MONKEY BUSINESS; SIMIAN CINEMA OF YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW.Byline: Jon Gerung Daily News Staff Writer In Disney's new film ``Mighty Joe Young,'' Charlize Theron snuggles in the big furry arms of the giant doe-eyed Joe and sings him a lullaby. This tender scene is just another example of Hollywood's continuing love affair with our nearest biological relatives - the great apes. And our passion isn't abating. Just look at the number of recent and soon-to-be released films such as ``Congo,'' ``Buddy,'' ``George of the Jungle George of the Jungle bungling do-gooder. [TV: Terrace, I, 305–306] See : Ineptitude ,'' ``Summer of the Monkeys  This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling.You can assist by [ editing it] now. ,'' an animated, musical version (also from Disney) of ``Tarzan of the Apes Noun 1. Tarzan of the Apes - a man raised by apes who was the hero of a series of novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan ,'' ``The New Swiss Family Robinson Swiss Family Robinson family shipwrecked on a deserted island. [Br. Lit.: Swiss Family Robinson] See : Castaway Swiss Family Robinson shipwrecked family carves hospitable life from wilderness. [Children’s Lit. ,'' an IMAX IMAX Noun a film projection process that produces an image ten times larger than standard format re-creation of King Kong's special effects special effects, in motion pictures, cinematographic techniques that create illusions in the audience's minds as well as the illusions created using these techniques. and James Cameron's remake of ``Planet of the Apes.'' But with all the films that Hollywood has made, what have we learned about our cousins? First, if you want to feel the fur and not get stomped, it helps to be a blonde like Theron, or Fay Wray Vina Fay Wray (September 15, 1907 – August 8, 2004) was a Canadian–American actress. Early life Wray was born on a ranch near Cardston, Alberta, Canada to Elvina Marguerite Jones, who was from Salt Lake City, Utah, and Joseph Heber Wray, who was from Kingston in the original ``King Kong,'' or Jessica Lange in the remake. (These are three women who can turn to their ``beaus'' and scream ``you big ape'' and really mean it). OK, so this isn't very real - but neither is a 15-foot Joe or a 50-foot Kong. This is zoology zoology, branch of biology concerned with the study of animal life. From earliest times animals have been vitally important to man; cave art demonstrates the practical and mystical significance animals held for prehistoric man. according to Hollywood. Disney's ``Mighty Joe'' is the story of an orphaned gorilla raised by the orphaned daughter (Theron) of a Jane Goodall-type naturalist. In her effort to protect him from hunters, she takes him to the animal preserve in California. There, after being provoked, he escapes and creates a traffic jam on Hollywood Boulevard. The big Mouse used a lot of high-priced gadgets to create the giant, from three animatronic Joes (one 15 feet tall) to some 30 computer-generated images. And, of course, there was the man in the monkey, er, ape suit. The original 1947 ``Mighty Joe Young'' was a naive, charming fantasy created by Merian C. Cooper Merian Caldwell Cooper (October 24, 1893, Jacksonville, Florida, USA — April 21, 1973, San Diego, California, USA, died of cancer) was an American aviator, American Air Force and Polish Air Force officer, adventurer, director, screenwriter and producer. and Willis O'Brien (same team responsible for the famous trilogy of ape films: ``King Kong,'' ``Son of Kong'' and ``Joe''). The film tells the story of Jill Young (Terry Moore, who makes a cameo appearance in the remake), daughter of an American planter living in an unspecified region of Africa, who adopts a baby gorilla who grows (for a never-explained reason) to gigantic size. Orphaned, Jill and Joe (her gorilla) are discovered by a fast-talking Hollywood promoter, Max O'Hara (Robert Armstrong) who convinces Jill that she and Joe would be safer and happier in Hollywood. After moving to Southern California, Joe is put on display at a nightclub where he is abused by drunken patrons and runs amok Amok (ā`mŏk), in the Bible, post-Exilic Jewish family. . When the court orders that Joe be destroyed, Jill, Max (who has suffered a change of heart over the exploitation of the animal) and Greg (the love interest played by the laconic la·con·ic adj. Using or marked by the use of few words; terse or concise. See Synonyms at silent. [Latin Lac , western actor Ben Johnson) attempt to smuggle smug·gle v. smug·gled, smug·gling, smug·gles v.tr. 1. To import or export without paying lawful customs charges or duties. 