May 22, 2024
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes - Rise of the Revolution (1972)
Set in a dystopian future where apes serve as slaves to humans, "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes" chronicles the rise of Caesar (played by Roddy McDowall), the son of Cornelius and Zira, who leads his fellow apes in a daring revolt against their...
Set in a dystopian future where apes serve as slaves to humans, "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes" chronicles the rise of Caesar (played by Roddy McDowall), the son of Cornelius and Zira, who leads his fellow apes in a daring revolt against their oppressors. As tensions escalate between the ruling class and the oppressed masses, Caesar must confront his own identity and rally his followers in a fight for freedom. With the help of sympathetic allies such as MacDonald (played by Hari Rhodes) and Lisa (played by Natalie Trundy), Caesar embarks on a perilous journey that will shape the destiny of both species.
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WEBVTT
1
00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:13.800
Calarogu Shark Media. Welcome back to
TV in the Basement, your secret bunker
2
00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:18.320
for all things post apocalyptic Primate.
I'm your host, Journey Joe Mitchell,
3
00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:22.399
and today we're tackling Conquest of the
Planet of the Apes, the fourth and
4
00:00:22.519 --> 00:00:28.320
most provocative installment in the original Apes
saga. Conquest of the Planet of the
5
00:00:28.359 --> 00:00:33.119
Apes is a dark, daring,
and sometimes disturbing film that really pushes the
6
00:00:33.159 --> 00:00:37.840
boundaries of the franchise. Released in
nineteen seventy two at the height of racial
7
00:00:37.880 --> 00:00:42.719
tensions and political unrest in America,
It's a thinly veiled allegory for the Black
8
00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:47.840
Power movement and the fear of minority
uprising. It's also a direct prequel to
9
00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:52.759
the original film, showing how the
Apes first rose to dominance. The story
10
00:00:52.799 --> 00:00:57.640
takes place in a dystopian near future
where apes have become slave laborers for humans
11
00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:02.159
after a plague wiped out all cats
and dogs. This is a clever callback
12
00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:04.519
to a plot point from the original
novel that was cut from the first film,
13
00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:08.599
where a space virus kills off Earth's
pets, leading apes to be domesticated
14
00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:14.599
and eventually supplant humans into this world. Comes Caesar, the son of Cornelius
15
00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:18.359
and Zira, played by a returning
Roddy McDowell. Raised in secret by the
16
00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:23.239
kindly circus owner Armando played by Ricardo
Montalban. Caesar witnesses the cruel treatment of
17
00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:29.319
his fellow apes and begins to foment
rebellion. When Armando dies in custody after
18
00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:33.280
trying to protect Caesar from the authorities, the young ape leader launches an all
19
00:01:33.319 --> 00:01:37.560
out revolution, leading to a climactic
battle for the fate of the planet.
20
00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:42.560
Directed by j. Lee Thompson,
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes is
21
00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:47.040
a much bleaker and more violent film
than its predecessors. The world it depicts
22
00:01:47.079 --> 00:01:52.120
is a fascistic police state where apes
are brutally subjugated and even hunted for sport.
23
00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:56.719
The parallels to racism and oppression are
not subtle, with the Apes standing
24
00:01:56.799 --> 00:02:00.879
in for marginalized groups rising up against
their oppressors. This gives the film a
25
00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:05.879
real edge and urgency that reflects the
turbulent times in which it was made.
26
00:02:05.959 --> 00:02:08.840
The scenes of apes being beaten,
shocked, and even killed by their human
27
00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:14.680
masters are tough to watch, as
is the climax where Caesar exhorts his followers
28
00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:19.240
to violently overthrow their captors. It's
not hard to see why the film was
29
00:02:19.319 --> 00:02:23.639
originally rated PG but had to be
cut for an R rating. At the
30
00:02:23.639 --> 00:02:28.199
center of it all is a powerful
performance by Roddy McDowell as Caesar. In
31
00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:30.400
a way, it's the role he
was born to play, the culmination of
32
00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:36.240
his journey as Cornelius in the previous
films. McDowell brings a simmering intensity and
33
00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:39.360
righteous anger to Caesar, a far
cry from the gentle, humorous Cornelius.
