screenshots / The Planet of the Apes / 1968 APJAC Productions

The outline script for this film, loosely based on the 1963 novel by Pierre Boulle, was originally written by TV's Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling.

Starring Charlton Heston, Kim Hunter, Roddy McDowell and Maurice Evans, the film was ground-breaking for the prosthetic makeup techniques by John Chambers, who later created a prosthetic chest for Richard Harris in A Man Called Horse (1970).

Filming locations included Zuma Beach (final scene), Malibu, California, with desert sequences shot in the region of Lake Powell, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah and Arizona.

Actor Mike Powell (astronaut Dodge) had previously appeared in two episodes of Ron Ely's Tarzan television series in 1967 (S1.E.22, S1.E.29).

Make-up artist John Chambers received an "honorary" Oscar at the 41st Academy Awards in 1969 for his work on film (the Best Makeup category was not officially established until 1981).

The film spawned four sequels: Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971), Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) and Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973).

A remake (and sixth installment in the film series) was released in 2001 and starred actor Mark Wahlberg.

Charlton Heston passed in 2008 at the age of 84.