Going 'Ape' over 'Planet' Fest on AMC

Before Man there was the Ape. After Man, there will be the talking ape. At least, that's the view of a sience-fiction classic getting a big tribute this weekend.

Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the original "Planet of the Apes" movies, American Movie Clasics presents a marathon of all the films Sunday and Monday.

A highlight is the enjoyable new documentary "Behind the Planet of the Apes." Packed with behind-the -scenes footage and intervies, the two-hour program is narrated by Roddy Macdowall, who starred in all but one of the movies. He wor the monkey make up again for a TV-series spinoff that CBS aired in 1974.

Each "Apes" movie chapter gets four runs over the AMC festival, thought "Planet of the Apes" will have a Fifth showing. The other titles are"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).

Based on the Pierre Boulle novel, the firststory sends astronaut Taylor (played by Charlton Heston) and fello crew members through a time warp. They land in a world ruled by smart apes that hunt and cage any remaining humans. Viewed with suspicion by the imperious Dr.Zaius (Maurice Evans), Taylor is befriended by sympathetic simians Cornelius and Zira (McDowall and Kim Hunter)

Vetran actor McDowall was pleased to do the "Behind the the Planet of the Apes" special, even supplying his own "Apes" home movies for it. "I enjoyed my experience with the whole series," he says,"so I was happy to be involved in the documentary."

With the 30-year celebration of "Planet of the Apes,"McDowall wishes that some of his many other films were treated similarly. "I think 'How Green Was My Valley' should have been paid great attention on it's 50th anniversary, and the same with 'Lassie Come Home.' That sort of work is due that remembrance. Still, a cannon like 'Planet of the Apes' is unique, so it's nice to see this happen."