34
00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:44.319
You can see the weight of his
people suffering in his eyes, the burning
35
00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:49.280
desire for freedom and justice. It's
a tour to force performance, especially considering
36
00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:53.719
the physical demands of the role.
McDowell had to endure long hours in the
37
00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:58.439
makeup chair and perform intense action scenes
in the cumbersome ape suit, but he
38
00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:01.960
never falters. Brings a fierce dignity
and humanity to Caesar that makes him a
39
00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:07.879
truly iconic sci fi hero. The
supporting cast is also excellent, with Don
40
00:03:07.960 --> 00:03:12.520
Murray as the sadistic governor Breck and
Harry Rhodes as the conflicted African American aide
41
00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:17.639
MacDonald. But the real scene stealer
is Ricardo Montalban as Armando Montalban brings such
42
00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:22.520
warmth, wisdom, and quiet strength
to the role of Caesar's surrogate father.
43
00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:27.199
His tragic death at the hands of
the authorities is a gut punch that fuels
44
00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:30.680
Caesar's rage and sets the stage for
the uprising. Conquest of the Planet of
45
00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:37.479
the Apes is also notable for its
striking visual style, with stark modernist architecture
46
00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:43.000
and a muted color palette that reflects
the oppressive nature of the world. The
47
00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:46.319
Ape makeups are some of the best
in the series, particularly the gorillas with
48
00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:52.000
their menacing helmets and armour, and
the action scenes are brutal and intense,
49
00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:57.719
with Apes hurling spears and Molotov cocktails
at their human oppressors. Thematically, the
50
00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:01.039
film grapples with some weighty ideas about
power, oppression, and the cycle of
51
00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:04.960
violence. On one hand, it's
hard not to root for the Apes as
52
00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:10.639
they rise up against their cruel masters
and claim their freedom, but the film
53
00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:15.160
doesn't shy away from the darker implications
of that uprising, with Caesar briefly succumbing
54
00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:19.639
to hate and bloodlust before pulling back
from the brink. It's a complex and
55
00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:26.560
nuanced portrayal of revolution that feels all
too relevant today. When Caesar shouts,
56
00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:29.480
where there is fire, there is
smoke, and in that smoke, from
57
00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:33.319
this day forward, my people will
crouch and conspire and plot and plan for
58
00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:39.319
the inevitable day of man's downfall,
the day when he finally and self destructively
59
00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:43.399
turns his weapons against his own kind. It's a chilling moment that speaks to
60
00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:50.120
the long term effects of oppression and
the thirst for vengeance. Conquest of the
61
00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:55.120
Planet of the Apes shares some notable
parallels with the modern Planet of the Apes
62
00:04:55.160 --> 00:05:00.560
reboot series. Both depict the fall
of human civilization and the rise of intelligent
63
00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:04.920
apes, with a central chimpanzee character
named Caesar leading the way. Both grapple
64
00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:09.279
with themes of prejudice, slavery,
and the tension between ape and human.
65
00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:14.399
But where the reboot films depict the
Ape uprising as a gradual, almost reluctant
66
00:05:14.439 --> 00:05:18.399
process, with Caesar as a wise
and benevolent leader, Conquest shows it as
67
00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:24.759
a violent and cathartic explosion, with
Caesar as a fiery revolutionary push to the
68
00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:29.560
brink. The reboot films also have
the advantage of modern CGI to create more
69
00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:34.160
expressive and realistic Ape characters, while
Conquest relies on practical makeups and costumes.
