The Making of Planet of the Apes: A Comprehensive Fiftieth Anniversary History with Exclusive Never-Before-Seen Photographs

Excellent coffee table book on the first film. This was read once by a reviewerso I was able to purchase it for less than half of the original price. Great deal,Great price.

As someone who worked at 20th Century-Fox from 1989-2015, and who was also their unofficial historian to boot, I have to say that J.W. Rinzler's MAKING OF THE PLANET APES is one of the best "making of" movie books I have ever read.It takes the reader from the origins of the Pierre Boulle novel all the way through producer Arthur Jacobs vision of making the movie, and director Franklin Schaffner's excellent execution of it. Every detail, every artist conception drawing, production blueprints, make-up tests... production scene construction, stage and location filming... it's all here in one engrossing book that's fully illustrated with behind-the-scenes and candid photos that I've never seen before.Having known and worked with people who were employed on the original, and certainly the very BEST ape movie ever, I can only think that this book does them great credit, and provides a wonderful memento for their families and friends.The B&W and color stills are beautifully reproduced and laid out in the best possible way, and the exhaustive research and the most trivial details of the movie's production are sure to be a wonderful surprise for any fan.The original 1968 PLANET OF THE APES movie is iconic and special for a number of reasons... The fact that it was very original and unique... The fact that it was so innovative and ground breaking in both it's make-up design and music scoring... The fact that every penny spent is right up there on the screen, completed on schedule with a tight budget... And the fact of it's perfect script, casting and directing.They certainly don't make movies like that anymore, and you don't get fabulous books like this one coming along too often either!

This book isn't quite as meaty as his efforts for Star Wars but is still quite good.I took one star off of this as the Kindle version has some very, very poor quality graphics, isolated almost entirely to the movie posters for non-Planet of the Apes films that were done by people related to the movie. I have no idea where they found these but I could find better quality versions of a lot of them quite easily just using the internet. They are blurry when you look at them and if you try to expand them they are just worse. The photo quality for almost all of the PotA material is fine.I've read another book that covers the entire history of the original series and it had some nice stories that I was surprised to not see iterations of here, sadly that book is long out of print and not available as a kindle book. This one will be a good product for delivering the same story for just the first film. Maybe the graphics in the physical book are better, I prefer the Kindle for these because the other books are just too darn big for comfortable and easy reading, you almost need to get the coffee table book version for the pictures and the kindle version for the ease of reading.

“Planet of the Apes” was a mind-blowing movie to me as a kid. Little did I realize then, that it would open my young mind to worldly ideas and encourage me to question the status quo. Storytelling at its finest allows us to experience layered themes. And here, in subsequent viewings, more concepts became apparent: anthropocentrism, rights of sentient beings, truth and suppression-of-truth, and even scientific verification of time dilation.And I’m SO THANKFUL I got to experience the movie raw and untainted by those awful-spoiler-video-covers!!Now about the book: The best work is done by passionate people! Just read this book’s foreward and introduction. No mercenaries here.From cover to cover (literally! check out the bookcover underneath the book jacket) is a treasure trove of verifiable accounts, exquisite pre-production art, and candid behind-the-scenes photos.“The Making of Planet of the Apes” is THE definitive homage to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1968 film. Thank you, J.W. Rinzler, Fraser Heston, and everyone involved in the making of this book; and especially the crew and cast of “Planet of the Apes”.

As a lifelong fan of the original Planet of the Apes film series, I have to say, hands down, this is the best book ever written about the series. Obviously exhaustively researched, but also with hundreds of behind-the-scenes photos, illustrations, and other visual material that I've never seen. If this book had been available at the height of my childhood fandom in the mid-1970's, it would have been like discovering the Holy Grail of the POTA universe. Simply stunning, and a must-own for any fan of the series.

I'm very pleased with the book and the condition it arrived in. The only thing that surprised me was that the book wasn't wrapped in any plastic protective covering as a couple of other books I ordered/received around the same time in the author's ongoing making of series of books.Other than that, my expectations were met in every way.

Lot of information. If you are a Planet of The Apes fan and want to know more about what went into making the movie...this is it.

As with Mr. Rinzler’s previous “Making of” books like Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back this is an in-depth book packed with many previous unseen photos/drawings etc. for the serious Ape fan. It is well made with quality paper and binding.I have many other books on the making of this monumental sci-fi fantasy film, they are all informative but this has the best collection of behind the scenes photos of them put together. I have not had time to read it but if the other two books are an example it should be well researched and be the “if-you-only –had-to-have-1-book-on-the-film, this-would-be-it” book. I look forward to the many other films this author will cover in the future.

Highly Detailed Informative Book Showcasing The First and Original Classic Planet Of The Apes Movie. With no stone left unturned The Author as unveiled a Treasure Tomb from early concept ideas To what we finally got To see on The screen. lavishly produced Throughout will full colour behind The scenes stills many seen for The first Time This is a True Apes fans dream. with a forward by star Charlton Heston's son Frazer Heston who was spurned on by visiting his father on The set as a Teenager The visions Frazer recalls is worth The asking price alone. I can't really add much more To This it's all you will ever need To know on The making of a SC-Fi classic and much more. while all previous incarnations of The Apes saga is briefly covered The book is first and foremost an outstanding Tribute To The original Planet Of The Apes film The movies now bible if you like. As making of movie books go I simply can't praise This one enough clearly a lot of research and Thought have gone into This To produce The Definitive book on The subject. comes strongly recommended for all movie and Ape fans alike.

As a huge fan of POTA this book is a definitely must but for any true fan ...Found the first five pages writer by the author a bit hard to read as it contained information on the director ,writer and Hestons early life during their war years which for me was sooo dull and pointless to the true content of the book ! And was only thinking ...Just get to the apes already !!However , it soon moved on ( thank the great ape gods ) This book ..well it's so beautifully made and is well worth the money infact I would gladly have paid £50 for it let alone £25 !The quality is mint and the pictures and information within is just mind blowing!Do not hesitate in buying this book if you love anything POTA related...Awesome !!!

Just received the book and started reading it. The quality is superb, glossy pictures on all aspects of the movie... plenty of them. The thing that really hits me is that this is a book written with love for the movie, not obsession, just pure love. It is a genuine treat to read all the different facts before, during and after the production of the movie. Very touching especially in the end. You have to buy this book. Absolutely. You will not be disappointed.

Fantastic book! Everything you ever wanted to know about one of motion picture’s most iconic movies. Informative, surprising, detailed with some gorgeous artwork, paintings, set design and behind the scenes photos. If you’ve got the author’s previous Making of the Star Wars Trilogy books then you’ll know what to expect but if not and you love the original Apes movie, then this is the book you need!

What an amazing book!All the pre production art and photos you could ever want plus a fascinating and in-depth write up of the complete making of the film.I've read everything Apes related regarding the movies and this is the best of the lot!Can't wait for the same authors books on The Shining and alien next year.