2. To bring in or take out illicitly or by stealth. the doomed ape out of the country. A quirky production, ``Joe Young'' is probably the only movie ever directed by a legally blind person. Wounded World War II hero Ernest B. Schoedsack had lost most of his vision (he could see only shadows) and directed with an assistant on the set telling him what was happening. Fellow war hero Merian Cooper, the legendary showman and producer, actually created a cinematic parody of himself in the character of Max O'Hara, who proclaims his lifelong motto of ``Make It Bigger.'' Certainly bigger are the Oscar-winning special effects that mark the first professional work by Ray Harryhausen (then age 16, without the benefit of a union card), whose remarkable character-animation skills lent an unprecedented life, breadth and range of emotion to the tiny model. An astonishing a·ston·ish tr.v. as·ton·ished, as·ton·ish·ing, as·ton·ish·es To fill with sudden wonder or amazement. See Synonyms at surprise. mixture of live action and stop-motion animation populate the film. Most memorable: Joe being lassoed by riders on horseback and the famous orphanage fire scene. Me, Tarzan. You, Jane The ``Tarzan'' films, from a 1918 silent movie starring Elmo Lincoln (ironically, the most faithful adaptation of the original novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs Noun 1. Edgar Rice Burroughs - United States novelist and author of the Tarzan stories (1875-1950) Burroughs ) to next year's release of an animated version, have given the ape his longest run in Hollywood. Although many actors have played the role of Tarzan, the performers most associated with the ape man and his jungle love, Jane, are Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan. Beginning with ``Tarzan the Ape Man'' (1932), a simplified but highly entertaining telling of the legend, and the sequel, ``Tarzan and his Mate'' (1934), the jungle couple managed to cause a national scandal (this was in the pre-Hayes code period) due to the ``free love'' plot lines and O'Sullivan's infamous ``nude'' (she was wearing a body suit) underwater scene. They went on to make a number of (more toned down) films, O'Sullivan eventually dropped out and Weissmuller continuing on with different actresses in the role of Jane. The interesting thing about the films is how ``green'' they appear in retrospect - decades before ecology became a commonly used word, Tarzan is unflinching (if monosyllabic) in his protection of the rain forest. Apes appear throughout the series, most notably, Cheetah, Tarzan's chimpanzee chimpanzee, an ape, genus Pan, of the equatorial forests of central and W Africa. The common chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes, lives N of the Congo River. Full-grown animals of this species are up to 5 ft (1. sidekick (and comic relief) who would eventually become so popular that he received billing alongside his human co-stars. It was beauty ... The '30s and '40s saw apes in ``Murders in the Rue Morgue'' (derived from Edgar Allen Poe's story and the first of at least five movie versions) and ``Gorilla,'' both starring Bela Lugosi, ``Monster and the Girl'' and a host of other forgettable for·get·ta·ble adj. Fit or apt to be forgotten: a movie with very forgettable characters. Adj. 1. forgettable - easily forgotten unforgettable - impossible to forget movies. However, 1933 marked the release of this genre's premier film: ``King Kong.'' A remarkable achievement and officially one of the AFI's 100 greatest films, ``Kong'' begins with an expedition to the legendary Skull Island by filmmaker Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong - in another self-parody of the film's producer, Merian Cooper). Along for the ride are the beautiful Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) and Jack Driscoll (Bruce Cabot), second mate aboard the tramp steamer chartered for the expedition. Arriving at the island, Ann is promptly kidnapped by hostile natives and offered up as a ``bride of Kong.'' The gigantic ape makes one of the most dramatic entrances in film history, carrying off Ann with the ship's company in hot pursuit. The title character fights off armed humans, tyrannosaurs, pterodactyls and giant snakes (once again there's really no explanation for why these creatures are inhabiting this island), all the while delicately protecting Ann from harm. Eventually, Driscoll rescues Ann, and Kong is subdued by gas grenades. Brought in chains to New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , Kong is put on display as the ``Eighth Wonder of the World
