they are thrown back to.  At first, they are poorly treated, like zoo and lab specimens. Soon they become welcome guests. The tables turn once again though with the news that Zira is pregnant.  Humanity turned in fear of one day being dominated by the new off spring  and the idea that non human apes would breed and become as intelligent, one day taking over the Earth.  This is reflective of how our own society has continually treated new groups or new ideas, and has reacted to the idea that military intervention would be needed to destroy any perceived of threats of anything different. Humans become aggressive in this film until Zira and Cornelius are killed and their son, Caesar sent into hiding.  Much of the film revolves around the idea that one day humans will do great things such as end pollution and population expansion.  It was clear that this was a human world and humans would not allow non human apes to conquer it. This is still how humans react to anything perceived of as a threat to those in power, or to anything that is different from the accepted norm.

 

In Conquest of the Planet of the Apes , 1973,  the story progresses down a darer path.  It was set in a city that represented a futuristic police state. Humans all wore black to denote a more rigid and unpleasant society.  The apes are slaves, but with Caesar’s leadership rise up in revolt, similar to the well known Watt Riots in 1965. In 1972 no one would dare release a film about the Watt Riots, but mask it in a science fiction thriller, and sure the messages would get out to the public. 

 

The one thing well written science fiction does well is use actual events and history and create a story that masks messages under aliens and future times.  This allows messages to be viewed and received by the masses and allows those messages to be processed with the hopes of altering human paths that are negative and bringing about more positive behaviors and ways of thinking in order to better the human condition and the human future. 

 

In future blogs, the Apes films will continue to be explored with respect to their ongoing relevance as contemporary myth.