As the original Planet of the Apes hits DVD, David Hughes takes a look at a classic example of gorilla film making.

In 1962, the publication of Pierre Boulle’s novel ‘La Planète des Singes’ caused something of a sensation in his native France. Boulle’s extraordinary idea of an “upside-down” world where apes were a highly evolved species, and men little more than their pets – was triggered by a visit to the zoo, where the apes’ mimicry of human mannerisms set him thinking about the relationships between the two species.

A French literary agent brought the book to the attention of Hollywood producer Arthur P Jacobs who was looking for “something like King Kong” that he could turn into a major motion picture. Jacobs spent three and a half years having his idea rejected as many believed that Planet of the Apes was unfilmable, an opinion shared by Boulle himself.

Even Jacobs’ friend Charlton Heston, who had committed to the leading role within an hour of hearing the producer’s pitch on 5th June 1965, doubted that the film would ever be made. Nevertheless, the Oscar-winning star stuck with the project.

The problem, it seemed, was that there was every chance that a film featuring a principal cast of talking apes might appear ridiculous to a cinema audience. 20th Century Fox’s head of production, Richard Zanuck was convinced to allow $5,000 to be spent on a makeup test, which was filmed on a jury-rigged set on 8th March, 1966. “We packed the screening room with everyone we could get a hold of,” Jacobs commented, “and Zanuck said, ‘If they start laughing, forget it.’ Nobody laughed. They sat there, tense, and he said ‘Make the picture.’”