Beneath the Planet of the Apes – 1970
Writer: Paul Dehn, known for “Goldfinger” (1964), “Murder on the Orient Express” (1974)
Release Date: May 27, 1970
Domestic Box Office: $18.9 million
Top 5 Cast:
- James Franciscus as Brent, known for “The Valley of Gwangi” (1969), “Marooned” (1969)
- Kim Hunter as Zira, known for “A Streetcar Named Desire” (1951), “Lilith” (1964)
- Maurice Evans as Dr. Zaius, known for “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968), “Macbeth” (1960)
- Linda Harrison as Nova, known for “Planet of the Apes” (1968), “Airport 1975” (1974)
- Paul Richards as Mendez, known for “The Secret War of Harry Frigg” (1968), “A Man Called Dagger” (1968)
Critic Review:
- “The action and dialogue, both of which are incredibly dull, are drawn out endlessly, to the point where one wishes that the filmmakers would just get on with it already.” – Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
- “This is a dismal sequel that recycles the original plot and characters in a strained effort to extend the lucrative franchise.” – Variety Staff, Variety
- “The film’s only genuine shock is the revelation that beneath the planet of the apes is, in fact, some kind of druidic hippie cult. A more brazenly, unabashedly silly movie you’re unlikely to see.” – Scott Tobias, AV Club
- “In addition to being a wretched and dull sequel to a film that did not cry out for continuation, Beneath the Planet of the Apes is also a slap in the face to anyone who ever liked the original.” – Vincent Canby, The New York Times
- “Beneath the Planet of the Apes is one of the weakest sequels of all time. It’s a cheap, insipid, and unimaginative follow-up that feels like it was assembled out of spare parts from the first film.” – James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Cinematic Importance: While “Beneath the Planet of the Apes” is widely considered to be a disappointing sequel, it did contribute to the overall cultural impact of the “Planet of the Apes” franchise. Its exploration of themes such as nuclear war, religion, and the potential for human self-destruction helped to establish the series as a thought-provoking science fiction franchise. Additionally, the film’s iconic final scene, which depicts the destruction of the Earth, has become one of the most famous and memorable endings in movie history.