Eighth Wonder of the World is a term sometimes used to describe things in comparison to the Seven Wonders of the World, the widely-known list of seven .'' Kong eventually escapes. Rampaging through the city and once again kidnapping Ann, he climbs to the top of the Empire State Building. A squadron of planes is summoned to shoot him down with machine guns. Falling, Kong dies at the base of the skyscraper, where a police officer remarks, ``Well, Denham, the airplanes got him.'' Denham, lowering his head, replies, ``Oh, no. It wasn't the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast.'' The film, made for the then-staggering (it was the height of the Depression) sum of $650,000, holds up remarkably well, especially Willis O'Brien's ambitious, revolutionary special effects and art direction (while often overlooked, each miniature and full-scale set is a virtual work of art in its own right). A true classic. Prodigal son Emboldened em·bold·en tr.v. em·bold·ened, em·bold·en·ing, em·bold·ens To foster boldness or courage in; encourage. See Synonyms at encourage. Adj. 1. by the success of Kong, Cooper and O'Brien rushed a sequel, ``Son of Kong'' (1933) to theaters. Made on a substantially smaller budget ($250,000), the film was a financial and critical failure and is almost entirely overshadowed by the original. Although it doesn't stand up against the first film, it is still worth watching (if you can find it). The story picks up with the unstoppable Carl Denham (again played by Armstrong) being sued by apparently every lawyer in the state of New York over the damage his ``Eighth Wonder of the World'' caused during his rampage throughout the city. Deciding to return to Skull Island (only in America Only in America is a children's television programme that originally aired in 2005 on the CBBC Channel. It is presented by Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates. The show documents the pair going on a road trip across the United States. could the threat of legal action be more menacing than an island full of prehistoric predators), Denham discovers the Son of Kong, who is only 25 feet tall (Dad was twice the size) and covered with snow-white fur. Kong Jr. is more friendly than his old man, tagging along with Denham and company, saving them from a number of savage animals. In a quite poignant ending as Skull Island is destroyed by earthquakes, the ape cradles the humans in his upraised hands, even as he himself drowns beneath the waves. The man who would be King The 1950s saw more Tarzan films, Weissmuller being replaced by Lex Barker, Gordon Scott, Jock Mahoney, et al., but apes played a lessening role in these films. More significantly, the period saw the only political entry into the genre with ``Bedtime for Bonzo'' (1951), starring Ronald Reagan playing a college professor who domesticates the title ape for a scientific experiment. Years later, political opponents would attempt to ridicule the would-be candidate for his presence in the film. In a hang-tough, embrace-the-ape campaign strategy, Reagan pronounced his pride in the film and his simian co-star. The lesson is clear You can't go wrong by proclaiming your love for an ape. `Size matters' The '60s saw the last of the ``traditional'' Tarzan films and some overseas oddities like ``Kongo'' (definitive proof the Brits can't make a horror movie) and ``King Kong vs. Godzilla King Kong vs. Godzilla (キングコング対ゴジラ .'' In a dramatic example of ``size matters,'' Kong was morphed from his original 50-foot height to 400 feet in order to be on an equal footing with his reptilian adversary. All of which brings us to 1968's highest-grossing film, ``Planet of the Apes.'' With the summer of love long gone and a season of political assassination Assassination See also Murder. assassins Fanatical Moslem sect that smoked hashish and murdered Crusaders (11th—12th centuries). [Islamic Hist.: Brewer Note-Book, 52] Brutus conspirator and assassin of Julius Caesar. [Br. , riot and weekly casualty reports settling in, no wonder theater audiences flocked to see the escapist movie with a message. Adapted by Rod Serling from the novel by French author Pierre Boulle, the film opens with the first interstellar space mission led by George Taylor (Charlton Heston) crash-landing in an alien world. Marooned, the only female astronaut dead (a mishap with her suspended animation sus·pend·ed animation n. A temporary interruption of the vital functions resembling death. chamber), thousands of years elapsed e·lapse intr.v. e·lapsed, e·laps·ing, e·laps·es To slip by; pass: Weeks elapsed before we could start renovating. n. since their journey began, they explore the planet on foot, discovering to their astonishment it is inhabited by humans, albeit living at a very primitive level and without the power of speech. Their clothing and equipment stolen by these primitives, Taylor is separated from his crew and is captured by the dominant species