Well done write up, Thomas. While I haven't seen the series in decades, it would be fun to follow the re-used music as it reappears in the series (and of course, how it aids the images onscreen) I know my own appreciation of this series is largely because of the music and yes, even the creative way cues were recycled; something that many shows of this time did.
I like the comparison with scores done for Mission: Impossible ("a compromise of the experimental side of Mission: Impossible transposed into the Apes realm") during that same time period. The 1970-75 era is special and so much exceptional music was done for TV during that time. I suppose their coming to TV had to do with the fear and reality that composers believed their days were numbered in film because of the rise of pop/rock-song soundtracks.
It's interesting to learn of Schifrin's nod to Rosenman and LaSalle's rework of Goldsmith's material. I really need to watch this series (and hear it) through my (aging) adult eyes to fully appreciate everything going on.
It's great to see this appreciation for scoring like this. I tried to re-watch the series after the LLL set came out to hear this wonderful music in context but I failed. The show is simply not worth the time. Better to spend it listening to this inventive and colorful music.
It's great to see this appreciation for scoring like this. I tried to re-watch the series after the LLL set came out to hear this wonderful music in context but I failed. The show is simply not worth the time. Better to spend it listening to this inventive and colorful music.
The same for me. I actually ended up selling my DVD set. The scores are the best thing about the series and kudos to Thomas for writing this great accompaniment piece.
I really need to watch this series (and hear it) through my (aging) adult eyes to fully appreciate everything going on.
Close to the end of his life, Roddy McDowall said that the TV series was "ill-conceived." He said nothing more, and was thus being kind. For those that would seek out the TV series, I can only paraphrase Dr. Zaius from the original film, "Don't look for it; you may not like what you find."
For me personally, watching the TV show (and some parts of the sequels) is like sitting down to view the Tim Burton remake -- a masochistic exercise.
In the world of Fox's APES franchise, BEWARE EVERYTHING AFTER THE ORIGINAL!
I really need to watch this series (and hear it) through my (aging) adult eyes to fully appreciate everything going on.
Close to the end of his life, Roddy McDowall said that the TV series was "ill-conceived." He said nothing more, and was thus being kind. For those that would seek out the TV series, I can only paraphrase Dr. Zaius from the original film, "Don't look for it; you may not like what you find."
For me personally, watching the TV show (and some parts of the sequels) is like sitting down to view the Tim Burton remake -- a masochistic exercise.
In the world of Fox's APES franchise, BEWARE EVERYTHING AFTER THE ORIGINAL!
Yeah I remember when it originally aired. I found it unwatchable even back then. Saw maybe a few episodes at best. And this is someone that ate up the Apes franchise including the animated version. (Same with Logan's Run television series)
Close to the end of his life, Roddy McDowall said that the TV series was "ill-conceived." He said nothing more, and was thus being kind. For those that would seek out the TV series, I can only paraphrase Dr. Zaius from the original film, "Don't look for it; you may not like what you find."
For me personally, watching the TV show (and some parts of the sequels) is like sitting down to view the Tim Burton remake -- a masochistic exercise.
In the world of Fox's APES franchise, BEWARE EVERYTHING AFTER THE ORIGINAL!
I have some memories of the series in that some episodes were cobbled together and presented as TV movies Life, Liberty and Pursuit on the Planet of the Apes or titles of that sort. I recall the one where Burke--that was Naughton, right? Was trapped with Urko(?; Mark Lenard) in an abandoned city building and having to work together to get out. There was a horse race with the gorillas attempting to sabotage it and the humans having to stop them; the one where the human built a glider...I was about eleven or twelve when I saw them. They aired each night on the local independent channel and I awaited each one with barely-contained excitement. Perhaps it's best to just to hang on to the fond memory and not spoil it by going back.
Still, I would like to hear the music in context. After all, I am one who has those Power Records stories largely memorized.
I merely remember the series being a little routine, like a lesser western series. As a kid, like many others I loved it. And it caused double bills of the movies to be rushed into the cinemas which I readily took advantage of. There were also reenactments at live events featuring folks in ape outfits.
