22 Rare ‘Planet of the Apes’ Behind-the-Scenes Photos From the Original Five Films
Step on set of the iconic films with candid photos of the cast—from Roddy McDowall to Charlton Heston
When Planet of the Apes premiered in 1968, audiences were stunned—not just by its twist ending, but by the sheer imagination of a world where apes ruled and humans were hunted, silenced and enslaved. But what began as a bold science-fiction allegory evolved into a full-fledged franchise—at a time when franchises were not yet a guiding force in Hollywood—that spanned five films in as many years. Each chapter pushed the mythology further, sometimes with grandeur and sometimes under tight budgets, but always with a committed cast, groundbreaking makeup and rich sociopolitical themes that mirrored the times.
The original film, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, introduced astronaut George Taylor (Charlton Heston), who crash-lands on a strange planet ruled by intelligent apes. With Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter lending soul to chimpanzee scientists Cornelius and Zira (Roddy McDowall and Kim Hunter), and Bewitched star Maurice Evans as the orangutan Dr. Zaius, the film became an instant classic and earned an honorary Oscar for John Chambers’ revolutionary ape makeup.
The first sequel, Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), dove deeper—literally—into the world’s mythology. James Franciscus stepped into the lead role as Brent, another astronaut searching for Taylor (Heston is only about 10 minutes of the film), only to uncover a race of telepathic mutants worshipping a nuclear bomb beneath the surface. Though darker and more surreal, the film expanded the scope of the saga while ending on a note that felt strikingly final.
But Hollywood wasn’t finished. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) flipped the premise, sending Cornelius, Zira, and their companion Milo (Sal Mineo) back in time to 1970s Earth. Directed by Don Taylor, this installment offered both humor and tragedy, with McDowall and Hunter deepening their characters as they tried to protect their unborn child from fearful humans.
That child would become Caesar, played by McDowall in Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972). Directed by J. Lee Thompson, the fourth film depicted a near-future dystopia where apes are used as slave labor and one charismatic chimpanzee—Caesar—sparks a revolution. Gritty and politically charged, Conquest is often cited as the most socially pointed entry in the series.
The saga concluded with Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973), in which Caesar attempts to lead a fragile new society of apes and humans in peaceful coexistence—until war threatens to tear it apart. With a smaller budget but grand ambitions, the final film aimed to close the loop, ending the original cycle with a note of cautious hope.
What follows is a collection of rare and candid behind-the-scenes images from all five films—moments of laughter, artistry and ingenuity that reveal the monumental effort it took to bring this visionary saga to life.
‘Planet of the Apes’ (1968)
1. Humanity meets its match
Charlton Heston (as astronaut George Taylor) reviews his lines while Roddy McDowall, in full prosthetic as the thoughtful chimpanzee Cornelius, waits between takes on the courtroom set of Planet of the Apes (1968). Despite the heavy makeup, McDowall brought warmth, intelligence and humor to Cornelius, helping humanize the apes and adding depth to the film’s social allegory.
2. ‘You know the rules!’
In full gorilla regalia, Buck Kartalian (as the no-nonsense jailer Julius) speaks with director Franklin J. Schaffner on the set of Planet of the Apes (1968). Though Julius rarely cracked a smile on screen, Kartalian reportedly kept spirits high during the grueling shoot. Schaffner, known for his precision, helped elevate the film from pulp sci-fi to cinematic allegory—and scenes like this one, set inside the human holding pens, were key to establishing its tone of dystopian reversal.
3. Makeup designer John Chambers’ transformative vision
Makeup maestro John Chambers poses with three of his most astonishing achievements from Planet of the Apes (1968): an orangutan, chimpanzee and a gorilla—each carefully crafted to convey a unique personality and societal role. Chambers’ groundbreaking work revolutionized prosthetic makeup in Hollywood and earned him a special Academy Award before, as noted, makeup artists were awarded Oscars. His designs didn’t just disguise actors, they created a cinematic legacy.