of this world: genetically manipulated, civilization-building apes. Unable to speak because his own vocal cords vocal cords: see larynx. Vocal cords The pair of elastic, fibered bands inside the human larynx. The cords are covered with a mucous membrane and pass horizontally backward from the thyroid cartilage (Adam's apple) to insert on have been damaged, Taylor is treated like a dumb animal in the city of the apes. Placed in a cage, he is expected to mate with the de-evolved, mute but beautiful Nova (Linda Harrison). Attempting to escape, Taylor is netted, and, recovering his voice, he screams at his tormentors, ``Get away from me, you damn dirty apes.'' Shocked, the apes consider Taylor a freak and give him over to Dr. Zira (Kim Hunter) and Cornelius (the late Roddy McDowall) for study. What follows is an attempt by Taylor to intellectually defend his species (ironic, since the cynical character is actually quite disgusted by humanity's shortcomings A shortcoming is a character flaw. Shortcomings may also be:
v. cor·rod·ed, cor·rod·ing, cor·rodes v.tr. 1. To destroy a metal or alloy gradually, especially by oxidation or chemical action: acid corroding metal. Statue of Liberty Statue of Liberty great symbolic structure in New York harbor. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : America Statue of Liberty perhaps the most famous monument to independence. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : Freedom buried in the sand. Taylor must finally face the truth - that he is not on alien ground but has made a thousands-of-years-long round trip back to his own Earth. This film has to be complemented on being able to take a science-fiction idea seriously, something almost impossible for Hollywood to do. The movie features some great makeup effects and excellent (restrained) art direction. The only thing marring the film is a really toxic mix of ponderous pon·der·ous adj. 1. Having great weight. 2. Unwieldy from weight or bulk. 3. Lacking grace or fluency; labored and dull: a ponderous speech. See Synonyms at heavy. , pompous dialogue and outrageous overacting o·ver·act v. o·ver·act·ed, o·ver·act·ing, o·ver·acts v.tr. To act (a dramatic role) with unnecessary exaggeration. v.intr. 1. To exaggerate a role; overplay. 2. (a subtitle for the film could have been ``Planet of the Hams''). The actor/actress that probably comes off the best is Harrison as the mute Nova - this is probably the only time in cinematic history that at the wrap of production, a performer, dropped to her knees to thank God she didn't have a speaking role. But a minor point; this, after all, isn't a genre noted for thespian greatness, or restraint of any sort. ``Planet of the Apes,'' an enjoyable thought-provoking film that spawned four sequels, a TV series, an animated series, an upcoming James Cameron remake and this interesting anonymous e-mail that recently made its way around the Internet: ``When John Glenn comes back on the shuttle, everybody put on an ape mask and bury the Statue of Liberty in sand.'' Monkey die, everybody cry Without a doubt, the worst ape film ever made is Dino De Laurentiis' remake of ``King Kong'' (1976). His high-concept description of the movie has passed into the status of Hollywood urban legend: ``Monkey die, everybody cry.'' Certainly everyone cried - but not in the way that producer De Laurentiis imagined. Plot, pacing and special effects are terrible (most scenes of Kong were played by a valiantly struggling, uncredited un·cred·it·ed adj. 1. Not having been credited, as on a ledger: an uncredited deposit. 2. Not having been accorded due recognition: an uncredited discovery. , Rick Baker - in a suit - whose eventual ape film credits would grow to include 1983's ``Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes,'' 1988's ``Gorillas in the Mist'' and this year's ``Mighty Joe Young.'') Not through with tormenting the public and despite outcries of ``Why doesn't somebody stop him,'' Dino went on to make the worst ape-movie sequel of all time, ``King Kong Lives'' (1986). A new sub-sub genre No review of the ape-film phenomenon would be complete without looking at the famous ape couples, Tarzan and Jane, Fay and Kong, Bonzo and Ronnie and, of course, Clint and Clyde. ``Any Which Way but Loose'' (1978) ushered in its own unique sub-sub-genre of apes-go-trailer-trash. Universally panned by critics, director/star Clint Eastwood offered only this mild defense: ``I thought it was a very cool screenplay.'' The film concerns truck driver and part-time bare-knuckles fighter Filo Beddoe (Eastwood), his orangutan orangutan (ōrăng`  tăn), an ape, Pongo pygmaeus, found in swampy coastal forests of Borneo and Sumatra. - Clyde, Filo's foul-mouthed mother (Ruth Gordon), neurotic love interest (Sondra Locke) and a variety of deranged de·range tr.v. de·ranged, de·rang·ing, de·rang·es 1. To disturb the order or arrangement of. 2. To upset the normal condition or functioning of. 3. To disturb mentally; make insane. bikers, street-fighting champions, disgruntled dis·grun·tle tr.v. dis·grun·tled, dis·grun·tling, dis·grun·tles To make discontented. [dis- + gruntle, to grumble (from Middle English gruntelen; see highway patrol officers all out to get our hapless hero. Clyde the orangutan deserves special notice for his work as an animal actor, his expressive face and relaxed manner in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of danger should have propelled him into action-hero stardom, but Hollywood being what it is, Clyde's career never went anywhere - he was inevitably stereotyped as an orangutan. A new realism, old themes With the release of ``Greystoke'' (1983), Rick Baker firmly cemented his name with the special-effects greats. A master of makeup and animatronics an·i·ma·tron·ics n. (used with a sing. verb) The technology employing electronics to animate motorized puppets. [anima(tion) + (elec)tronics. , he gives the simians of the film an incredible degree of realism. Most of the ``apes'' are actors (a really talented troupe of artists who exhaustively studied simian behavior and movement) in animatronic suits who steal the show in this Tarzan remake. The film, directed by Hugh Hudson, takes the original Tarzan material seriously if not terribly faithfully. In tone, the movie has a lot more in common with Anthony Burgess' ``Quest for Fire'' than Edgar Rice Burroughs, but it's a great film (one of the best that we're taking a look at) with a knockout debut by French actor Christopher Lambert in the title role. Modern times One of the few serious films dealing with apes is 1988's ``Gorillas in the Mist'' - the tragic, true story of anthropologist Dian Fossey's (played by Sigourney Weaver) 20-year struggle to protect the mountain gorilla. The film chronicles Fossey's work, with which she eventually became so obsessed ob·sess v. ob·sessed, ob·sess·ing, ob·sess·es v.tr. To preoccupy the mind of excessively. v.intr. that it entirely eclipsed her personal life. Abandoning family and friends, Fossey was killed by the same poachers who preyed on the gorillas. Receiving four Academy Award nominations, this is a moving and important film. Sadly, most of the films dealing with apes in recent years haven't been near the quality of ``Greystoke'' or ``Gorillas in the Mist.'' Hollywood seems to be endlessly recycling the same movies over and over again. Even when they get an original idea, such as in the recent ``Congo'' (1995), they crank out a predictable formula film. From the novel by Michael Crichton, the movie chronicles the discovery of a race of ``killer apes'' - gorillas that were selectively bred and trained in ancient times to heighten their aggressive instincts for use as extremely lethal ``watch dogs'' - a novel yet plausible idea but a bad movie. With Arnold Schwarzenegger planned to reprise re·prise n. 1. Music a. A repetition of a phrase or verse. b. A return to an original theme. 2. A recurrence or resumption of an action. tr.v. Charlton Heston's role (one wonders how he'll do with the ``damned dirty apes'' line) in James Cameron's big-budget remake of ``Planet of the Apes,'' and Disney's one-two punch of ``Mighty Joe Young'' and the animated ``Tarzan of the Apes,'' appreciative audiences need have no fear that a new millennium will bring an end to the ape in film. GORILLAS ONLINE Almost all of the films we've taken a look at are fantasies - in reality, the great apes are in danger of extinction. If you would like to find out more about these animals, check out one of these Web sites: Gorillas Online: www.selu.com/bio/gorilla/ Gorilla Help site: www.kilimanjaro.com/gorilla/ The World Wildlife Fund: www.wwf.org/ SOURCES: ``Edgar Rice Burroughs: Master of Adventure'' by Richard A. Lupoff Richard Allen Lupoff, (born February 21, 1935, Brooklyn, New York), is a science fiction and mystery author, who has also written humor, satire, non-fiction and reviews. In addition to his two dozen novels and more than 40 short stories, he has also edited science-fantasy ; ``Tracking King Kong'' by Cynthia Erb; ``Classics of the Horror Film'' by William K. Everson; Cinefex; Cinefantastique; Daily News research. CAPTION(S): 2 Drawings DRAWING: (1--Color--Cover) Hollywood goes ape From early `Tarzan' flicks to Disney's remake of `Mighty Joe Young,' it's a jungle out there Jon Gerung/Daily News (2--Color) no caption (Montage of scenes from ape movies) Jon Gerung/Daily News |
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