Planet of the Apes (Special Edition) [DVD] [1968]

A genuine genre classic whose impact remains undimmed either by time, increasingly dire sequels, or Tim Burton's lacklustre 2001 "reimagining", the original Planet of the Apes richly deserves this 35th Anniversary special edition. Here you'll find a glorious anamorphic presentation of Franklin J Schaffner's painterly CinemaScope framing, accompanied by a new DTS 5.1 soundtrack that makes the movie seem even more vibrant and immediate than ever before. On disc one the film is accompanied by two audio commentaries: one from composer Jerry Goldsmith, and another with Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Natalie Trundy and make-up artist John Chambers. These are reasonably interesting, though with a few too many gaps. Better is Eric Greene's exhaustive text commentary. Better still are the features on the second disc.

Disc two contains the exhaustive two-hour Behind the Planet of the Apes documentary (also to be found in the six-disc box set) as well as a host of other behind-the-scenes nuggets for die-hard fans: dailies and outtakes, make-up tests and Roddy McDowall's home movies. There's some overlap between a 1967 NATO presentation of the movie hosted by Charlton Heston and other featurettes from 1968 and 1972. Sequel directors Don Taylor and J Lee Thompson are seen in action, and there are trailers, film reviews from 1968 and picture galleries. --Mark Walker

Disc 1:
Anamorphic widescreen
English Dolby Surround
English DTS 5.1
Commentary by composer Jerry Goldsmith
Commentary by actors Roddy McDowall, Natalie Trundy, Kim Hunter and make-up artist John Chambers
Text commentary by Eric Greene, author of "Planet of the Apes as American Myth"
Subtitles: English hearing impaired, English composer commentary, English cast commentary, English text commentary

Disc 2:
Behind the Planet of the Apes Documentary
Planet of the Apes Make-up Test with Edward G. Robinson
Roddy McDowall Home Movies
Planet of the Apes Dailies and Outtakes (no audio)
Planet of the Apes NATO presentation (1967)
Planet of the Apes featurettes (1968)
A Look Behind the Planet of the Apes (1972)
Don Taylor directs Escape from the Planet of the Apes
J. Lee Thompson directs Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Original Theatrical Trailers
Film Reviews (1968)
Theatrical Posters
Picture Galleries
Ape Merchandise
Ape Collections

20th Century Fox, Region 2, 1968 112 mins 2 DISC