70
00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:40.160
Still, there's a raw power and
urgency to Conquest that makes it stand out,
71
00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:44.519
even if some of the racial politics
and revolutionary fervor may seem heavy handed
72
00:05:44.519 --> 00:05:47.120
by today's standards. It's a film
very much of its time, but one
73
00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:51.240
that still packs a punch and leaves
you with plenty to chew on. The
74
00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:57.319
ending of Conquest is particularly striking,
with the Apes victorious and Caesar delivering a
75
00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:00.120
speech about the dawn of a new
era. In the original cut, he
76
00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:04.839
proclaimed, we will destroy the guns
and we will build a world of Apes
77
00:06:04.839 --> 00:06:09.680
with peace and love, but this
was deemed too provocative and had to be
78
00:06:09.800 --> 00:06:15.000
changed. The revised ending has Caesar
preaching compassion and coexistence, but with an
79
00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:20.399
ominous warning about the day when Apes
will fight back if provoked. Conquest of
80
00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:25.879
the Planet of the Apes remains a
bold and uncompromising entry in the franchise,
81
00:06:26.439 --> 00:06:30.399
one that takes big swings and doesn't
pull its punches. It may not be
82
00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:33.040
as widely beloved as the first film, or even Escape from the Planet of
83
00:06:33.079 --> 00:06:38.000
the Apes, but it's an essential
piece of the Apes puzzle. That pushes
84
00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:42.560
the series into daring new territory.
It's a testament to the enduring power of
85
00:06:42.600 --> 00:06:47.160
the Planet of the Apes mythos that
these themes and characters continue to resonate decades
86
00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:53.399
later. The modern reboot films may
have updated the special effects in storytelling,
87
00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:58.600
but they're still grappling with the same
big ideas about prejudice, power and what
88
00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:01.439
it means to be human. And
at the heart of it all is the
89
00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:08.560
character of Caesar, the Chimpanzee revolutionary
who would become a legend. Roddy McDowell's
90
00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:14.240
fierce, soulful performance in Conquest set
the template for Andy Serkis's equally brilliant work
91
00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:17.680
in the reboot films, cementing Caesar
as one of the great sci fi protagonists
92
00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:21.720
of all time. So what's your
take on Conquest of the Planet of the
93
00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:26.600
Apes. Is it a daring allegory
for the civil rights struggle or a heavy
94
00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:30.600
handed polemic. Does the darker,
more violent tone work for you or is
95
00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:33.079
it too much? And how does
it stack up to the modern Apes films
96
00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:38.480
in your opinion? Next time,
we'll be wrapping up our Apes retrospective with
97
00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:42.759
Battle for the Planet of the Apes. The final chapter in the original saga.
98
00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:46.399
Until then, keep watching the skies
and the screens for TV in the
99
00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:48.959
basement. This is Journey. Joe
Mitchell signing off
1
00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:13.800
Calarogu Shark Media. Welcome back to
TV in the Basement, your secret bunker
2
00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:18.320
for all things post apocalyptic Primate.
I'm your host, Journey Joe Mitchell,
3
00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:22.399
and today we're tackling Conquest of the
Planet of the Apes, the fourth and
4
00:00:22.519 --> 00:00:28.320
most provocative installment in the original Apes
saga. Conquest of the Planet of the
5
00:00:28.359 --> 00:00:33.119
Apes is a dark, daring,
and sometimes disturbing film that really pushes the
6
00:00:33.159 --> 00:00:37.840
boundaries of the franchise. Released in
nineteen seventy two at the height of racial
7
00:00:37.880 --> 00:00:42.719
tensions and political unrest in America,
It's a thinly veiled allegory for the Black
8
00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:47.840
Power movement and the fear of minority
uprising. It's also a direct prequel to
9
00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:52.759
the original film, showing how the
Apes first rose to dominance. The story
10
00:00:52.799 --> 00:00:57.640
takes place in a dystopian near future
where apes have become slave laborers for humans
11
00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:02.159
after a plague wiped out all cats
and dogs. This is a clever callback
12
00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:04.519
to a plot point from the original
novel that was cut from the first film,
13
00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:08.599
where a space virus kills off Earth's
pets, leading apes to be domesticated
14
00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:14.599
and eventually supplant humans into this world. Comes Caesar, the son of Cornelius
15
00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:18.359
and Zira, played by a returning
Roddy McDowell. Raised in secret by the
16
00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:23.239
kindly circus owner Armando played by Ricardo
Montalban. Caesar witnesses the cruel treatment of
17
00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:29.319
his fellow apes and begins to foment
rebellion. When Armando dies in custody after
18
00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:33.280
trying to protect Caesar from the authorities, the young ape leader launches an all
19
00:01:33.319 --> 00:01:37.560
out revolution, leading to a climactic
battle for the fate of the planet.
