Cornelius and Zira Escape from the Planet of the Apes, back to the past – the present day, where they’re imprisoned, then famous, then …
Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) starring Roddy McDowell, Kim Hunter
Escape from the Planet of the Apes begins with three chimpanzees — Cornelius, Zira, Milo — escape the destruction of the Earth in Beneath the Planet of the Apes. They travel back in time to the modern day. They’re taken captive by humans, who don’t realize who, or what, they are. The trio remains silent, while they try to determine who their friends and enemies may be. But this backfires, since they’re being held at a zoo …. Poor Dr. Milo is killed by a mindless beast in the next cage — a gorilla. Then the surviving couple has to testify to a political committee:
Chairman: Does the other one talk?
Cornelius: Only when she lets me.
Soon, the talking apes from the distant future become media darlings, giving the movie an opportunity to mock some things about American culture. But then, one scientist lets his fear take over …. Is the future the apes come from unchangeable? Or only one of many possible? How far is he willing to go to change it? As far as killing their unborn child, and sterilizing them! Can they escape?
Product Description
Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter reprise their roles from the original Planet of the Apes in this third chapter of the Apes saga. Two intelligent simians from the future, Cornelius (McDowall) and Zira (Hunter) travel to present-day Earth. They become instant sensations, wined and dined and treated like celebrities – until a high-level plot forces them to run for their lives!
Cast of characters
- Roddy McDowall (Planet of the Apes, Lord Love a Duck) … Cornelius
- Kim Hunter (The Seventh Victim) … Zira. Cornelius’ wife, and fellow survivor. She’s uncharacteristically short-tempered …. For a reason.
- Bradford Dillman (Moon of the Wolf) … Dr. Lewis Dixon. The kindly animal psychiatrist, who first takes care of the chimpanzees, and becomes their friend and protector.
- Natalie Trundy (Beneath the Planet of the Apes) … Dr. Stephanie Branton. The other animal doctor who helps and protects the chimpanzees.
- Eric Braeden (The Young and the Restless, Colossus: The Forbin Project) … Dr. Otto Hasslein. The antagonist. He doesn’t know that the apes’ child will lead to the end of humanity. But he fears it. And, he’s willing to kill them to prevent it. And unintentionally causes the future he wanted to prevent.
- William Windom (To Kill a Mockingbird) … The President. A pragmatic politician, who doesn’t want to kill the chimpanzees. Because it’s not politically expedient. Not an evil man, but someone willing to do bad things for “the greater good”.
- Sal Mineo (The Greatest Story Ever Told) … Milo. The third chimpanzees, responsible for their escape in Taylor’s spaceship. Regrettably, killed by a gorilla.
- Albert Salmi (Empire of the Ants) … E-1
- Jason Evers (Brain That Wouldn’t Die) … E-2
- John Randolph (King Kong 1976) … Chairman. In charge of the examination of the chimpanzees. And later, condemns their child to death, and orders them to be sterilized.
- Ricardo Montalban (Mystery Street, Neptune’s Daughter) … Armando. The circus owner and animal lover. He puts himself at risk to help Cornelius and Zira escape with him to Florida. A good plan, that sadly doesn’t work. One of the three humans that Zira trusts.
Secondary characters
- Harry Lauter (Hellcats of the Navy) … General Winthrop
- M. Emmet Walsh … Aide
- Roy Glenn (Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner) … Lawyer
- Peter Forster … Cardinal
- Norman Burton (Planet of the Apes) … Army Officer
- William Woodson … Naval Officer
- Tom Lowell … Orderly
- Gene Whittington … Marine Captain
- Donald Elson … Curator
- Bill Bonds … TV Newscaster
- Army Archerd … Referee
- James Bacon … General Faulkner