In the UK I seem to recall it being a hit, and aired on Sunday evenings on ITV, and was somewhat surprised when I read in an American magazine that it had flopped. I thought I read it only lasted a few episodes at peak time before ending up on weekday afternoons whilst still on first run. Marvel cannibalized it's US Apes comic magazine into a British weekly, and there were knitted Galen jumpers (sweaters) doing the rounds!
But nothing lingers in the memory better than being in (my nearest town) Barnsley market one Saturday afternoon. Some stall holder was having a walkabout with a tray around his neck selling Galen glove puppets shouting "come and get yer Galens!"
Surely a bigger indignity for Mr McDowall than a short lived routine show.
I merely remember the series being a little routine, like a lesser western series.
It's actually on a par with all the 20th Century-Fox Sci-Fi TV shows of that era, mostly produced by Irwin Allen, which is to say that it's entirely for kids under the age of fifteen. Viewed now as an adult, the show's biggest sin is that it's dull. I had turned fifteen three months before before the APES TV show premiered in the US in September 1974, but I guess I was still too old for it because I was disappointed with it from the very first episode. In fact, it depressed me because it wasn't "adult" enough, but then my favorite scene in the original movie is the courtroom scene. I've always been more interested in the APES concept as political satire, rather than the action/adventure aspects of men being hunted by apes on horseback. There's nothing wrong with enjoying APES just for its "violence," but it only goes so far. It's pretty crappy if that's all there is, which is why the Burton movie was such a disaster. The TV series did attempt some political satire, but it was hobbled by being aimed mostly at kids who wouldn't get it for the most part.
It's great to see this appreciation for scoring like this. I tried to re-watch the series after the LLL set came out to hear this wonderful music in context but I failed. The show is simply not worth the time.
It was always better received in Britain than the US (although admittedly that's not a real sign of quality) - the TV series and the compilation TV movies are being shown on cable now.
Extremely formulaic show - man/group-travelling-across-country-on-quest, al la The Fugitive, The Invaders, Fantastic Journey, The Quest, Logan's Run, Incredible Hulk and probably a dozen other shows. Take away some of the more obvious details and I dare say the scripts were pretty interchangeable.
Maybe my point was made in the article (haven't read it yet). If so, apologies for the redundancy.
I've always been more interested in the APES concept as political satire, rather than the action/adventure aspects of men being hunted by apes on horseback.
I loved the Apes films and remember giving up on the TV show after about two episodes. I remember liking Logan's Run and Fantastic Journey and some others form that era, but am frightened of revisiting them for fear that I will find them awful. Better to leave them untarnished in my memory, I think.
I merely remember the series being a little routine, like a lesser western series.
It's actually on a par with all the 20th Century-Fox Sci-Fi TV shows of that era, mostly produced by Irwin Allen, which is to say that it's entirely for kids under the age of fifteen. Viewed now as an adult, the show's biggest sin is that it's dull. I had turned fifteen three months before before the APES TV show premiered in the US in September 1974, but I guess I was still too old for it because I was disappointed with it from the very first episode. In fact, it depressed me because it wasn't "adult" enough, but then my favorite scene in the original movie is the courtroom scene. I've always been more interested in the APES concept as political satire, rather than the action/adventure aspects of men being hunted by apes on horseback. There's nothing wrong with enjoying APES just for its "violence," but it only goes so far. It's pretty crappy if that's all there is, which is why the Burton movie was such a disaster. The TV series did attempt some political satire, but it was hobbled by being aimed mostly at kids who wouldn't get it for the most part.
The master plan worked. All the kids grew up demanding adult scifi.
MOUNTED PATROL Escape From Tomorrow - Apes Urgency The Good Seeds - Riding For Urko The Good Seeds - Travel With Stars The Good Seeds - Local Patrol The Good Seeds - We Ride The Good Seeds - The Riding Enemy The Good Seeds - Hunting Bonded Humans The Good Seeds - Riding For Urko (Extended) The Legacy - Apes The Legacy - The Soldiers
ALERT SIGNAL The Trap - Reflections The Legacy - Ape Signals The Gladiators - Planet Of The Apes Mountains The Good Seeds - Apes Neutral Suspense
BUZZING ORGAN MOOD Escape From Tomorrow - Spaceship The Good Seeds - I've Seen Him Before The Good Seeds - Discovered