20
00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:42.560
Directed by j. Lee Thompson,
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes is
21
00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:47.040
a much bleaker and more violent film
than its predecessors. The world it depicts
22
00:01:47.079 --> 00:01:52.120
is a fascistic police state where apes
are brutally subjugated and even hunted for sport.
23
00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:56.719
The parallels to racism and oppression are
not subtle, with the Apes standing
24
00:01:56.799 --> 00:02:00.879
in for marginalized groups rising up against
their oppressors. This gives the film a
25
00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:05.879
real edge and urgency that reflects the
turbulent times in which it was made.
26
00:02:05.959 --> 00:02:08.840
The scenes of apes being beaten,
shocked, and even killed by their human
27
00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:14.680
masters are tough to watch, as
is the climax where Caesar exhorts his followers
28
00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:19.240
to violently overthrow their captors. It's
not hard to see why the film was
29
00:02:19.319 --> 00:02:23.639
originally rated PG but had to be
cut for an R rating. At the
30
00:02:23.639 --> 00:02:28.199
center of it all is a powerful
performance by Roddy McDowell as Caesar. In
31
00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:30.400
a way, it's the role he
was born to play, the culmination of
32
00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:36.240
his journey as Cornelius in the previous
films. McDowell brings a simmering intensity and
33
00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:39.360
righteous anger to Caesar, a far
cry from the gentle, humorous Cornelius.
34
00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:44.319
You can see the weight of his
people suffering in his eyes, the burning
35
00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:49.280
desire for freedom and justice. It's
a tour to force performance, especially considering
36
00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:53.719
the physical demands of the role.
McDowell had to endure long hours in the
37
00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:58.439
makeup chair and perform intense action scenes
in the cumbersome ape suit, but he
38
00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:01.960
never falters. Brings a fierce dignity
and humanity to Caesar that makes him a
39
00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:07.879
truly iconic sci fi hero. The
supporting cast is also excellent, with Don
40
00:03:07.960 --> 00:03:12.520
Murray as the sadistic governor Breck and
Harry Rhodes as the conflicted African American aide
41
00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:17.639
MacDonald. But the real scene stealer
is Ricardo Montalban as Armando Montalban brings such
42
00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:22.520
warmth, wisdom, and quiet strength
to the role of Caesar's surrogate father.
43
00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:27.199
His tragic death at the hands of
the authorities is a gut punch that fuels
44
00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:30.680
Caesar's rage and sets the stage for
the uprising. Conquest of the Planet of
45
00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:37.479
the Apes is also notable for its
striking visual style, with stark modernist architecture
46
00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:43.000
and a muted color palette that reflects
the oppressive nature of the world. The
47
00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:46.319
Ape makeups are some of the best
in the series, particularly the gorillas with
48
00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:52.000
their menacing helmets and armour, and
the action scenes are brutal and intense,
49
00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:57.719
with Apes hurling spears and Molotov cocktails
at their human oppressors. Thematically, the
50
00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:01.039
film grapples with some weighty ideas about
power, oppression, and the cycle of
51
00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:04.960
violence. On one hand, it's
hard not to root for the Apes as
52
00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:10.639
they rise up against their cruel masters
and claim their freedom, but the film
53
00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:15.160
doesn't shy away from the darker implications
of that uprising, with Caesar briefly succumbing
54
00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:19.639
to hate and bloodlust before pulling back
from the brink. It's a complex and
55
00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:26.560
nuanced portrayal of revolution that feels all
too relevant today. When Caesar shouts,
56
00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:29.480
where there is fire, there is
smoke, and in that smoke, from
57
00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:33.319
this day forward, my people will
crouch and conspire and plot and plan for
58
00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:39.319
the inevitable day of man's downfall,
the day when he finally and self destructively
59
00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:43.399
turns his weapons against his own kind. It's a chilling moment that speaks to
60
00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:50.120
the long term effects of oppression and
the thirst for vengeance. Conquest of the
61
00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:55.120
Planet of the Apes shares some notable
parallels with the modern Planet of the Apes
62
00:04:55.160 --> 00:05:00.560
reboot series. Both depict the fall
of human civilization and the rise of intelligent
63
00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:04.920
apes, with a central chimpanzee character
named Caesar leading the way. Both grapple
64
00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:09.279
with themes of prejudice, slavery,
and the tension between ape and human.