4. Apes at rest
Kim Hunter (Zira) and Buck Kartalian (Julius) relax between scenes on the Planet of the Apes (1968) set, their expressive prosthetics fully intact. Despite the heavy, heat-trapping makeup, both actors delivered nuanced performances—Hunter’s Zira with empathy and intellect, Kartalian’s Julius with comic gruffness. Off-camera, the pair could finally breathe, laugh and share a break in folding chairs instead of cages.
5. The minds that made this upside-down simian world
A rare moment of levity behind the scenes of Planet of the Apes (1968), as four of the film’s most vital contributors share a laugh. From left: director Franklin J. Schaffner, screenwriter Rod Serling (whose Twilight Zone-honed allegory gave the story its punch), producer Arthur P. Jacobs (the franchise’s tireless architect) and star Charlton Heston — still in costume and collar.
6. Dr. Zaius takes a break and enjoys a smoke
Maurice Evans, fully costumed as the stern and skeptical Dr. Zaius, enjoys a rare beachside breather between takes during the climactic scenes of Planet of the Apes (1968). Shielded from the California sun by a yellow umbrella and clutching a cigarette and sunglasses, Evans embodies the surreal charm of the production—where Shakespearean gravitas met science fiction spectacle, all under layers of foam latex.
7. Light, camera, intelligence!
Roddy McDowall arrives on set in full Cornelius makeup—but with off-duty swagger. Cigarette in one hand, duffel over the shoulder and shades shielding him from the California sun, McDowall exudes effortless cool. This kind of behind-the-scenes shot underscores the surreal nature of Planet of the Apes (1968): where cutting-edge prosthetics met casual mid-century style—and the illusion never broke until the cameras stopped rolling.
9. Order in the court!
Director Franklin J. Schaffner gives precise guidance to Roddy McDowall (Cornelius) and Kim Hunter (Zira) during the iconic courtroom scene in Planet of the Apes (1968). With its biting social commentary and bold visuals, the trial sequence remains one of the film’s most potent allegories—made all the more powerful by Schaffner’s ability to coax grounded, emotional performances from actors buried beneath elaborate prosthetics.
‘Beneath the Planet of the Apes’ (1970)
10. Between takes and torn tunics
Linda Harrison (Nova), director Ted Post and James Franciscus (Brent) share a candid laugh between takes on Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970). Though the sequel veered into darker, more surreal territory than its predecessor, the mood on set often remained light—especially when grappling with stifling heat, elaborate prosthetics,\ and minimal wardrobe. Post, stepping in for Franklin J. Schaffner, brought a brisk energy to the production, while Franciscus gamely stepped into the leading-man role originally held by Charlton Heston.
11. Director Zira
Kim Hunter, still in full Zira makeup, playfully peers through the camera lens on the set of Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970). While she left the directing to Ted Post, Hunter’s curiosity and wit never left her—even under layers of foam latex and yak hair.
12. Orangutan in charge
Maurice Evans, fully suited as the ever-authoritative Dr. Zaius, works through a scene with director Ted Post on the set of Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970). Known for his Shakespearean gravitas and articulate delivery, Evans brought complex conviction to the orangutan statesman, while Post—stepping into the franchise for the first and only time—guided the sequel’s grander scope and darker tone with a steady hand.
13. Mutant in the making
Actress Natalie Trundy sits patiently as a makeup artist applies the early stages of her mutant prosthetics for Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970). The exposed-vein look of the subterranean telepaths was a haunting departure from the ape makeup of the first film—designed to visually reflect the mental and spiritual toll of life underground. For Trundy, who would appear in four Apes films in three distinct roles, this marked the first of many physically demanding transformations under the franchise’s iconic latex-heavy legacy.
14. Taylor and Nova ride again
Charlton Heston and Linda Harrison take a break between takes while filming Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), with wind machines and high-wattage lighting capturing the harsh terrain of the Forbidden Zone. Though Heston appeared only briefly in the sequel—reluctantly, and largely at the urging of studio brass—his chemistry with Harrison’s mute Nova still carried emotional weight. Off-camera, the two shared a camaraderie born from the original film, with this shot capturing a rare moment of levity during a grueling outdoor shoot.
