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Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
1972 88 min United States of America PG 12+
★5.9
Action, Science Fiction
Director: J. Lee Thompson
🎭 Based on
«Planet of the Apes»
byPierre Boulle
Trailers
Description
In a futuristic world that has embraced ape slavery, a chimpanzee named Caesar resurfaces after almost twenty years of hiding from the authorities, and prepares for a revolt against humanity.
Budget:
$1.7M
US Gross:
$9.04M
Worldwide:
$9.7M
Starring
Roddy McDowall
Actor
Don Murray
Actor
Ricardo Montalban
Actor
Awards
1 nomination total
Key opinion
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes is a dark, thematically ambitious entry in the series that trades the philosophical sci-fi of its predecessors for a gritty civil-rights allegory. While it is widely praised for Roddy McDowall’s compelling performance as Caesar, the film suffers from visible budget constraints and a disjointed narrative that leaves many viewers divided over its execution.
| Acting | Roddy McDowall delivers a standout performance that serves as the emotional and narrative anchor for the film. | |
| Theme | The film effectively utilizes the ape uprising as a blunt but powerful allegory for human oppression and civil rights struggles. | |
| Production | Drastic budget cuts are evident in the lackluster action sequences and dated visual effects, which detract from the film's intended spectacle. | |
| Screenplay | The script is criticized for relying on an implausible 'pet plague' premise and failing to provide coherent internal logic regarding the rapid development of ape intelligence. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is viewed with ambivalence; some find the tight rhythm and escalating tension effective, while others describe the structure as sluggish, uneven, or rushed. | |
| Ending | Opinions on the film's conclusion diverge: some appreciate its raw, dark tone, while others criticize it as incomplete, over-dramatic, or tacked-on. |