tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post8232019721290737810..comments2024-03-28T14:49:36.133-04:00Comments on John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV: CULT TV FLASHBACK: Return to the Planet of the Apes (1975)John Kenneth Muirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-1136370270487533942011-08-07T03:25:15.459-04:002011-08-07T03:25:15.459-04:00I love this review! I haven't seen the origina...I love this review! I haven't seen the original cartoon series since it first aired (and boy, I've seen a lot of reviews that zinged it!). It was the only part of the original Apes franchise that I caught original, not in syndication.<br /><br />I was reading up on the series, and Doug Wildey from Johnny Quest was involved with the planning (which is why there are story arcs here, decades before Trek and B5 played them to perfection).<br /><br />I remember when Judy got captured by the Underdwellers, and seeing her 'USA' statue...I remember going back to get the laser drill and the sea monster... what great stuff! I want to see this series so much...<br /><br />NBC really did a huge number with science fiction after the original Trek: the Trek and Apes animated series on Saturday morning along with Jonny Quest & Jetsons & Space Ghost reruns, Sealab 2020 (which I still haven't seen yet!), Land of the Lost, Godzilla, Flash Gordon, The Herculoids, Teen Force, Hulk, Spider-Man, Thundarr reruns---ten or 11 years of great science fiction goodness!<br /><br />Ultimately, I thought this show took place in a different continuity from the films and live-action series, because a) the nuclear war seems to have occured sometime after 2109 (you can bet your bippy that Brent's launch site would have gotten nuked!); b) the Apes actually had mid-20th century technology; c) the sea monster in the lagoon and the giant bird monster from later in the series. In my ongoing series for Planet of the Apes Weekend at The AlterNASAverse, Return to the Planet of the Apes comprises day 2!<br /><br />Gordon LongPDXWizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10884427889989897626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-12438115206135168712011-08-06T06:23:35.271-04:002011-08-06T06:23:35.271-04:00Hi Hugh,
Thank you! Phillipa Harris voiced Zira,...Hi Hugh,<br /><br />Thank you! Phillipa Harris voiced Zira, and did a good job of sounding like Kim Hunter's interpretation of the character. Edwin Mills was Cornelius, and he wasn't quite as close, in terms of "aping" Roddy McDowall, I'd say. Zaius was Richard Blackburn, and he didn't exactly sound like Maurice Evans, either. The work was all solid, but not incredibly faithful, I'd say.<br /><br />Neal P: I agree with you: the cartoon series proved far more creative and ingenious than the live-action series that preceded it. It might have been the format: it was possible to feature the Forbidden Zone, mutants, huge ape cities and all in the cartoon, without having to pay for sets or extras. In this case, animation was a really terrific idea for the franchise, I think. I agree with you too that this series and Star Trek (animated) were head-and-shoulders above a lot of Saturday morning cartoon fare of the day. I'm so glad we have this series on DVD...<br /><br />Hi SGB: Yes, I think that's absolutely correct. I just found it so interesting that he had come from Jeff, Judy and Bill's future, but had arrived in the planet's past. Again, that's pretty smart for a 1975 Saturday morning cartoon! <br /><br />Thank you for the kind words about my review series here. I review Rise of the Apes tomorrow, as a finishing touch!<br /><br />All my best to all of you. Thank you for all the great comments.<br /><br />Warmest regards,<br />JohnJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-12080951899283559972011-08-05T11:32:27.816-04:002011-08-05T11:32:27.816-04:00John,
I have enjoyed all of your engaging APE rev...John,<br /> I have enjoyed all of your engaging APE reviews, sad to see them end.<br /><br />In RETURN set in the year 3979, the Brent dog tags state D.O.B. May 2,2079. In the RETURN episode "Trail To The Unknown" a Colonel Ronald Brent and his crashed N.A.S.A. spaceship (which launched in the year 2109) was encountered. I believed it crash landed there in the year 3959 or 3964. Perhaps this is the revisioned Brent that Nova was wearing his dog tags.<br /><br />SGBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-20537226002934062822011-08-05T10:27:06.954-04:002011-08-05T10:27:06.954-04:00After being disappointed with the TV series, I was...After being disappointed with the TV series, I was pleasantly surprised at how good Return to the Planet of the Apes was. By the time this aired, I was getting a little too old for Saturday morning cartoons, but I made an exception for this one and Star Trek. I agree with you about the limited animation; it can work fine as long as the design is good. It reminded me a bit of Doug Wildey's work on Jonny Quest.<br /><br />I also liked that it put the apes in a modern setting like the book. You are absolutely right that the creators of this show borrowing the best of what had come before and putting their own spin on it. For me, it sort of vindicated the POTA franchise after the "let's do The Fugitive with apes" approach of the live action series.Neal Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17053148427058126745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-32977526370215438852011-08-05T08:11:03.645-04:002011-08-05T08:11:03.645-04:00Great review (and great series of reviews), John.
...Great review (and great series of reviews), John.<br /><br />Who voiced Zaius and Cornelius? Was an effort made to mimic Maurice Evans and/or Roddy MacDowall?Hughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10790273832065126540noreply@blogger.com