[Quick Summary: When three astronauts land on a planet of apes, the only survivor must figure out how to escape his incarceration.]
I'd forgotten what an ACTION picture this is.
I like that the sci-fi element is largely secondary. It sneaks in, stealth like behind the action, and ends up packing a wallop at the end.
In the scene below, note:
1) how the camera is very active, moving, showing us the astronauts' POV
2) you're so absorbed in trying to make sense of the environment that you don't realize it's a sci-fi
REVERSE ANGLE - FULL PANNING SHOT - THE ASTRONAUTS
Led by Taylor, they dive back into the pool and swim to the other bank. Emerging from the water, they look around in bewilderment. Taylor makes hand signals to indicate absolute silence and a reconnaissance. The three astronauts fan out and move cautiously into the jungle (or rain forest).
EXT. JUNGLE (OR RAIN FOREST) - SEVERAL SHOTS - MOVING WITH THE ASTRONAUTS
Little sunlight penetrates this dense vegetation. These SHOTS are INTERCUT with:
WHAT THE ASTRONAUTS SEE:
fleeting forms as yet unidentified; trembling foliage; brown shadows against a green backdrop.
EXT. A SMALL CLEARING - FAVORING THE THREE ASTRONAUTS
who stop at the edge of the clearing, startled by
WHAT THEY SEE:
a number of primitive bipeds, male and female, scarcely visible behind the trees and bushes on the other side of the clearing --here a face, there a portion of a head and torso. Throughout this sequence, the primitives are never seen clearly or at close range.
BACK TO THE ASTRONAUTS
reacting. They speak in whispers.
LANDON: My God...they look almost human.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: If folks are not buying the sci-fi element, try cloaking it as an action story first.
Planet of the Apes (1968)(5/5/67 shooting script)
by Michael Wilson
Based on the novel by Pierre Boulle
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