MovieChat Forums > Planet of the Apes (1974) Discussion > Bad Ape makeup...

Bad Ape makeup...

posted 13 years ago by TheSolarSailor
21 replies | jump to latest

I have just started watching the series (three episodes thus far), and the ape makeup is really bugging me. I understand that this is TV as opposed to theatrical movies, but it seems that the makeup could have been done a bit better. I am willing to overlook the fact that the apes look more like they are wearing masks that I would like, but the thing that really bothers me is the coloring of the faces. It is so dark and one tones. General Urko looks way too brown with no texture or anything...it makes it look plastic. Galen's face even looks too dark and flat colored for it's own good. The older movies did not have this problem, applying a bit lighter and more naturalistic colors to the faces to make them look more live real flash. Here, though, the flat applications look awful and actually draw attention the the mask effect. Would simple better makeup to the faces have really been so out of reach for a TV show?

- - - - - - -
Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

[–] VIsraWratS 12 years ago

The make up isn't much worse than 'Battle' and 'Conquest'.

[–] Fletcherj119 11 years ago

I'm sure it's not the same makeup people used in the original movie.

[–] hightp 10 years ago

I believe they had to cut a lot of corners for the series in terms of makeup. A full ape prosthetic in the movies would take up to 3 hours to apply. I beleive they had to cut it down to something less than an hour for the TV show. I'm sure the quality suffered.

He who fights and runs away, lives to run away again!

[–] Fletcherj119 10 years ago

It's TV. Even stricter than a low budget movie.

[–] JoeKarlosi 10 years ago

Yes, I have sometimes noticed bad makeups in the TV show. One that stands out in particular is an episode where Galen's lower jaw is hanging really way down as though it's either falling off, or had been badly glued. I am forgetting which episode this is now.

Meanwhile, I have always liked the makeup in BATTLE FOR THE POTA. I don't see what's supposed to be so poor about it in general, though there are moments.

[–] Fletcherj119 10 years ago

As far as Galen's lower jaw being out of whack, I read that sometimes during lunch (if the actor chooses to eat solid food) some of it is lodged inside the fake lower jaw and has to be removed. What you saw (and obviously I also, since I own the DVD) was probably a replaced piece.

[–] mill722002 10 years ago

Galens neck is visible at the end of Up in the Air episode when hes seasick on the raft. But the worst of all is in The Good Seeds. Near the end when the ape is pretending to be human and mocking them in front of Urko, his forearms and wrists are visible quite a bit during the whole scene

[–] JoeKarlosi 10 years ago

Galens neck is visible at the end of Up in the Air episode when hes seasick on the raft. But the worst of all is in The Good Seeds. Near the end when the ape is pretending to be human and mocking them in front of Urko, his forearms and wrists are visible quite a bit during the whole scene

I'm presently revisiting the series and I just watched THE GOOD SEEDS last night! Not only what you describe, but the same ape often has his lower jaw hanging way too far down early on, thus revealing the actor's mouth inside.

[–] mill722002 10 years ago

I just also revisited the whole series in like a week span. In that episode while they are hiding in the barn, one of Urkos soldiers comes out to the farm. They refer to that gorilla ape on the horse as one of Urkos men. He should have said one of Urkos gorillas. And then in the Liberator episode, one of the ape says he will send his men after him when one of the humans runs off. Why would an ape say the word men? Just a minor goof

[–] JoeKarlosi 10 years ago

That's not as bad to me as when Virgil in BATTLE says: "When I was a boy he was my teacher"! A boy?? How about "just a young ape"? (Or can the word 'boy' apply to a species other than human?).

[–] savagebiscuits 10 years ago

That's not as bad to me as when Virgil in BATTLE says: "When I was a boy he was my teacher"! A boy?? How about "just a young ape"? (Or can the word 'boy' apply to a species other than human?).

I think that it's possible that "boy" doesn't have the anathema that "man" would have. If the term directly uses "man", then there'd be a problem, IMO. But, I think that "boy" is distant enough to be fine to use. Mind you, Virgil could just have used "child", which would be safer.

[–] JoeKarlosi 10 years ago

"Child" works much better, thanks!

[–] Fletcherj119 10 years ago

When Virgil was a boy pre-dated the ape revolution, unless we're supposed to believe that Virgil is under twenty years old.

[–] wears-alan 10 years ago

Depends which year you think 'Battle' is set in.

It wasnt me, it was the other three. Hang them!

[–] Fletcherj119 10 years ago

True.

[–] phillipsdan83 9 years ago

Dan Streipeke, who assisted John Chambers, was the make up director for the show.

[–] NotDoakes 8 years ago

I don't really care if its has bad make up.
All I know is I love this show so much.

[–] Fletcherj119 8 years ago

Whoever thinks the makeup is bad should try watching the Japanese version called "Time of the Apes".

[–] savagebiscuits 8 years ago

Whoever thinks the makeup is bad should try watching the Japanese version called "Time of the Apes".

It's so bad that the film got the MST3K treatment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOBibhv7Q_8

[–] jefgg 8 years ago

The ape makeup for the original "Planet of the Apes" movie was outstanding for 1968. I wish they would have maintained those high production values for the sequels. Cheaper makeup was practically inevitable for the TV show. Even hit TV shows have to deal with budget constraints.

[–] Fletcherj119 8 years ago

Yah, some of the episodes featured human villages to cut costs.