Planet of the Apes (1968), directed by Franklin J Schaffner, with Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter.

In the year A.D. 3978, a spaceship with a crew of 4 crashes on a distant planet. One of its crew members having already died in space, the remaining three head out to explore the planet. They find it is much like their own planet Earth. It appears desolate at first, but the surviving crew members soon stumble upon an advanced society in which apes have evolved into creatures with human-like intelligence and speech. There is a strict class system: gorillas are the military force and laborers; orangutans oversee government and religion; and intellectual chimpanzees are mostly scientists and doctors. Any humans are merely subordinate mute creatures wearing animal skins, and they are either hunted or used in experiments.

One of the three crewmen is shot and killed, and the others are captured and taken to Ape City. There, one man undergoes brain surgery and is put into a state of living death. The other man befriends some of the apes, but he is feared by most of them. He is put on trial but escapes with a female human who is native to the planet. They go out into the wilderness and there they learn this planet might not be so distant after all.

Planet of the Apes was met with critical acclaim and is widely regarded as a classic sci-fi film. On release, it was rated one of the best films of 1968 and was applauded for its imagination and its commentary on a possible world turned upside down. Film critic Pauline Kael called it “one of the most entertaining science fiction fantasies ever to come out of Hollywood.” There have since been four sequels, a TV series and at least three recent remakes, but this is the original Planet of the Apes and you can see it tonight from an original 1968 35mm film print.

Plus: Vintage 1960s trailers, also screening from 35mm film.

A Cinema Museum 35mm Film Classics Presentation.

Doors open at 18.30, for a 19.30 start.

Refreshments will be available in our licensed cafe/bar.

TICKETS & PRICING

Tickets £8.

Advance tickets may be purchased from Ticketlab, or direct from the Museum by calling 020 7840 2200 in office hours.