BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES

US, 1973, 86 minutes, Colour.
Roddy Mc Dowell, Claude Akins, Natalie Trundy, Lew Ayres, Severn Darden, John Huston, Frances Nuyen.
Directed by J. Lee Thompson.

Battle for the Planet of the Apes is the fifth in the series, starting with the original Planet of the Apes in 1967 (then - Beneath, Escape From, and Conquest of.....). The sequels have all been slighter than the original (which was itself largely parody of human behaviour). They have also been ironic in their ways. The present film is much more straightforward. The irony is there, but not always so telling. (Paul Dehn was screenwriter on the other films. Perhaps the fact that he contributed only the idea of the story may -account for this). Again, the films have generally ended pessimistically. This one is far more happy.

Roddy Mc Dowell appears once more. He has been in four of the five films. Veterans Lew Ayres and John Huston don similar makeup this time.

There are all kinds of parable and allegory ideas in the series which makes them enjoyable and interesting and gives an audience a lot to talk about. However, each film presupposes its predecessors.

1. What is the fascination with the planet of the apes that this could be the fifth in the series?

2. How plausible did the film make the world of 2003?

3. Comment on the structure of the film: the flashbacks from 2640 in the Law-giver's teaching and the recapitulation of the previous films in the pre-credit collage. What mood did this set for the film?

4. How were the events of the film enhanced by their being part of the lore of later centuries - a kind of primitive epic aura about the events? Did this enhance the events?

5. How ideal was this ape and human world of 2003 - a type of primitive "golden age" of learning and a new beginning? Building civilisation again? The role of Caesar as leader? "Ape shall not kill ape". How much did the screenplay owe to the book of Genesis?

6. How well did the humans fit into the situation? Why were they subject to the apes, even though teaching them?

7. The place of the Gorillas - the "Cain element" in the planet? Why were they hostile and proud - and ignorant? Was the clash, of ape and gorilla inevitable?

8. How contrived was the visit to the city to find out about origins from the city archives? Why the great desire to learn origins and fate?

9. The radio-active humans - what comment on inhumanity did they represent? How had they survived? Why had they survived? What were their ambitions? Why so afraid of the apes? Why did they have to attack the apes? What were they trying to prove?

10. The personalities of the apes and what "human" qualities they represented:-
- Caesar trying to be an enlightened leader - education, - no revenge, defending his people, holding councils, upholding family values, defending his apes?
- Caesar's wife and motherly concern?
- Virgil and his advice and temperance in dealing with the gorillas?
- the Armory custodian as the conscience of the apes and his value in society?
the Gorilla chief and his barbaric violence; the other barbaric gorillas and the death of Caesar's son?

11. The humans; the teacher, the black adviser. How did they compare with the apes?

12. The battle and its significance for humans and apes? Its danger for the humans in the corral? The clash with the gorillas and the gorillas having killed apes?

13. The basis of the world as harmony - and the film's implication that this peace lasted over 600 years? Hope and optimism?

14. What value did the film have as a parable for modern society and modern conflicts?