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Behind-the-scenes on Planet of the Apes: How actors in full costume on sci-fi classic relaxed by smoking, drinking... and reading the Daily Mail!


Behind-the-scenes on Planet of the Apes: How actors in full costume on sci-fi classic relaxed by smoking, drinking... and reading the Daily Mail! - Photographs taken on the set of the 1968 film Planet of the Apes reveal surreal moments as actors in full ape makeup relax between shooting scenes.

The science fiction classic became a hit with audiences for the groundbreaking prosthetic makeup that turned men and women into lifelike primates.

The 1967 behind the scenes pictures, shot in California, show simians smoking, relaxing in the shade and even reading the Daily Mail - which must have been shipped in specially for British actor Maurice Evans, who played Dr Zaius.

Maurice Evans, who plays Doctor Zaius
Comfortable? Maurice Evans wears a straw boater as he relaxes beneath an umbrella on set

Mauice Evans reads the Daily Mail
Erudite ape: Even Dr Zaius, an academic from the year 3978, can learn a thing or two from the Daily Mail

The photos also pull back the curtain to show the detailed makeup work that went into making Planet of the Apes so iconic.

In one photo, actress Kim Hunter puffs on a cigarette as a makeup artist completes her transformation into Zira -- the ape who takes pity on the human astronauts who arrive in primate society.

Another shows an actor wearing just his prosthetic ape snout and forehead, preparing for three men around him to cover the rest of his face with thick makeup.

There are several photos of the 'humans' on set.

Kim Hunter
Finishing touches: Kim Hunter takes a drag on a cigarette as she prepares for a makeup artist to finish transforming her into Zira

Zira
Keeping cool: Now in full makeup, Mrs Hunter wears a towel on her head to protect her from the menacing California sun

Charlton Heston plays an astronaut who lands on a desolate planet and find highly evolved apes have become the dominant pieces.

The humans wear animal skins and are relegated to lives worse than slaves.

Linda Harrison, who plays Heston's love interest, gave a striking performance in her costume -- despite the fact that she played a mute woman who had no lines through the movie.

Planet of the Apes became so successful that it spawned four sequels and a short-lived television show.

Later, it inspired a 2001 remake. In 2011, James Franco starred in a movie billed as prequel to the original film.

Linda Harrison
Striking: Linda Harrison, who played Charlton Heston's mate Nova, was memorable in the movie, enough though she didn't have any lines

Linda Harrison
Relaxing: Miss Harrison is captured in a moment between filming scenes

Makeup
Tedious: The ground-breaking ape makeup was time-consuming and difficult to apply to the actors

Apes
Going ape: Renowned makeup artist John Chambers was in charge of creaking the faces of the high-evolved apes in the movie

Smoking
Lighting up: They're supposed to be highly-evolved, but these apes haven't seemed to catch on to the dangers of smoking cigarettes

Apes
Refreshing: Maurice Evans and Kim Hunter must sip water through a straw because of their protruding prosthetic lips

Charlton Heston
Star of the show: Charlton Heston wears a red robe as he oversees the crew preparing for the final scene in the movie ( Dailymail.co.uk )


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