‘Escape from the Planet of the Apes’ (1971)
15. Apes behind bars and behind the scenes
Director Don Taylor confers with Sal Mineo (Dr. Milo), Roddy McDowall (Cornelius), and Kim Hunter (Zira) during the emotionally charged opening scenes of Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971). Moving the action to present-day Earth, the film flipped the original formula, making the apes the outsiders and drawing empathy through performances layered with warmth and vulnerability. Taylor, a former actor himself, brought a performer’s sensitivity to the film’s tone—essential in grounding what would become the most character-driven entry in the series.
16. Producer Arthur P. Jacobs and his ‘Ape-o-nauts’
Producer Arthur P. Jacobs chats with Roddy McDowall (Cornelius), Kim Hunter (Zira), and Sal Mineo (Dr. Milo)—each in their astronaut gear—on the lot during production of Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971). Jacobs, the tireless force behind the Apes franchise, helped steer the series through tonal shifts, budget constraints and ever-wilder narrative turns. This image captures the rare early moment in Escape when apes donned spacesuits, flipping the original’s premise and launching the series into a bold, Earthbound future.
17. When Cornelius met Hasslein… for lunch
Roddy McDowall, still in full Cornelius makeup, takes five with co-star Eric Braeden (Dr. Otto Hasslein) during the filming of Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971). Though their characters would find themselves on opposite ends of a tragic ideological divide, off-camera the two actors shared mutual respect and quiet moments like this one—possibly over a sandwich. Braeden, who brought chilling conviction to the government scientist consumed by fear of the future, was a key ingredient in the film’s blend of sci-fi and sociopolitical drama.
18. Lunch, laughter, and latex
Natalie Trundy, Bradford Dillman, Roddy McDowall, a diligent makeup artist and Eric Braeden enjoy a relaxed moment between takes on Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971). While McDowall’s ape prosthetics required constant touch-ups, his co-stars remained at ease, soaking in the California sun and likely discussing anything but timelines and talking chimps. The photo captures the ease and good humor that defined the shoot—even as the film delivered some of the franchise’s most emotional and socially reflective scenes.
‘Conquest of the Planet of the Apes’ (1972)
19. Revolution in the air
Director J. Lee Thompson stands between Natalie Trundy (as Lisa) and Roddy McDowall (as Caesar) on the set of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972). With its themes of uprising, oppression and societal collapse, the film marked a sharp tonal turn for the franchise. Thompson, known for taut thrillers like Cape Fear, brought a grittier sensibility to Caesar’s arc as he guided McDowall through one of his most powerful performances as the ape who would lead a revolution.
20. Caesar and Armando share a laugh
Roddy McDowall (Caesar) embraces Ricardo Montalbán (Armando) in a rare moment of unguarded joy behind the scenes of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972). Their onscreen relationship—filled with loyalty and sacrifice—was mirrored by genuine affection off-camera. Montalbán, already a screen legend, praised McDowall’s expressive power beneath the makeup, while McDowall admired Montalbán’s gravitas and generosity.
‘Battle for the Planet of the Apes’ (1973)
21. One jet too many in the Forbidden Zone
Paul Williams (Virgil), Roddy McDowall (Caesar) and Austin Stoker (Macdonald) pause on location during the filming of Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)—with a decidedly out-of-place commercial airliner soaring in the background. Set in a post-apocalyptic future where civilization has collapsed, the film wasn’t exactly supposed to feature 747s. This serendipitous shot is a reminder that even the most carefully crafted dystopias can’t escape the realities of modern air traffic.
22. J. Lee Thompson directs the final battle
Director J. Lee Thompson walks through a pivotal moment with Roddy McDowall (Caesar) on the set of Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973), surrounded by a village of chimpanzees, orangutans and gorillas. As the fifth and final film in the original saga, Battle brought the arc full circle—though on a visibly tighter budget. Thompson, returning from Conquest, kept the production moving with sharp focus and unshakable energy, guiding McDowall through the closing chapter of a role that had become central to the franchise’s legacy.
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