Charlton Heston Book:

		List Price: $19.95		Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin Salesrank: 724257
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Editorial Review:

Description of Planet of the Apes Revisited: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of the Classic Science Fiction Saga:
Apes fans, this is it: aside from an early '70s article that appeared in Cinefantastique, nobody but nobody's paid much attention to the making of the groundbreaking Planet of the Apes saga. The wait is over, though--and how. Unapologetic fanboys Joe Russo and Larry Landsman (and, later, Edward Gross) have been laboring over this exhaustive, fact-packed, behind-the scenes record of all five movies, the TV show, and the cartoon for the better part of 17 years. The effort shows, with countless on-set pictures, unprecedented access to the estates of Rod Serling, Roddy McDowall, and producer Arthur P. Jacobs, and extensive quotes from virtually everyone associated with the project, from screenwriters to actors to makeup artists to the special effects crew. (To give you an idea of the devotion we're talking about, Russo actually wrote his first "making of" Apes book back in the fifth grade. It was hand stitched with a plastic cover.)

Deserving of special note is Charlton Heston, who contributed not only the foreword for this book but scores of entries from his swaggering personal journals. ("A helluva long day, in the course of which I was finally brought to earth as Taylor. Having evaded clubs, whips, horsemen, crowds, they tripped me ass over teakettle into a thrown net and hoisted me high.... Upside down in a net, a man isn't worth much.") But even more interesting are the minutiae that inevitably emerge in any close examination of a production this complicated: that Marlon Brando had been considered first for the lead, that there were racial casting concerns in the wake of the Watts riots, even the fact that Planet of the Apes hit the small screen in an attempt to knock off Sanford and Son. This account may sprawl a bit in spots, with some quotes that overlap overmuch and minutiae that's awfully minute, but any fan who has even an ounce of Russo and Landsman's enthusiasm will be hard-pressed to complain. --Paul Hughes

Planet of the Apes Revisited: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of the Classic Science Fiction Saga Reviews:
An Enjoyable Read
2007-03-22 - I enjoyed reading this book for its interesting information from a number of the participants in the making of the Apes movies. It is a good companion to the recently released ultimate DVD collection.

I give it 4 of 5 stars because it lacks in-depth analysis of the ideas in the films and comparison to other projects, but you can't have everything in one book. I applaud the authors for putting together what they did.

Awesome! Best Apes Fan Book Ever Written!
2006-04-26 - This book is great! It covers every aspect of all of the apes movies, including Burton's, the TV series, and the Saturday morning cartoon. It includes quotes and facts that are amazing. It's an easy read, yet it's got some meat to it. I loved reading about the script developments and alternate endings that have been discussed for all of the movies. It's got some great pictures too! Great book, awesome price!

Don't take your stings paws off this book.
2006-04-22 - This is the most comprehensive book I have come across on Planet of the Apes. The book covers everything from concept to the TV series (both live action and animated). If you are a fan of the franchise or a movie buff this book will detail how a franchise made its way through the studio process. You won't be dissappointed with this book.

A great book about a great series
2005-07-05 - Informative, with lots of behind-the-scenes information and pictures, this book is a must-have for any Planet Of The Apes fan. I enjoyed the information on alternate scripts (and wished there had been MORE of this information, but that's assuming that more even exists), and liked that the authors included some of the original reviews for the films -- a nice touch. Several of the cast and crew were interviewed for the book, and the book itself is well written. A good read.



Fascinating look at a pop culture phenomenon
2003-07-16 - "Planet of the Apes Revisited" is by Joe Russo and Larry Landsman, with Edward Gross. The authors chronicle the behind-the-scenes story of the making of the "Planet of the Apes" films and TV series. The book also includes a chapter on Tim Burton's reimagined "Apes" film.

The book's intro notes that the authors had "complete and total access" to the archives of late "Apes" producer Arthur P. Jacobs; furthermore, many actors and behind-the-scenes talents were interviewed for the project. This in-depth research really pays off in this engrossing, well-written narrative. The book is enriched with many quotes from cast and crew and a wealth of photographs.

The authors frankly discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each film, as well as controversies attached to them. A particularly interesting part of the book is the account of the test reel in which Edward G. Robinson played Dr. Zaius. The book also discusses the music of the films, and includes episode guides to both the live-action and animated TV series. This book is essential reading for true "Apes" fans. Funny, fascinating, and even poignant, it made me want to watch all of these marvelous films again.