65
00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:14.399
But where the reboot films depict the
Ape uprising as a gradual, almost reluctant
66
00:05:14.439 --> 00:05:18.399
process, with Caesar as a wise
and benevolent leader, Conquest shows it as
67
00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:24.759
a violent and cathartic explosion, with
Caesar as a fiery revolutionary push to the
68
00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:29.560
brink. The reboot films also have
the advantage of modern CGI to create more
69
00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:34.160
expressive and realistic Ape characters, while
Conquest relies on practical makeups and costumes.
70
00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:40.160
Still, there's a raw power and
urgency to Conquest that makes it stand out,
71
00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:44.519
even if some of the racial politics
and revolutionary fervor may seem heavy handed
72
00:05:44.519 --> 00:05:47.120
by today's standards. It's a film
very much of its time, but one
73
00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:51.240
that still packs a punch and leaves
you with plenty to chew on. The
74
00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:57.319
ending of Conquest is particularly striking,
with the Apes victorious and Caesar delivering a
75
00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:00.120
speech about the dawn of a new
era. In the original cut, he
76
00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:04.839
proclaimed, we will destroy the guns
and we will build a world of Apes
77
00:06:04.839 --> 00:06:09.680
with peace and love, but this
was deemed too provocative and had to be
78
00:06:09.800 --> 00:06:15.000
changed. The revised ending has Caesar
preaching compassion and coexistence, but with an
79
00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:20.399
ominous warning about the day when Apes
will fight back if provoked. Conquest of
80
00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:25.879
the Planet of the Apes remains a
bold and uncompromising entry in the franchise,
81
00:06:26.439 --> 00:06:30.399
one that takes big swings and doesn't
pull its punches. It may not be
82
00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:33.040
as widely beloved as the first film, or even Escape from the Planet of
83
00:06:33.079 --> 00:06:38.000
the Apes, but it's an essential
piece of the Apes puzzle. That pushes
84
00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:42.560
the series into daring new territory.
It's a testament to the enduring power of
85
00:06:42.600 --> 00:06:47.160
the Planet of the Apes mythos that
these themes and characters continue to resonate decades
86
00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:53.399
later. The modern reboot films may
have updated the special effects in storytelling,
87
00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:58.600
but they're still grappling with the same
big ideas about prejudice, power and what
88
00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:01.439
it means to be human. And
at the heart of it all is the
89
00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:08.560
character of Caesar, the Chimpanzee revolutionary
who would become a legend. Roddy McDowell's
90
00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:14.240
fierce, soulful performance in Conquest set
the template for Andy Serkis's equally brilliant work
91
00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:17.680
in the reboot films, cementing Caesar
as one of the great sci fi protagonists
92
00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:21.720
of all time. So what's your
take on Conquest of the Planet of the
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Apes. Is it a daring allegory
for the civil rights struggle or a heavy
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handed polemic. Does the darker,
more violent tone work for you or is
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00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:33.079
it too much? And how does
it stack up to the modern Apes films
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in your opinion? Next time,
we'll be wrapping up our Apes retrospective with
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Battle for the Planet of the Apes. The final chapter in the original saga.
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Until then, keep watching the skies
and the screens for TV in the
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basement. This is Journey. Joe
Mitchell signing off